Canterbury weather in December
Are you planning a trip to Canterbury in December and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.
What is the weather like in Canterbury in December?
Canterbury is a region in New Zealand. December in Canterbury generally has temperatures that range from moderate to pleasant, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. During December, summer is in full swing.
The average highest temperatures fluctuate between moderate in Mount Cook Village at 13°C to pleasant in Lincoln at 21°C. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 11°C in Lincoln and 4°C in Mount Cook Village.
In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Akaroa with an average of 57 mm to heavy rainfall in Mount Cook Village with 283 mm. Meanwhile, Christchurch enjoys approximately 218 hours of sunshine, offering a mostly sunny climate that adds a pleasant and vibrant feel to the month.
To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Canterbury in December, check out the map below. For more details on the yearly weather, visit our Canterbury climate page.
Where to go in Canterbury in December
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Popular destinations in Canterbury
What is the weather like in December for the 5 most popular destinations in Canterbury?
Average weather in Christchurch
In December Christchurch generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Average weather in Kaikoura
In December Kaikoura generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.
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Average weather in Hanmer Springs
In December Hanmer Springs generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.
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Average weather in Lake Tekapo
In December Lake Tekapo generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
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Average weather in Akaroa
In December Akaroa generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Canterbury, in New Zealand.
Is December the best time to visit Canterbury?
We believe that December is one of the best times to visit Canterbury 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.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
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 climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.