Is Christchurch sunnier than Dunedin?

Christchurch is the sunnier: about 2,377 hours of sunshine a year versus 2,093 — a difference of 284 hours.

Which is warmer, Christchurch or Dunedin?

Christchurch is warmer across the year: average daytime highs of 17°C (63°F) versus 15°C.

Which is better in winter (November–February), Christchurch or Dunedin?

Christchurch scores better across November–February: 79/100 average versus 72, with daytime highs around 22°C.

Christchurch vs Dunedin: which is sunnier?

🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇳🇿 New Zealand · 328 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Christchurch is the sunnier overall: about 2,377 hours of sunshine a year to Dunedin's 2,093. Christchurch has the higher Sunshine Score in 11 of 12 months; the other 1 is within 2 points.

Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.

At a glance

	Christchurch	Dunedin
Sunshine hours / year	2,377	2,093
Sunniest month	February (82/100)	February (79/100)
Nov–Feb average score	79/100	72/100
Jun–Aug average score	20/100	14/100
Rain / year	845 mm	709 mm
Peak midday UV	9 (very high)	8 (very high)

Christchurch vs Dunedin month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm
Month	Christchurch	Dunedin	Christchurch	Dunedin	Christchurch	Dunedin
January	80	78	24°	21°	67	68
February	82	79	23°	20°	58	63
March	82	75	21°	19°	61	51
April	59	53	17°	16°	77	61
May	39	26	14°	12°	79	73
June	20	13	11°	10°	80	55
July	13	7	10°	9°	73	49
August	27	21	12°	11°	70	45
September	41	34	14°	13°	57	47
October	52	46	16°	15°	78	64
November	74	59	19°	17°	68	65
December	79	72	22°	19°	77	68

The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb Christchurch · Mar Christchurch · Apr Christchurch · May Christchurch · Jun Christchurch · Jul Christchurch · Aug Christchurch · Sep Christchurch · Oct Christchurch · Nov Christchurch · Dec Christchurch.

When to pick which

November–February: Christchurch (average score 79/100 vs 72). Christchurch is the warmer, around 22°C daytime highs vs 19°C.
March–May: Christchurch (average score 60/100 vs 51). Daytime highs are similar (17°C vs 16°C).
June–August: Christchurch (average score 20/100 vs 14). Daytime highs are similar (11°C vs 10°C).
September–October: Christchurch (average score 47/100 vs 40). Daytime highs are similar (15°C vs 14°C).

Full month-by-month guides: Christchurch weather by month · Dunedin weather by month · Best time to visit New Zealand.

More comparisons: Christchurch vs Wellington · Christchurch vs Invercargill · Christchurch vs Blenheim · Dunedin vs Invercargill · Dunedin vs Blenheim · all head-to-heads