New Zealand in December

Summer begins; after 20 December locals take the roads and campsites — book everything.

• Northland and Auckland · Bay of Islands, Auckland, Coromandelbest weather

  Subtropical-mild: humid summers around 24 °C, wet but rarely cold winters (14 °C days); showers in any month.

• Central North Island · Rotorua, Taupō, Tongarirobest weather

  The volcanic plateau is high: frosts and snow on the Tongariro Crossing in winter (guided only then); summer is the crossing season.

• Wellington and Marlborough-Nelson · Wellington, Picton, Nelson, Abel Tasmanbest weather

  Nelson and Blenheim are the sunniest towns in the country; Wellington's wind and Cook Strait swell can cancel ferries.

• Southern Alps and lakes · Queenstown, Wānaka, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Tekapobest weather

  Hot dry summers, clear cold winters with ski fields Jun–Sep; chains needed on passes; autumn colour in April.

• West Coast and Fiordland · Franz Josef, Fox, Milford Sound, Te Anaufine

  Among the wettest places on earth (Milford gets 6–7 m a year): rain makes the waterfalls, but slips close roads; sandflies all summer.

• Otago coast and far south · Dunedin, the Catlins, Stewart Islandfine

  Cool and changeable year-round; short winter days (about 9 hours of light in June).

• Auckland22° / 15°, 10 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Christmas and Boxing Day big impact

  25–26 Dec

  Shops closed on the 25th; start of the six-week summer holiday when locals take the campsites.

• School holidays

  Apr, Jul, late Sep–Oct, mid-Dec – late Jan

  Family travel fills campervans, ski fields (July) and ferries.

Crowds · New Zealand

High

Prices · New Zealand

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Northland and Auckland

  Best weather of the year (Bay of Islands, Auckland, Coromandel)

• Central North Island

  Best weather of the year (Rotorua, Taupō, Tongariro)

• Wellington and Marlborough-Nelson

  Best weather of the year (Wellington, Picton, Nelson, Abel Tasman)

• Southern Alps and lakes

  Best weather of the year (Queenstown, Wānaka, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Tekapo)

• Auckland

  Warm; Christmas crowds and school holidays.