New Zealand weather in December
New Zealand in December averages 16°C (61°F), 71 mm of rain and 6.4 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in New Zealand, December is the third warmest, the third driest and the fifth sunniest.
- Average temp
- 16°C (61°F)
13–20°C · 55–67°F
- Rainfall
- 71 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 6.4 h
hours per day
What is New Zealand like in December?
Daytime
Days are mild.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for New Zealand in December?
A light rain jacket
About 71 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A layer for the evening
Evenings cool off noticeably once the sun is down.
December compared with November and January
December in New Zealand is 2.2°C warmer than November and about as wet as it, which averages 14°C (57°F).
December in New Zealand is 1.2°C cooler than January and 14 mm wetter than it, which averages 17°C (63°F).
Daylight in New Zealand in December
On 15 December the sun is up for 15 hours 8 minutes in New Zealand, rising about 05:41 and setting about 20:50 local time.
December ends 12 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
No month in New Zealand has more daylight than December.
Travel guides for New Zealand
What to read before you book.
New Zealand weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How December compares with the rest of the year
December is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 17°C / 63°F | 57 mm |
| February | 17°C / 63°F | 55 mm |
| March | 16°C / 60°F | 77 mm |
| April | 14°C / 56°F | 83 mm |
| May | 12°C / 54°F | 98 mm |
| June | 10°C / 50°F | 105 mm |
| July | 9°C / 48°F | 116 mm |
| August | 10°C / 49°F | 87 mm |
| September | 11°C / 52°F | 80 mm |
| October | 13°C / 55°F | 86 mm |
| November | 14°C / 57°F | 73 mm |
| December | 16°C / 61°F | 71 mm |
Similar weather in December
Other destinations whose December averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about New Zealand in December
December climate averages for New Zealand, 1991–2020.
New Zealand averages 16°C (61°F) in December, ranging from about 13°C (55°F) at night to 20°C (67°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 71 mm falls across December, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. December averages 16°C (61°F) against 17°C (63°F) in January — 1.2°C cooler.
December is 2.2°C warmer than November, and about as wet.
Yes. December falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, November to April, on temperature and rainfall together.
About 6.4 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what December is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 15 hours 8 minutes of daylight in mid-December, the most of any month in New Zealand.
On 15 December, sunrise is about 05:41 and sunset about 20:50 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 12 minutes longer than it starts.
