Wellington

Wellington Weather in December

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

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Wellington Lower Hutt Martinborough Masterton

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

What to Expect in Wellington in December

Wellington, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. December in Wellington generally has temperatures that range from mild to pleasant, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is mild in Wellington at 17°C (63°F) to pleasant in Masterton at 19°C (66°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 11°C (52°F) in Masterton and 13°C (55°F) in Wellington.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Wellington with an average of 68 mm (2.7 in) to high rainfall in Otaki with 148 mm (5.8 in).

Average sunshine

December brings good sunshine to many areas. Wellington sees around 222 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

Explore Wellington by month

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

January19°C (66°F) February19°C (66°F) March18°C (64°F) April17°C (63°F) May15°C (59°F) June13°C (55°F) This monthJuly13°C (55°F) August13°C (55°F) September14°C (57°F) October15°C (59°F) November16°C (61°F) December17°C (63°F)
Best Time to Visit Wellington →

Best Places to Visit in Wellington in December

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

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 Wellington

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

Temperature range in Wellington (December)

Precipitation variation in Wellington (December)

Wellington

In December Wellington generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
222 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
73 mm (2.9 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
13 days
9 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Wellington →

Lower Hutt

In December Lower Hutt generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
13°C (55°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
222 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
84 mm (3.3 in)
80 mm (3.1 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
10 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Lower Hutt →

Martinborough

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

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
222 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
90 mm (3.5 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
10 days
8 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Martinborough →

Masterton

In December Masterton 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.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
166 hours
178 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
98 mm (3.9 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
76 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Masterton →

Paraparaumu Beach

In December Paraparaumu Beach generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
222 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
131 mm (5.2 in)
134 mm (5.3 in)
103 mm (4.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
11 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
tolerable
Climate in Paraparaumu Beach →

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

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Wellington 17°C (63°F) 13°C (55°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Lower Hutt 18°C (64°F) 13°C (55°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Martinborough 19°C (66°F) 12°C (54°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Masterton 19°C (66°F) 11°C (52°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Paraparaumu Beach 17°C (63°F) 13°C (55°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)
Greytown 19°C (66°F) 11°C (52°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)

Wellington weather in December: frequently asked questions

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

Expect tolerable weather across Wellington, New Zealand in December. The popular destination of Wellington averages 17°C (63°F) by day and 13°C (55°F) at night during this month.

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

Daytime temperatures in Wellington peak at roughly 17°C (63°F) in December, dropping to about 13°C (55°F) overnight.

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

Not particularly. Wellington averages just 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain in December, making it a mostly dry month for Wellington, New Zealand.

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

In our opinion, December is a good time to visit Wellington, New Zealand with overall tolerable weather in Wellington.

Generally speaking, January, February and March provide pleasant weather in Wellington. On the other hand, the month of June tends to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Wellington.

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 →