SeasonMapTe Anau (Milford Sound) weather in December
New Zealand
December in Te Anau: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 18 rainy days.
#4 of 12 months in Te Anau · #348 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 84/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Te Anau in December
Other months in Te Anau
Te Anau's forum calls January reliably summery, with overnight lows typically 10-15°C and daytime warmth in the 20s, occasionally climbing into the high 20s or low 30s. Regulars point out Te Anau sits in a genuine rain shadow — its yearly rainfall is a fraction of the West Coast's on the other side of the mountains — though cloudy, showery days still happen; a warm waterproof jacket alongside summer clothes covers most conditions.
Add your own note from Te Anau's card on the map.
Te Anau climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 17°C / 62°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 9°C / 49°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 16°C / 61°F | |
| Rainfall | 157 mm / 6.2 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 18 days | |
| Humidity | 80% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 9°C / 49°F | |
| Sunshine | 10.9 h/day | |
| Daylight | 15.6 h | |
| Wind | 16 km/h / 10 mph | |
| Snowfall | 0.5 cm / 0.2 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 16 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Te Anau in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsKepler Challenge, New Zealand summer holidays, Summer holidays in New Zealand(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Te Anau's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherTe Anau's weather peaks January–March.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Te Anau in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Sandflies at their worst
1 Oct – 30 Apr · usuallyInsect seasonFiordland's sandflies are the reason people remember the walk in as well as the view. Worst at the trail ends and by the water in still, overcast weather; repellent is not optional here. Source ↗
- Season
Great Walks season
25 Oct – 30 Apr · usuallyTrail seasonBook earlyThe Milford and Kepler run on booked, serviced-hut rules from late October to the end of April. Outside it the bridges come out, the huts lose their heating and the walks become alpine trips. Source ↗
- Festival
Kepler Challenge
28 Nov – 10 Dec · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook earlyA sixty-kilometre mountain run around the Kepler Track on the first Saturday of December, entered by ballot. The town's beds are taken by runners and their families that weekend. Source ↗
- Holiday
New Zealand summer holidays
20 Dec – 1 Feb · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook earlyThe town is the staging post for Milford Sound, and in January the day-trip buses leave before dawn. Book the cruise and the bed together, or drive the road yourself very early. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Te Anau — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Te Anau?
Te Anau in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Te Anau?
- December in Te Anau: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 18 rainy days. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Te Anau on SeasonMap's comfort score (84/100).
- What is the weather like in Te Anau in December?
- In December, Te Anau averages a daily high of 16.7°C and a low of 9.2°C, with about 157.4 mm of rain over roughly 17.9 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Te Anau in December?
- Te Anau has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 16 in December.
Other months in Te Anau
Compare Te Anau in December
Warmer or cooler than Te Anau in December
Similar destinations in Oceania — December
Within 300 km: Queenstown's Lupins along the roads around 15 Nov – 5 Jan, and Lake Tekapo's Lupins along the lake around 15 Nov – 10 Jan.