Te Anau

Southland Weather in December

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

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Te Anau Invercargill Half-moon Bay Gore

Considering a trip to Southland, New Zealand this December and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Southland in December

Southland, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. December in Southland generally has temperatures that range from mild to pleasant, with precipitation levels ranging from high to heavy. During December, summer is in full swing.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is mild in Te Anau at 16°C (61°F) to pleasant in Gore at 18°C (64°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 8°C (46°F) in Gore and 6°C (43°F) in Te Anau.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Invercargill with an average of 120 mm (4.7 in) to heavy rainfall in Te Anau with 192 mm (7.6 in).

Explore Southland by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Southland - and find the best time to visit. (based on Te Anau)

January17°C (63°F) February17°C (63°F) March15°C (59°F) April13°C (55°F) May10°C (50°F) June7°C (45°F) This monthJuly7°C (45°F) August8°C (46°F) September10°C (50°F) October12°C (54°F) November13°C (55°F) December16°C (61°F)
Best Time to Visit Southland →

Best Places to Visit in Southland in December

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

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 Southland

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

Temperature range in Southland (December)

Precipitation variation in Southland (December)

Te Anau

In December Te Anau generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly rainfall
190 mm (7.5 in)
192 mm (7.6 in)
190 mm (7.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
14 days
13 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Te Anau →

Invercargill

In December Invercargill generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
10°C (50°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
183 hours
192 hours
187 hours
Monthly rainfall
118 mm (4.6 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
127 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
18 days
Weather conditions
mixed
good
good
Climate in Invercargill →

Half-moon Bay

In December Half-moon Bay generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
10°C (50°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
183 hours
192 hours
187 hours
Monthly rainfall
125 mm (4.9 in)
125 mm (4.9 in)
130 mm (5.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
23 days
23 days
Weather conditions
mixed
mixed
mixed
Climate in Half-moon Bay →

Gore

In December Gore generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
183 hours
192 hours
187 hours
Monthly rainfall
117 mm (4.6 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
126 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
17 days
17 days
Weather conditions
mixed
good
good
Climate in Gore →

Garston

In December Garston generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
16°C (61°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
140 mm (5.5 in)
152 mm (6 in)
148 mm (5.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
13 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
mixed
mixed
Climate in Garston →

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

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Te Anau 16°C (61°F) 6°C (43°F) 192 mm (7.6 in)
Invercargill 18°C (64°F) 10°C (50°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Half-moon Bay 16°C (61°F) 10°C (50°F) 125 mm (4.9 in)
Gore 18°C (64°F) 8°C (46°F) 122 mm (4.8 in)
Garston 16°C (61°F) 6°C (43°F) 152 mm (6 in)
Manapouri 16°C (61°F) 7°C (45°F) 189 mm (7.4 in)

Southland weather in December: frequently asked questions

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

December in Southland, New Zealand brings less favorable weather. In Te Anau, daytime temperatures are typically around 16°C (61°F) and nighttime lows hover near 6°C (43°F).

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

Te Anau averages a daytime maximum of 16°C (61°F) in December, with overnight lows close to 6°C (43°F).

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

Yes. December brings heavy rainfall to Southland, New Zealand, with Te Anau averaging around 192 mm (7.6 in). Expect frequent showers and pack accordingly.

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

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to Southland, New Zealand with often less favorable weather in Te Anau.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in February and March offering mostly mixed weather in Te Anau.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Southland.

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 →