Kaikoura

Canterbury Weather in January

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

Thinking about venturing to Canterbury, New Zealand this January and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Canterbury in January

Canterbury, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. January in Canterbury generally has temperatures that range from mild to warm, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. The month of January is in the summer season.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is mild in Mount Cook Village at 15°C (59°F) and warm in West Melton at 23°C (73°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 12°C (54°F) in West Melton and 5°C (41°F) in Mount Cook Village.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Canterbury, New Zealand, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Akaroa with an average of 54 mm (2.1 in) to heavy rainfall in Mount Cook Village with 266 mm (10 in).

Average sunshine

Plenty of sunshine can be expected in numerous places in January. Christchurch typically receives 238 hours of sunlight, making it 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 January

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 January for some of the most popular destinations in Canterbury, New Zealand?

Temperature range in Canterbury (January)

Precipitation variation in Canterbury (January)

Christchurch

In January Christchurch generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
13°C (55°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
218 hours
238 hours
196 hours
Monthly rainfall
63 mm (2.5 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
49 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
8 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Kaikoura

In January Kaikoura generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
13°C (55°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly rainfall
90 mm (3.5 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
78 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Hanmer Springs

In January Hanmer Springs generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly rainfall
104 mm (4.1 in)
93 mm (3.7 in)
85 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Lake Tekapo

In January Lake Tekapo generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly rainfall
122 mm (4.8 in)
115 mm (4.5 in)
100 mm (3.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
7 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Akaroa

In January Akaroa generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
218 hours
238 hours
196 hours
Monthly rainfall
57 mm (2.2 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
47 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

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

In our records: New Zealand January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in New Zealand in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • From our sources, the wettest January day in New Zealand brought 219 mm (8.6 in) in Whangarei on January 19, 2018.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Christchurch 22°C (72°F) 13°C (55°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Kaikoura 20°C (68°F) 13°C (55°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Hanmer Springs 20°C (68°F) 9°C (48°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Lake Tekapo 19°C (66°F) 9°C (48°F) 115 mm (4.5 in)
Akaroa 19°C (66°F) 13°C (55°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Timaru 20°C (68°F) 12°C (54°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)

Canterbury weather in January: frequently asked questions

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

January in Canterbury, New Zealand brings perfect weather. In Christchurch, daytime temperatures are typically around 22°C (72°F) and nighttime lows hover near 13°C (55°F).

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

Christchurch averages a daytime maximum of 22°C (72°F) in January, with overnight lows close to 13°C (55°F).

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

Not particularly. Christchurch averages just 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain in January, making it a mostly dry month for Canterbury, New Zealand.

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

We consider January to be one of the best times to travel to Canterbury, New Zealand. Typically, the climate in Christchurch is perfect. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

On average, the best time to visit Canterbury, New Zealand is in January, February, March and December with generally 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.