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Otago Weather in December

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

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Queenstown Wanaka Oamaru Cromwell

Planning a journey to Otago, New Zealand this December and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Otago in December

Otago, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. December in Otago 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

During the day the temperature is mild in Glenorchy at 14°C (57°F) and pleasant in Ophir at 18°C (64°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 8°C (46°F) in Ophir and 5°C (41°F) in Glenorchy.

To explore the conditions in Otago, New Zealand in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Portobello with an average of 92 mm (3.6 in) to heavy rainfall in Makarora with 264 mm (10 in).

Average sunshine

Many locations offer abundant sunshine during this month. For instance, Queenstown enjoys approximately 223 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Otago by month

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

January17°C (63°F) February17°C (63°F) March15°C (59°F) April12°C (54°F) May8°C (46°F) June4°C (39°F) This monthJuly3°C (37°F) August4°C (39°F) September6°C (43°F) October9°C (48°F) November13°C (55°F) December15°C (59°F)
Best Time to Visit Otago →

Best Places to Visit in Otago in December

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

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 Otago

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

Temperature range in Otago (December)

Precipitation variation in Otago (December)

Queenstown

In December Queenstown generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
6°C (43°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
216 hours
223 hours
230 hours
Monthly rainfall
141 mm (5.6 in)
149 mm (5.9 in)
143 mm (5.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions
poor
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Queenstown →

Wanaka

In December Wanaka generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°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 »
November
December
January
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
7°C (45°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
202 hours
212 hours
231 hours
Monthly rainfall
132 mm (5.2 in)
147 mm (5.8 in)
136 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
11 days
9 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
tolerable
Climate in Wanaka →

Oamaru

In December Oamaru generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly rainfall
76 mm (3 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
13 days
10 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Oamaru →

Cromwell

In December Cromwell 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 »
November
December
January
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
7°C (45°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
202 hours
212 hours
231 hours
Monthly rainfall
104 mm (4.1 in)
116 mm (4.6 in)
111 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
9 days
8 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
tolerable
Climate in Cromwell →

Alexandra

In December Alexandra 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 »
November
December
January
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
7°C (45°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
216 hours
223 hours
230 hours
Monthly rainfall
94 mm (3.7 in)
103 mm (4.1 in)
101 mm (4 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
9 days
8 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
unpleasant
tolerable
Climate in Alexandra →

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

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Queenstown 15°C (59°F) 6°C (43°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
Wanaka 16°C (61°F) 7°C (45°F) 147 mm (5.8 in)
Oamaru 17°C (63°F) 11°C (52°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Cromwell 17°C (63°F) 7°C (45°F) 116 mm (4.6 in)
Alexandra 17°C (63°F) 7°C (45°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)
Clyde 17°C (63°F) 7°C (45°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)

Otago weather in December: frequently asked questions

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

December in Otago, New Zealand brings unpleasant weather. In Queenstown, daytime temperatures are typically around 15°C (59°F) and nighttime lows hover near 6°C (43°F).

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

Daytime temperatures in Queenstown peak at roughly 15°C (59°F) in December, dropping to about 6°C (43°F) overnight.

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

Otago, New Zealand sees substantial rainfall in December. Queenstown typically averages about 149 mm (5.9 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

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

In our view, December is one of the best times to travel to Otago, New Zealand, however the weather can often be unpleasant in Queenstown.

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

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Otago.

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.

The Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand

It is called the most beautiful walk in New Zealand, the Tongariro Crossing. The official hiking season starts late October until end of April.

White-water sledge and raft in Rotorua

We recommend to white-water sledge and raft in Rotorua in summer (January, February) when the Glacier melt fills the rivers. This is the best time.
Must visit in New Zealand →