AI-generatedChristchurch at a glance
- Best time
- Nov – Mar
- Warmest month
- Feb · 21°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,120 h
- Rain a year
- 625 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+13 / UTC+12
- Elevation
- 14 m
Climate in Christchurch
Christchurch has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. February is the warmest month with average highs of 21 °C, while July is the coolest at 10 °C. With around 2,120 hours of sunshine a year, Christchurch is moderately sunny; November is the sunniest month with 7.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: November – March
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 9°
- Midday, 13:00: about 15°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
- Evening, 20:00: about 12°
- Night, 23:00: about 10°
06:3919:51
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:21–07:17 · evening 19:13–20:09
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:09–06:21 · evening 20:09–20:21
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Christchurch in October?
In October, Christchurch is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 62 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Christchurch.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 13 h 12 min06:39 – 19:51
- UV index
- 6 · highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 21 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 59 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+13Pacific/Auckland
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %72 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %60 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %50 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Christchurch
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.6 of 13.2 hours of daylight in Christchurch, 50 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 10 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Christchurch
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 6 · highSeek shade around midday; sunscreen SPF 30+, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in December (UV 9).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 20 min
- Fair skin
- about 25 min
- Light brown skin
- about 35 min
- Olive skin
- about 45 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Christchurch: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Christchurch has about 11 rainy days with 62 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Christchurch
How breezy and how cloudy Christchurch is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Christchurch typically peaks at 21 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 59 % of the sky over Christchurch: variable cloud, with about 6.6 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Christchurch
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
ColdOctober: nights around 7°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in July (3°), the warmest in February (13°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from May to October, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 87 | 21° | 13° | 7.3 h | 8 | 50 |
| FebruaryFeb | 89 | 21° | 13° | 6.9 h | 6 | 43 |
| MarchMar | 85 | 19° | 12° | 6.1 h | 7 | 43 |
| AprilApr | 70 | 16° | 9° | 5.3 h | 8 | 53 |
| MayMay | 55 | 14° | 7° | 4.6 h | 8 | 51 |
| JuneJun | 36 | 11° | 5° | 3.8 h | 9 | 56 |
| JulyJul | 34 | 10° | 3° | 4.1 h | 9 | 61 |
| AugustAug | 39 | 11° | 4° | 5.0 h | 10 | 50 |
| SeptemberSep | 55 | 13° | 6° | 5.6 h | 9 | 43 |
| OctoberOct | 63 | 15° | 7° | 6.6 h | 11 | 62 |
| NovemberNov | 79 | 17° | 10° | 7.6 h | 10 | 56 |
| DecemberDec | 81 | 19° | 12° | 6.9 h | 10 | 59 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
43.53° S, 172.63° E · 14 m · Pacific/Auckland
Best time to visit Christchurch
The best time to visit Christchurch is from November to March. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from October to April. The wettest month is October with 62 mm of precipitation.
Christchurch through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Christchurch in spring
Sep – Nov
Good
- 13–17 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days in all
Christchurch in summer
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 19–21 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days in all
Christchurch in autumn
Mar – May
Good
- 14–19 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days in all
Christchurch in winter
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 10–11 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Christchurch for you.
Your best months: January – February
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Christchurch
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
February has the better holiday weather in Christchurch: score 89 against 63. In February, days are 6 °C warmer than in October. February has 5 fewer rainy days.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 63 | 89better |
| Day high | 15° | 21° |
| Night low | 7° | 13° |
| Sunshine | 6.6 h | 6.9 h |
| Rainy days | 11 | 6better |
| Rainfall | 62 mm | 43 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Oct – Apr
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Christchurch month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
87January21° · 7 h
In January, Christchurch is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 50 mm. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in January89February21° · 7 h
In February, Christchurch is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 43 mm. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in February85March19° · 6 h
In March, Christchurch is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 43 mm. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in March70April16° · 5 h
In April, Christchurch is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 53 mm. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in April55May14° · 5 h
In May, Christchurch is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 51 mm. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in May36June11° · 4 h
In June, Christchurch is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 56 mm. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in June34July10° · 4 h
In July, Christchurch is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 61 mm. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in July39August11° · 5 h
In August, Christchurch is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 50 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in August55September13° · 6 h
In September, Christchurch is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 43 mm in total. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in September63October15° · 7 h
In October, Christchurch is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 62 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in October79November17° · 8 h
In November, Christchurch is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 56 mm in total. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in November81December19° · 7 h
In December, Christchurch is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 59 mm in total. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Christchurch.
Christchurch in DecemberChristchurch compared
Put Christchurch side by side with another destination.
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Christchurch vs. Nelson
In October Christchurch has the better holiday weather (score 63 vs. 57). During the day it is about as warm in Nelson as in Christchurch.
| in October | Christchurch | Nelson |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 63 | 57 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 15° |
| Sea | – | 14° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 11 | 14 |
| Best time | Nov – Mar | Jan – Feb |
Through the year
New Zealand in October: the best places
In October, Christchurch ranks 3 of 9 destinations in this country.
- Tauranga17°16°68
- 2Auckland17°16°66
- 3ChristchurchThis page15°63
- 4Wellington14°13°51
- 5Queenstown11°40
- 6Whangārei17°16°20
- 7Nelson15°14°18
- 8Dunedin13°11°14
Planning a trip to Christchurch
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Christchurch in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Christchurch has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 84) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 37).
- 75
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 17 °C by day
- 5.5 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 51
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 13 °C by day
- 4.4 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
- 37
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 11 °C by day
- 4.7 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 63
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 15 °C by day
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 84
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
ExcellentBest holidays
- 20 °C by day
- 7.1 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 23 h 25 min
- Distance
- 18,990 km
- Time zone
- UTC+13
- Jet lag
- About 12 days (12 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Christchurch
When is the best time to visit Christchurch?
The best time to visit Christchurch is from November to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Christchurch?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 13 °C. July is the coolest month at 10 °C.
When does it rain most in Christchurch?
The wettest month is October with 62 mm of precipitation. The driest month is September with 43 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Christchurch get?
Christchurch gets around 2,120 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is November with 7.6 hours a day; in June there are 3.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Christchurch in?
Christchurch uses the time zone Pacific/Auckland: UTC+13 in January and UTC+12 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Christchurch?
A nonstop flight from London to Christchurch takes about 23 h 25 min, for a straight-line distance of about 18,990 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Christchurch?
Christchurch has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 84) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 37). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 75, May half-term 51, Summer holidays 37, October half-term 63, Christmas holidays 84.
Near Christchurch
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Christchurch
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Christchurch's – good alternatives.