Hokitika

West Coast Weather in December

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

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Franz Josef Greymouth Hokitika Fox Glacier

Planning a journey to the West Coast, 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 the West Coast in December

The West Coast, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. December in the West Coast generally has temperatures that range from mild to pleasant, with heavy precipitation.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from mild in Franz Josef at 15°C (59°F) to pleasant in Greymouth at 19°C (66°F). At night it cools down to 12°C (54°F) in Greymouth and 8°C (46°F) in Franz Josef.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Karamea with an average of 240 mm (9.4 in) to heavy rainfall in Haast with 417 mm (16 in).

Average sunshine

Plenty of sunshine can be expected in numerous places in December. Greymouth typically receives 197 hours of sunlight, making it ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore the West Coast by month

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

January16°C (61°F) February17°C (63°F) March15°C (59°F) April13°C (55°F) May10°C (50°F) June8°C (46°F) This monthJuly7°C (45°F) August8°C (46°F) September9°C (48°F) October11°C (52°F) November12°C (54°F) December15°C (59°F)
Best Time to Visit the West Coast →

Best Places to Visit in the West Coast in December

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

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 the West Coast

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

Temperature range in the West Coast (December)

Precipitation variation in the West Coast (December)

Greymouth

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

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
183 hours
197 hours
211 hours
Monthly rainfall
227 mm (8.9 in)
255 mm (10 in)
232 mm (9.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
20 days
17 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Greymouth →

Franz Josef

In December Franz Josef generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
15°C (59°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly rainfall
326 mm (13 in)
376 mm (15 in)
361 mm (14 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Franz Josef →

Hokitika

In December Hokitika generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
183 hours
197 hours
211 hours
Monthly rainfall
299 mm (12 in)
345 mm (14 in)
317 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
16 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Hokitika →

Fox Glacier

In December Fox Glacier generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly rainfall
326 mm (13 in)
376 mm (15 in)
354 mm (14 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Fox Glacier →

Westport

In December Westport generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly rainfall
237 mm (9.3 in)
265 mm (10 in)
230 mm (9.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Westport →

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

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in the West Coast in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Franz Josef 15°C (59°F) 8°C (46°F) 376 mm (15 in)
Greymouth 19°C (66°F) 12°C (54°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Hokitika 18°C (64°F) 12°C (54°F) 345 mm (14 in)
Fox Glacier 16°C (61°F) 8°C (46°F) 376 mm (15 in)
Westport 18°C (64°F) 12°C (54°F) 265 mm (10 in)
Punakaiki 17°C (63°F) 12°C (54°F) 259 mm (10 in)

The West Coast weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the West Coast, New Zealand in December?

December in the West Coast, New Zealand brings poor weather. In Greymouth, daytime temperatures are typically around 19°C (66°F) and nighttime lows hover near 12°C (54°F).

What is the average temperature in the West Coast, New Zealand in December?

Average temperatures in the West Coast, New Zealand during December range from a nighttime low near 12°C (54°F) to a daytime high around 19°C (66°F) in Greymouth.

Does the West Coast, New Zealand get a lot of rain in December?

Rainfall in the West Coast, New Zealand peaks during December. Greymouth averages roughly 255 mm (10 in), so frequent and sometimes heavy showers are the norm.

Is December a Good Time to Visit the West Coast, New Zealand?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit the West Coast, New Zealand due to the typically poor weather in Greymouth.

Generally speaking, February provides pleasant weather in Greymouth. In contrast, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the West Coast.

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 →