Weather in South Island in December

 

Summer officially arrives in the South Island in December, along with lots of fun festivals and activities to celebrate. With long balmy evenings and warm days, December is a great time to plan a South Island holiday.

The West Coast of the South Island

December is a great time to plan a South Island holiday, whether you want to get out into the great outdoors, enjoy some time in (or on) the water, enjoy delicious food and drink, or simply just take in some of the many spectacular sites and scenery.

Average Temperatures in the South Island in December

December is generally warm in the South Island, with hotter temperatures in the northern and eastern regions (like Nelson, Marlborough and Christchurch) and more mild, spring-like temperatures in the mountains and further south (such as in Queenstown and Dunedin). Overall, it’s generally a time for t-shirts and shorts, with plenty of days where you might just feel like taking a dip! 

In terms of variation between different regions, here’s what to expect from average temperatures across the South Island in December:

Location

Min °C

Max °C

Average °C

Min °F

Max °F

Average °F

Christchurch

11.0°C

21.1°C

16.1°C

51.8°F

70.0°F

61.0°F

Nelson

12.0°C

20.7°C

16.4°C

53.6°F

69.3°F

61.5°F

Queenstown

8.3°C

19.7°C

14.0°C

46.9°F

67.5°F

57.2°F

Dunedin

10.4°C

17.3°C

13.9°C

50.7°F

63.1°F

57.0°F

Akaroa hill walk

Average Sunshine Hours Per day in the South Island in December

December is officially the start of summer, and it’s the month with the longest days of the year. Thanks to its deep southern latitude, the extremes of these long, sunny evenings and extended daylight hours are felt at their most extreme the further south you go (such as Dunedin and Queenstown). Wherever you are, though, chances are you can look forward to plenty of sunshine and daylight hours across the South Island for the whole of December.

Location

Ave Sunshine Hours per month

Ave Sunshine Hours per day

Median Daylight Length (hours)

Christchurch

219.9

7.1

15.35

Nelson

241.1

7.8

15.08

Queenstown

223.5

7.2

15.58

Dunedin

168.3

5.4

15.65

Average rainfall in the South Island in December

December rainfall in the South Island is spread around across the regions. In some cities and areas, December can be a rainy month, with almost as many wet days as clear, sunny days and cloud. However, in others, this is the start of the driest period of the year, with hardly any rain and relatively low humidity. 

Therefore, knowing where you plan to go will affect how much rain (or not) to expect on any South Island holiday during December:

Location

Rainfall (mm)

Rainfall (inch)

Relative Humidity

Wet Days

Christchurch

49.5

1.9

78.9%

7.3

Nelson

83.6

3.3

74.2%

8.6

Queenstown

75.3

3.0

69.4%

9.6

Dunedin

80.2

3.2

73.2%

12.0

Milford Sound

700.1

27.6

82.8%

17.7

Best Things to do in the South Island in December 

Enjoy the Marlborough Sounds

December is a beautiful time to visit the Marlborough Sounds, with lovely long, sunny summer evenings providing the perfect setting to enjoy the natural beauty of these picturesque landscapes. The long days also make it a great time to walk some of the Queen Charlotte Sound Track, or explore into the Sounds’ different coves and bays on a boat cruise or kayak tour. If you need some sustenance along the way, Marlborough is also home to some of New Zealand’s best wineries and world-class seafood, with the historic town of Havelock proclaiming itself the “Greenshell Mussel Capital of the World”!

Bay of Many Coves

South Island Wine & Food Festival 

From Sauvignon Blanc to merino lamb, world-renowned hops to famous apricots, the South Island is renowned for a wide array of first-rate food and drink. It can usually be quite hard to get a taste of it all in one place – except for in December.  For one weekend in early December, central Christchurch’s Hagley Park gets taken over for one incredibly delicious and enjoyable festival celebrating all that South Island Food & Wine has to offer. Whether for the full family or just a fun day out, this is a day that is bound to impress.

Abel Tasman National Park

With iconic landmarks like Split Apple Rock and the sandy expanse of Golden Bay, the Tasman region is a wonderful place to visit during the long, warm days of December. Take a boat trip, hire a kayak or get your walking boots on and explore the many beautiful secluded coves and bays of Abel Tasman National Park, or head into nearby Motueka and Nelson, at the heart of a major hop-growing region, for a look into New Zealand’s world-famous craft beer scene

If you’re ready to start planning your trip, you can contact FLT’s South Island travel experts directly, and they can help you put together your itinerary. FLT also offers a wide range of prescribed South Island self-drive itinerary and tour packages, covering different durations and destinations, this is a great place to start your travel plans.

David Mckenzie
By
David Mckenzie
: 20 Dec 2022 (Last updated: 20 Dec 2022)

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