Best time to visit Christchurch
The best time to visit Christchurch is November–March, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.1 °C / 66 °F | 13.9 °C / 57 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | best month |
| February | 19.1 °C / 66 °F | 14 °C / 57 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | best month |
| March | 17.7 °C / 64 °F | 12.8 °C / 55 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | best month |
| April | 15.7 °C / 60 °F | 10.8 °C / 51 °F | 56 mm / 2.2 in | good month |
| May | 13.3 °C / 56 °F | 8.6 °C / 47 °F | 55 mm / 2.2 in | good month |
| June | 10.7 °C / 51 °F | 6.4 °C / 44 °F | 62 mm / 2.4 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 10 °C / 50 °F | 5.5 °C / 42 °F | 59 mm / 2.3 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 10.6 °C / 51 °F | 5.9 °C / 43 °F | 44 mm / 1.7 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 12.4 °C / 54 °F | 7.2 °C / 45 °F | 35 mm / 1.4 in | good month |
| October | 14.1 °C / 57 °F | 8.6 °C / 47 °F | 54 mm / 2.1 in | good month |
| November | 16 °C / 61 °F | 10.8 °C / 51 °F | 49 mm / 1.9 in | best month |
| December | 17.8 °C / 64 °F | 12.8 °C / 55 °F | 60 mm / 2.4 in | best month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: best
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- November–March
- Good
- April–May, September–October
Christchurch is at its best from November through March, with warm, sunny, dry days ideal for exploring on foot, and stays pleasant into April, May, September and October as it cools. June through August turn cold, damp and comparatively dull, making outdoor exploring much less rewarding in winter.
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.8 °C / 66 °F, average daily high 19.1 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, wet days 7.6 days, average daily low 13.9 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 73%.
Also on: The World Buskers Festival.
Watch out for: Christmas-New Year travel and booking rush.
February · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.6 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 19.1 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, wet days 6.5 days, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 14 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 75%.
Also on: Electric Avenue.
March · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.6 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, average daily high 17.7 °C / 64 °F, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, wet days 7.3 days, average daily low 12.8 °C / 55 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Watch out for: Easter shop closures.
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 77%, feels like (high) 13.8 °C / 57 °F, average daily high 15.7 °C / 60 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 10.8 °C / 51 °F.
Against: wet days 8.4 days, precipitation 56 mm / 2.2 in, relative humidity 78%.
Watch out for: ANZAC Day closures, Easter shop closures.
May · good
In its favour: precipitation 55 mm / 2.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, average daily high 13.3 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F.
Against: relative humidity 81%, wet days 8.2 days, sunshine per day 7.2 h, feels like (high) 10.8 °C / 51 °F.
Also on: Open Christchurch.
September · good
In its favour: precipitation 35 mm / 1.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, average daily low 7.2 °C / 45 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 9.6 °C / 49 °F, wet days 7.9 days, average daily high 12.4 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 77%.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 82%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily high 14.1 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: wet days 10.2 days, precipitation 54 mm / 2.1 in, feels like (high) 12 °C / 54 °F.
November · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 14.7 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 49 mm / 1.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, average daily high 16 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, average daily low 10.8 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 73%.
Against: wet days 8.6 days.
Also on: Carnival Week (Guy Fawkes, NZ Cup racing, A&P Show).
December · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17 °C / 63 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, average daily high 17.8 °C / 64 °F, days with heavy rain 1.5 days, average daily low 12.8 °C / 55 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: wet days 9.8 days, precipitation 60 mm / 2.4 in.
Also on: Carols by Candlelight.
Watch out for: Christmas Day closures, Christmas-New Year travel and booking rush.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Porters Ski Area, 85 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 18.8 °C | 18.6 °C | 16.6 °C | 13.8 °C | 10.8 °C | 7.9 °C | 7 °C | 7.7 °C | 9.6 °C | 12 °C | 14.7 °C | 17 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.4 days | 1.4 days | 1.2 days | 1.4 days | 1.3 days | 1.2 days | 1.5 days | 0.8 days | 0.4 days | 1.4 days | 1.1 days | 1.5 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 3 pm | 6 pm | 8 am | 9 pm | 6 am | 5 am | 5 am | 3 pm | 6 pm | 4 am | 9 am | 9 am |
| Sunshine per day | 12.1 h | 11 h | 9.8 h | 8.4 h | 7.2 h | 6.6 h | 7 h | 8 h | 9.5 h | 10.8 h | 11.9 h | 12 h |
| Relative humidity | 73% | 75% | 76% | 78% | 81% | 83% | 83% | 82% | 77% | 74% | 73% | 74% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 5.6 µg/m³ | 4.8 µg/m³ | 4.1 µg/m³ | 3.4 µg/m³ | 3.4 µg/m³ | 4.3 µg/m³ | 4.6 µg/m³ | 3.7 µg/m³ | 3.2 µg/m³ | 3.8 µg/m³ | 4.6 µg/m³ | 4.8 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 7.8 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 6.5 µg/m³ | 5.5 µg/m³ | 5.8 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | 7.8 µg/m³ | 6.2 µg/m³ | 5.5 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- The World Buskers Festival
January
- Electric Avenue
February
- Open Christchurch
May
- Kidsfest
July
- Carnival Week (Guy Fawkes, NZ Cup racing, A&P Show)
November
- Carols by Candlelight
24 December
Worth knowing before you go
- Christmas-New Year travel and booking rush
January and December, dates vary from year to year
- Easter shop closures
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- ANZAC Day closures
25 April
- Christmas Day closures
25 December