Things to Do in Auckland in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Auckland
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + December lands you in Auckland's early-summer pocket: 24°C (75°F) days before the sticky January humidity rolls in. Daylight stretches from 5:45 AM to 8:30 PM, giving you time for islands and cellar doors long before the sun slips away.
- + Hotel rooms are easiest to snag from 1, 20 December, just before the Christmas crush. Mid-range spots in Parnell and Ponsonby still have space then, right when Europe and North America are charging peak rates.
- + Gulf mornings in December are mirror-flat. Ferries to Waiheke and Rangitoto skate over mercury-calm water instead of the winter chop that rattles locals the rest of the year.
- + Christmas markets kick off in late November, so you get three full weeks of craft stalls in Aotea Square before the 25 December shutdown, an upside-down calendar that northern-hemisphere visitors greet with delighted confusion.
- − The UV index hits 8 by 10 AM. The ozone hole sits directly overhead, so a 20-minute ferry ride can cook you faster than any beach you've ever baked on.
- − The city locks up for 24 hours. From 24, 26 December even 24-hour dairies bolt their doors. Finding a meal means knowing which hotels keep kitchens open for stranded travellers.
- − School holidays begin mid-December. Auckland Zoo, Kelly Tarlton's and the Sky Tower queue flood with Wellington and Christchurch kids. The casino-end line snakes past the lifts after 20 December.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Mornings deliver flat seas and 24°C (75°F) water, the only month Rangitoto's lava caves stay cool enough to explore. Waiheke's first grapes are pressed mid-month, so you can taste juice hours off the vine. The 40-minute crossing turns into a dolphin show as pods chase warm currents.
Piha and Muriwai come into their own: 19°C (66°F) water, gentle beginner swells and none of February's murderous rips. Steam rises off the black sand after dawn rain, and locals who've waited eight months pack the line-ups until 8:30 PM sunset.
Crisp December dawns give you 50 km (31 miles) of gulf visibility, Great Barrier Island floats on the horizon. The bridge metal stays cool until noon, and you climb 67 m (220 ft) above the harbour in T-shirt weather while America's Cup yachts practise below. Afternoon trips are windier but the light is better for photos.
Victoria Road's 1880s bakeries wheel out Christmas mince pies yet still dish up their legendary custard squares. The 12-minute ferry lands you in a village where tables spill onto the pavement and Norfolk pines throw shade at 24°C (75°F). Long evenings let you tour North Head at 5 PM and still watch the sun sink.
December's 80 mm (3.1 inches) of rain sends Karekare and Kitekite falls thundering, while the rainforest holds the trail at 21°C (70°F). The 5 km (3.1 miles) Hillary section between Piha and Karekare stays slick, good boots keep you upright while tui song drowns the surf two kilometres inland.
Friday-night markets run until 11 PM, fairy lights tangled in 100-year-old pohutukawa. The Domain's cricket oval fills with food trucks serving hangi pie and whitebait fritters while bands play until the neighbours call time. By 9 PM the mercury has dropped to 18°C (64°F), good for a wool jumper and mulled wine.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
The main show is February. Yet December gives you a backstage pass. Visit Albert Park after dark to watch technicians tune the dragon lanterns while dodging the February crush.
On 21 December the Domain becomes a 20,000-strong choir. Free concerts and food stalls roll on while families picnic under scarlet-flowering pohutukawa and local radio beams the carols across the city.
Packing Checklist
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Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Book Experiences in Auckland
Top-rated things to do in Auckland this December
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