Season guide · Christchurch · New Zealand
Christchurch in autumn
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Settled early autumn weather, golden trees in Hagley Park in April and cooling, frosty nights by May. Expect highs up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 22 rainy days across March–May. March is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 4°C (39°F) to 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 22
- Sea
- 12°C (54°F) to 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 20°C (68°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 7 | 12.5 h | 4/5 |
| April | 18°C (64°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 7 | 10.9 h | 3/5 |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 8 | 9.7 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 17°C (63°F) against a yearly 17°C (63°F), and 22 of the year's roughly 90 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
Good choices for autumn
Market · Central City
Riverside Market
Come at lunchtime and pick from several stalls, then eat by the river on the Terrace.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
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
Museum · Wigram
Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Combine it with a rainy-day afternoon; it is about 15 minutes by car from the centre.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Free
- History
Gallery · Central City
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
The city's public art gallery, behind a curving glass facade completed in 2003, holds New Zealand art from colonial painting to contemporary Māori and Pacific work, alongside changing exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
Museum · Christchurch Airport
International Antarctic Centre
Schedule it on your arrival or departure day, as it is a few minutes from the terminal.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Day trips in autumn
- Hanmer Springs (About 1 hour 45 minutes by car) — An alpine village known for its thermal pools and spa, surrounded by forest walks, mountain-bike trails, jet-boating and bungy at the nearby Waiau Ferry Bridge.
- Kaikōura (About 2 hours 30 minutes by car) — Between snow-capped mountains and a deep offshore canyon, Kaikōura is famous for whale-watching trips that see sperm whales year-round, plus fur seal colonies on the peninsula walkway and crayfish from roadside stands.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Christchurch?
Yes: March is among the best months. Settled early autumn weather, golden trees in Hagley Park in April and cooling, frosty nights by May.
+What is the weather like in Christchurch in autumn?
Highs of up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 22 rainy days over the season.