New Zealand
Auckland in December
☀️ SummerPleasant and some showers.
Why December scores 9.6What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.3
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (22°C highs / 15°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 14.4°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~82 mm rain)
- Air quality9.8
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~7 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.5
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | Jan | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.6 Excellent | 9.8 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Summer | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 22° / 15° | 24° / 16° |
| Rain | 82 mm | 58 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 14° | dew pt 16° |
| PM2.5 | 7 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Auckland Airport weather-station normals. Rainfall: Auckland Airport weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Boxing Day 25–28 Dec · 4 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore AucklandEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyNew Zealand's largest city, spread across volcanic hills between two harbours, with nearby islands, beaches and wine regions.
New Year's Eve fireworksEvery year31 December every year
Fireworks from the Sky Tower at midnight.
Why go: Viewing points get crowded.
Where: Sky Tower
Coming up later
Auckland Anniversary Day RegattaDate variesUsually the Monday closest to 29 January
A long-running sailing regatta on the harbour.
Why go: A public holiday in Auckland; the harbour is busy with boats.
Where: Waitematā Harbour
Waitangi DayEvery year6 February every year
New Zealand's national day, marking the 1840 signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Why go: A public holiday with cultural events in parks.
Where: Citywide
MatarikiDate variesDate moves each year — June or July
Māori New Year, marked by the rising of the Matariki star cluster, with events and light displays.
Why go: A national public holiday since 2022.
Where: Citywide
Sky Tower
A tall tower with observation decks and city views.
Waiheke Island
An island with vineyards, beaches and villages, a short ferry ride away.
Rangitoto Island
A young volcanic island with walking tracks to the summit.
Auckland War Memorial Museum
A museum with Māori and Pacific collections.
Maungawhau / Mount Eden
A volcanic cone with a crater and city views.
Piha
A black-sand surf beach on the west coast.
💡 Swim between the flags; rips can be dangerous.
Green-lipped mussels
New Zealand mussels steamed or in chowders.
Meat pies
A Kiwi bakery staple.
💡 Bakeries
Pavlova
Meringue dessert topped with cream and fruit.
Hokey pokey ice cream
Vanilla ice cream with honeycomb toffee.
Fish and chips
Popular takeaway, especially at beaches.
Pounamu
New Zealand greenstone (jade) carvings.
💡 Reputable galleries; check it is NZ pounamu
Mānuka honey
Honey from New Zealand's mānuka bush.
💡 Supermarkets and shops
Merino knitwear
Knitwear made from NZ merino or merino-possum blends.
💡 Shops