SeasonMapTongariro (Whakapapa) weather in December
New Zealand
December in Tongariro: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 18 rainy days.
#4 of 12 months in Tongariro · #405 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 82/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Tongariro in December
Notes from nearby Napier (122 km away)
Tongariro doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Napier, close enough to share the season.
Hawke's Bay is known as one of New Zealand's sunniest, driest regions, but December is spring turning into summer rather than summer proper: the forum describes it as capable of being cool and wet, with spring showers continuing, and the record agrees at eleven rain-days against 23°C days and 15°C nights. Regulars pack a warm jumper, long trousers and a light rain jacket for the windy, showery days. That warmth matters locally — it is what ripens the fruit for Christmas. If the wineries and Art Deco Napier are the draw and the dates are open, February is the month the forum names.
Add your own note from Tongariro's card on the map.
Tongariro climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 16°C / 62°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 7°C / 44°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 16°C / 61°F | |
| Rainfall | 167 mm / 6.6 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 18 days | |
| Humidity | 83% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 8°C / 47°F | |
| Sunshine | 11 h/day | |
| Daylight | 14.9 h | |
| Wind | 16 km/h / 10 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 18 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Tongariro 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 crowdsNew Zealand summer holidays, Summer holidays in New Zealand, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Tongariro'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 weatherTongariro's weather peaks January–March, best around February.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Tongariro in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Volcanic alert level
1 Jan – 31 DecVolcanic activityClosuresThese are active volcanoes and the alert level is published daily. A rise closes the Crossing and the upper mountain at short notice, which has happened several times in the past decade. Source ↗
- Rule
Four-hour limit at Mangatepopo
24 Oct – 5 May · usuallyBook earlyIn the main season the car park at the start of the Crossing is limited to four hours, which no walker can meet, so a shuttle is effectively compulsory. Book it the night before. Source ↗
- Season
Northern Circuit booked season
25 Oct – 30 Apr · usuallyTrail seasonBook earlyThe Great Walk huts run on booked, serviced rules from late October to the end of April, and sell out for the holiday weeks in the first days of the booking window in May. Source ↗
- Holiday
New Zealand summer holidays
20 Dec – 1 Feb · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook earlyThousands walk the Crossing on a fine January day, in a queue on the Devil's Staircase and a scramble for shuttle seats. Start at first light or pick a weekday. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Tongariro — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Tongariro?
Tongariro in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Tongariro?
- December in Tongariro: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 18 rainy days. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Tongariro on SeasonMap's comfort score (82/100).
- What is the weather like in Tongariro in December?
- In December, Tongariro averages a daily high of 16.4°C and a low of 6.5°C, with about 167.2 mm of rain over roughly 18.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Tongariro in December?
- Tongariro has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 18 in December.
Other months in Tongariro
Compare Tongariro in December
Warmer or cooler than Tongariro in December
Similar destinations in Oceania — December
Within 300 km: Auckland's Pohutukawa in flower around 25 Nov – 10 Jan, and Rotorua's New Zealand summer holidays around 20 Dec – 1 Feb.