Month guide · Christchurch · New Zealand
Christchurch in April
What April is really like in Christchurch: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0
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Quick answer
April is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 18°C (64°F), lows of 7°C (45°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 10.9 hours of daylight. Autumn colour in Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens; crisp mornings and clear days.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 18°C (64°F) / 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 13°C (55°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in April
April is the 6th-warmest month in Christchurch: days average 18°C (64°F) against a yearly average high of 17°C (63°F), and nights fall to about 7°C (45°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 30 days. Compared with March (20°C (68°F)), April is cooler; by May highs drop to around 14°C (57°F).
- Sunrise (15 April)
- About 07:03
- Sunset (15 April)
- About 17:56
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Sea
- 13°C (55°F)
Winter (June–August). Cold, crisp days and frosty nights; quiet in the city and the gateway to ski fields inland.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, April rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in April
April has no major recurring festival in Christchurch, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in April
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Architecture · Central City
Tūranga central library
Opened in 2018 on Cathedral Square, the five-floor library has a striking facade of fins inspired by Ngāi Tahu stories, a large children's area, digital and maker spaces, and views over the square from the upper floors.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Historic site · Riccarton
Riccarton House and Bush
Visit on a Saturday morning for the farmers' market, then walk the short forest loop.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Nature
- Food
- Free
Museum · Wigram
Air Force Museum of New Zealand
At the former Wigram air base, where New Zealand military aviation began, the museum displays restored aircraft from early biplanes to Skyhawks and helicopters.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Free
- History
Garden · Central City
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Visit in spring for the daffodils and blossom in Hagley Park, or in April for autumn colour.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Kids
What to pack
For highs near 18°C, lows near 7°C and 7 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is April a good time to visit Christchurch?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Christchurch in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is April a good time to visit Christchurch?
It is a shoulder-season month. Autumn colour in Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens; crisp mornings and clear days.
+How warm is Christchurch in April?
Average highs are around 18°C (64°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Christchurch in April?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.