Best Time to Visit Christchurch

Summer, December to March: the easy season

Summer is when Christchurch feels at its best. January and February both sit at 24°C by day, with cool nights around 12°C. March is a little softer, and it's still rated Excellent. You can spend long afternoons on the river in Hagley Park or the Botanic Gardens, or take the tram around the city centre.

This is high season. Locals take their summer holidays from late December into January, so beaches like Sumner and New Brighton fill up. Akaroa, the French-flavoured harbour town on Banks Peninsula, gets busy too. If you want a quiet visit, aim for March. Rain is spread through the year here, so even in summer, pack for a shower.

Events pick up in the warm months. The Christchurch Arts Festival has been held in spring, and the New Zealand Cup and Show Week in November is a big local tradition. The Show is the Canterbury farm and country fair, and a public holiday called Show Day falls in that week.

Autumn and spring: calm and changeable

April is Good, though rain falls on 13 days and the sun fades fast. The oaks and maples in Hagley Park turn gold, which makes for a lovely walk. May is cooler and damper, so it suits museum days at Canterbury Museum or the Christchurch Art Gallery.

Spring is moody. September is the driest month in the table, but it's still cool at 14°C. October is Good, with rain on 15 days. November jumps to Excellent, with warmer days of 19°C and gardens in bloom. Travelling with kids? Early November is a good pick, since you'll skip the summer rush and the weather is mild.

Winter, June to August: cold and grey

Winter is damp and chilly. July is the coldest month, with a high of 10°C, and it's also the wettest, with 92 mm on 15 days. Humidity is high, so it feels colder than it reads. Frosty mornings are common, and the sun sets early.

Still, winter has a point. Prices and crowds drop in the city. It's also the time to go skiing, since Mt Hutt, about 90 minutes' drive inland, usually opens for the season in June. If snow is your goal, plan around that rather than the city weather. Otherwise, wait for summer.