January in Christchurch — the year's strongest window
Best window · 9.2/10January averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 57 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 31 sunny days and 14.9 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Christchurch at 9.2/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
February in Christchurch — reliably good (5th best month)
Good · 7.9/10February averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 114 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 21 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7.9/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
March in Christchurch — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 8.1/10March averages 15°C (58°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 69 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 15 sunny days and 12.4 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.1/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
April in Christchurch — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.8/10April averages 12°C (54°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 65 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 6 sunny days and 10.8 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.8/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Christchurch — 2.4 points higher on the same scale.
May in Christchurch — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.1/10May averages 10°C (49°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 90 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 9.5 hours of daylight.
It scores 5.1/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Christchurch — 4.1 points higher on the same scale.
June in Christchurch — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.7/10June averages 8°C (46°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 79 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 8.8 hours of daylight.
It scores 4.7/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Christchurch — 4.5 points higher on the same scale.
July in Christchurch — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.2/10July averages 7°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 165 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 3.2/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Christchurch — 6 points higher on the same scale.
August in Christchurch — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.8/10August averages 7°C (45°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 91 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 2 sunny days and 10.2 hours of daylight.
It scores 4.8/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Christchurch — 4.4 points higher on the same scale.
September in Christchurch — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.4/10September averages 9°C (49°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 77 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 11 sunny days and 11.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.4/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Christchurch — 2.8 points higher on the same scale.
October in Christchurch — reliably good (6th best month)
Good · 7.4/10October averages 11°C (52°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 90 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 22 sunny days and 13.2 hours of daylight.
It scores 7.4/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Christchurch — 1.8 points higher on the same scale.
November in Christchurch — reliably good (4th best month)
Good · 8.1/10November averages 14°C (56°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 81 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 29 sunny days and 14.6 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.1/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
December in Christchurch — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 8.2/10December averages 16°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 95 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 30 sunny days and 15.2 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.2/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect peak pricing, and crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
