Month guide · Christchurch · New Zealand
Christchurch in August
What August is really like in Christchurch: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Greg O'Beirne, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
August is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 10.4 hours of daylight. Cold but lengthening days; a quiet month in the city with good ski conditions inland.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 10°C (50°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in August
August is the 11th-warmest month in Christchurch: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 17°C (63°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with July (11°C (52°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs climb to around 15°C (59°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 07:24
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 17:44
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
- Sea
- 10°C (50°F)
Spring (September–November). Blossom, daffodils and lambs, with changeable weather and the lively Cup and Show Week in November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 2 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in January). That makes August one of the better-value months to book.
Events in August
- Christchurch Arts Festival (in some years, usually August–September)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
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
Experience · Central City
Punting on the Avon
Punters in boaters and striped jackets pole flat-bottomed boats along the Avon (Ōtākaro) beneath willows and past the Botanic Gardens.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Port Hills
Christchurch Gondola
Go on a clear morning for the best chance of seeing the Alps, and walk part of the Crater Rim track.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 3°C and 8 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Christchurch?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Christchurch in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Christchurch?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold but lengthening days; a quiet month in the city with good ski conditions inland.
+How warm is Christchurch in August?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Christchurch in August?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.