Kaikoura

Canterbury Weather in March

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

Planning a trip to Canterbury, New Zealand this March? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Canterbury in March

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

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from mild in Mount Cook Village at 13°C (55°F) to pleasant in Lincoln at 21°C (70°F). At night it cools down 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 March, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Tai Tapu with an average of 47 mm (1.9 in) to heavy rainfall in Mount Cook Village with 210 mm (8.3 in). Going by our weather data, this month in Christchurch usually has the least rain, making it the driest month of the year.

Average sunshine

Many locations offer abundant sunshine during this month. For instance, Christchurch enjoys approximately 191 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 March

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

Temperature range in Canterbury (March)

Precipitation variation in Canterbury (March)

Christchurch

In March 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.

February
March
April
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
21°C (70°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
196 hours
191 hours
161 hours
Monthly rainfall
49 mm (1.9 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Kaikoura

In March 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.

February
March
April
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly rainfall
78 mm (3.1 in)
74 mm (2.9 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Hanmer Springs

In March Hanmer Springs generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
18°C (64°F)
15°C (59°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly rainfall
85 mm (3.3 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Lake Tekapo

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

February
March
April
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
17°C (63°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly rainfall
100 mm (3.9 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
103 mm (4.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
8 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Akaroa

In March 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.

February
March
April
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
196 hours
191 hours
161 hours
Monthly rainfall
47 mm (1.9 in)
49 mm (1.9 in)
60 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
11 days
11 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in March

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Christchurch 21°C (70°F) 11°C (52°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Kaikoura 19°C (66°F) 11°C (52°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Hanmer Springs 18°C (64°F) 7°C (45°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Lake Tekapo 17°C (63°F) 7°C (45°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Akaroa 18°C (64°F) 12°C (54°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Timaru 19°C (66°F) 10°C (50°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)

Canterbury weather in March: frequently asked questions

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

Expect perfect weather across Canterbury, New Zealand in March. The popular destination of Christchurch averages 21°C (70°F) by day and 11°C (52°F) at night during this month.

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

Daytime temperatures in Christchurch peak at roughly 21°C (70°F) in March, dropping to about 11°C (52°F) overnight.

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

Not particularly. Christchurch averages just 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain in March, making it a mostly dry month for Canterbury, New Zealand.

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

We believe that March 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.

On average, the best time to visit Canterbury, New Zealand is in January, February, March and December with generally perfect weather in Christchurch. On the other hand, the weather in June, July and August tend 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.