Is Christchurch sunnier than Wellington?

Wellington is the sunnier: about 2,510 hours of sunshine a year versus 2,377 — a difference of 133 hours.

Which is warmer, Christchurch or Wellington?

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 Wellington?

Christchurch scores better across November–February: 79/100 average versus 71, with daytime highs around 22°C.

Christchurch vs Wellington: which is sunnier?

🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇳🇿 New Zealand · 304 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Wellington is the sunnier overall: about 2,510 hours of sunshine a year to Christchurch's 2,377. Christchurch has the higher Sunshine Score in 7 of 12 months, Wellington in 2 (3 within 2 points).

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

At a glance

	Christchurch	Wellington
Sunshine hours / year	2,377	2,510
Sunniest month	February (82/100)	February (83/100)
Nov–Feb average score	79/100	71/100
Jun–Aug average score	20/100	28/100
Rain / year	845 mm	857 mm
Peak midday UV	9 (very high)	10 (very high)

Christchurch vs Wellington month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm
Month	Christchurch	Wellington	Christchurch	Wellington	Christchurch	Wellington
January	80	77	24°	19°	67	51
February	82	83	23°	20°	58	58
March	82	69	21°	18°	61	58
April	59	54	17°	16°	77	70
May	39	39	14°	14°	79	80
June	20	32	11°	13°	80	92
July	13	26	10°	12°	73	86
August	27	26	12°	12°	70	82
September	41	34	14°	13°	57	70
October	52	40	16°	14°	78	77
November	74	55	19°	16°	68	64
December	79	67	22°	18°	77	69

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

When to pick which

November–February: Christchurch (average score 79/100 vs 71). Christchurch is the warmer, around 22°C daytime highs vs 18°C.
March–May: Christchurch (average score 60/100 vs 54). Daytime highs are similar (17°C vs 16°C).
June–August: Wellington (average score 28/100 vs 20). Daytime highs are similar (11°C vs 12°C).
September–October: Christchurch (average score 47/100 vs 37). Daytime highs are similar (15°C vs 14°C).

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

More comparisons: Christchurch vs Dunedin · Christchurch vs Invercargill · Christchurch vs Blenheim · Wellington vs Palmerston North · Wellington vs New Plymouth · Wellington vs Blenheim · all head-to-heads