Season guide · Christchurch · New Zealand
Christchurch in summer
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Greg Hewgill, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Warm, long days around 21–23°C, beaches and outdoor dining; the busiest and most expensive season. Expect highs up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F), with about 21 rainy days across December–February. December–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 11°C (52°F) to 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 21
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F) to 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23°C (73°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 7 | 15.1 h | 5/5 |
| February | 22°C (72°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 6 | 13.9 h | 4/5 |
| December | 21°C (70°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 8 | 15.4 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 22°C (72°F) against a yearly 17°C (63°F), and 21 of the year's roughly 90 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: World Buskers Festival — street performers across the city (usually January)
Make the most of the weather
Garden · Central City
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Founded in 1863 inside a loop of the Avon River, the 21-hectare gardens include a heritage rose garden, a New Zealand plants section, glasshouses and some of the country's largest exotic trees.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Kids
Experience · Central City
Punting on the Avon
Choose a late-afternoon trip on a calm, sunny day; blankets are provided on cooler days.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Port Hills
Christchurch Gondola
Cabins climb Mount Cavendish on the Port Hills to a summit station with a café and views over Lyttelton Harbour, the Canterbury Plains and, on clear days, the Southern Alps.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
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
Zoo · McLeans Island
Orana Wildlife Park
New Zealand's open-range zoo, on the city's north-western edge, keeps lions, giraffes, rhinos and gorillas in large enclosures, as well as native kiwi, tuatara and birds.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Day trips in summer
- Akaroa (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car) — On Banks Peninsula, the harbour village of Akaroa was settled by French colonists in 1840 and keeps French street names and colonial cottages.
- 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.
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 summer a good time to visit Christchurch?
Yes: December–February are among the best months. Warm, long days around 21–23°C, beaches and outdoor dining; the busiest and most expensive season.
+What is the weather like in Christchurch in summer?
Highs of up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F), with about 21 rainy days over the season.