SeasonMapNew Zealand in December
December is New Zealand's 4th-best month (rank 4 of 12): its 17 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 · 17 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Where in New Zealand in December
| # | Place | Type | Feels-like high | Rain | Comfort | At its best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napier | City | 25°C | 72 mm · 11 days | 93 tier S | Yes |
| 2 | Auckland | City | 23°C | 72 mm · 12 days | 90 tier S | Yes |
| 3 | Christchurch | City | 22°C | 63 mm · 10 days | 89 tier A | Yes |
| 4 | Lake Tekapo | Trekking hub | 16°C | 122 mm · 14 days | 87 tier A | — |
| 5 | Rotorua | Trekking hub | 22°C | 113 mm · 13 days | 87 tier A | Yes |
| 6 | Taupo | City | 22°C | 109 mm · 13 days | 87 tier A | Yes |
| 7 | Wellington | City | 19°C | 82 mm · 12 days | 87 tier A | — |
| 8 | Nelson | City | 22°C | 118 mm · 12 days | 86 tier A | — |
| 9 | Paihia | Beach | 23°C | 51 mm · 9 days | 84 tier A | — |
| 10 | Te Anau | National park | 16°C | 157 mm · 18 days | 84 tier A | — |
| 11 | Dunedin | City | 18°C | 94 mm · 15 days | 83 tier A | — |
| 12 | Tongariro | National park | 16°C | 167 mm · 18 days | 82 tier A | — |
| 13 | Aoraki Mount Cook | National park | 17°C | 305 mm · 20 days | 77 tier B | — |
| 14 | Kaikōura | Beach | 21°C | 108 mm · 14 days | 77 tier B | — |
| 15 | Franz Josef | Trekking hub | 17°C | 387 mm · 20 days | 72 tier B | — |
| 16 | Queenstown | Ski resort | 21°C | 124 mm · 16 days | 15 tier F | — |
| 17 | Wānaka | Ski resort | 18°C | 114 mm · 15 days | 12 tier F | — |
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)
- 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)
- Gannets at Cape Kidnappers · Napier · 15 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)
Seasons in force
Peak crowds at 12 of New Zealand's 12 well-known places this month.