Akaroa

Canterbury Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Canterbury, New Zealand in December.

Are you planning a trip a to Canterbury, New Zealand in December and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Canterbury in December

Canterbury, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. December in Canterbury generally has temperatures that range from mild to pleasant, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. During December, summer is in full swing.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between mild in Mount Cook Village at 13°C (55°F) to pleasant in Lincoln at 21°C (70°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 11°C (52°F) in Lincoln and 4°C (39°F) in Mount Cook Village.

For a closer look at conditions across Canterbury, New Zealand, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Akaroa with an average of 57 mm (2.2 in) to heavy rainfall in Mount Cook Village with 283 mm (11 in).

Average sunshine

Many locations offer abundant sunshine during this month. For instance, Christchurch enjoys approximately 218 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Canterbury by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Canterbury — and find the best time to visit. (based on Christchurch)

Best Places to Visit in Canterbury in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Canterbury.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Canterbury

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Canterbury, New Zealand?

Temperature range in Canterbury (December)

Precipitation variation in Canterbury (December)

Christchurch

In December Christchurch generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
224 hours
218 hours
238 hours
Monthly rainfall
61 mm (2.4 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
11 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Kaikoura

In December Kaikoura generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly rainfall
89 mm (3.5 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Hanmer Springs

In December Hanmer Springs generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly rainfall
108 mm (4.3 in)
104 mm (4.1 in)
93 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Lake Tekapo

In December Lake Tekapo generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
7°C (45°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly rainfall
118 mm (4.6 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
115 mm (4.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
10 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Akaroa

In December Akaroa generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
224 hours
218 hours
238 hours
Monthly rainfall
52 mm (2 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Canterbury, in New Zealand.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Canterbury in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Christchurch 21°C (70°F) 11°C (52°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Kaikoura 19°C (66°F) 11°C (52°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Hanmer Springs 18°C (64°F) 8°C (46°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Lake Tekapo 17°C (63°F) 7°C (45°F) 122 mm (4.8 in)
Akaroa 18°C (64°F) 12°C (54°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Timaru 19°C (66°F) 11°C (52°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)

Canterbury weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Canterbury, New Zealand in December?

Canterbury, New Zealand typically experiences perfect weather in December, part of the summer season. Daytime highs in Christchurch average around 21°C (70°F), and temperatures drop to about 11°C (52°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Canterbury, New Zealand in December?

Christchurch averages a daytime maximum of 21°C (70°F) in December, with overnight lows close to 11°C (52°F).

Does Canterbury, New Zealand get a lot of rain in December?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Canterbury, New Zealand during December, with Christchurch averaging close to 63 mm (2.5 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit Canterbury, New Zealand?

We believe that December is one of the best times to visit Canterbury, New Zealand with overall perfect weather in Christchurch. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, February, March and December offering mostly perfect weather in Christchurch. The weather in June, July and August, on the other hand, tends to be unpleasant.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Canterbury.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to New Zealand? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in New Zealand.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.