New Zealand in December
December is New Zealand's 4th-best month (rank 4 of 12): its 18 destinations average 76/100, led by Napier at 93 — 25°C and 11 rainy days — while Lake Tekapo is cooler at 16°C and scores 87.
#4 of 12 months for New Zealand · 18 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
🇳🇿 New Zealand, month by month
76/100 in DecemberWhere in New Zealand in December
Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 score; each place is judged through the lens that suits it — beaches on beach weather, ski resorts on snow. "At its best" means December is one of that place's own top three months. Feels-like highs fold in humidity, wind and sun.
What's on in New Zealand in December
- Pohutukawa in flower · Auckland · 25 Nov – 10 Jan (usually)
- New Zealand summer holidays · Auckland and 9 more places · 20 Dec – 31 Jan (usually)
- Christmas Day closures · Christchurch and 14 more places · 25–26 Dec
- Lupins along the lake · Lake Tekapo · 15 Nov – 10 Jan (usually)
- Kepler Challenge · Te Anau · 28 Nov – 10 Dec (usually)
- Sperm whales, all year · Kaikōura · 1 Jan – 31 Dec
- Summer peak in the village · Franz Josef · 20 Dec – 5 Feb (usually)
- Lupins along the roads · Queenstown · 15 Nov – 5 Jan (usually)
Seasons in force
Peak crowds at 12 of New Zealand's 12 well-known places this month.