Manawatu Weather in December

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

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Palmerston North Whanganui Ohakune Levin

Planning a getaway to Manawatu, New Zealand this December and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Manawatu in December

Manawatu, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. December in Manawatu generally has pleasant temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from high to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are pleasant and range from 19°C (66°F) in National Park to 21°C (70°F) in Feilding. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 12°C (54°F) in Feilding and 9°C (48°F) in National Park.

For specific regional insights in Manawatu, New Zealand, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Feilding with an average of 108 mm (4.3 in) to heavy rainfall in National Park with 184 mm (7.2 in).

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Palmerston North as an example - it receives around 178 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

Explore Manawatu by month

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

January22°C (72°F) February23°C (73°F) March21°C (70°F) April18°C (64°F) May16°C (61°F) June14°C (57°F) This monthJuly13°C (55°F) August14°C (57°F) September15°C (59°F) October17°C (63°F) November18°C (64°F) December20°C (68°F)
Best Time to Visit Manawatu →

Best Places to Visit in Manawatu in December

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

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
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 Manawatu

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

Temperature range in Manawatu (December)

Precipitation variation in Manawatu (December)

Palmerston North

In December Palmerston North generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
166 hours
178 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
105 mm (4.1 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
82 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Palmerston North →

Whanganui

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

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
166 hours
178 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
97 mm (3.8 in)
109 mm (4.3 in)
77 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Whanganui →

Ohakune

In December Ohakune generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
19°C (66°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
10°C (50°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
195 hours
210 hours
225 hours
Monthly rainfall
148 mm (5.8 in)
151 mm (5.9 in)
118 mm (4.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
15 days
13 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Ohakune →

Levin

In December Levin generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
166 hours
178 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
138 mm (5.4 in)
141 mm (5.6 in)
103 mm (4.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Levin →

Taumarunui

In December Taumarunui generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
11°C (52°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
195 hours
210 hours
225 hours
Monthly rainfall
154 mm (6.1 in)
158 mm (6.2 in)
119 mm (4.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
15 days
13 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Taumarunui →

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

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Palmerston North 20°C (68°F) 12°C (54°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Whanganui 20°C (68°F) 13°C (55°F) 109 mm (4.3 in)
Ohakune 19°C (66°F) 10°C (50°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Levin 19°C (66°F) 12°C (54°F) 141 mm (5.6 in)
Taumarunui 20°C (68°F) 11°C (52°F) 158 mm (6.2 in)
National Park 19°C (66°F) 9°C (48°F) 184 mm (7.2 in)

Manawatu weather in December: frequently asked questions

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

Manawatu, New Zealand typically experiences pleasant weather in December, part of the season. Daytime highs in Palmerston North average around 20°C (68°F), and temperatures drop to about 12°C (54°F) at night.

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

Average temperatures in Manawatu, New Zealand during December range from a nighttime low near 12°C (54°F) to a daytime high around 20°C (68°F) in Palmerston North.

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

Yes, December tends to be a wetter month in Manawatu, New Zealand. Average rainfall in Palmerston North sits around 112 mm (4.4 in).

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

In our opinion, December is a good time to visit Manawatu, New Zealand with overall pleasant weather in Palmerston North. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

Generally speaking, January, February and March provide perfect weather in Palmerston North. In contrast, July tends to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Manawatu.

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.

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