Is the West Coast in December too wet for a motorhome trip?

No, but you need the right expectations. December is warm and green, with average highs around 19°C and lows around 11°C, yet the West Coast can still get heavy rain from the Southern Alps. A wet day may cancel glacier flights or make short walks less pleasant. It usually does not ruin the route if you keep one flexible night around Hokitika, Franz Josef or Fox Glacier.

Do I need snow chains on the West Coast in December?

Usually no. December is summer, and the main risk on SH6 is heavy rain, slips, surface flooding or roadworks, not snow. If you cross Arthur's Pass on SH73 to Christchurch, remember the pass is 920 m and weather can still change quickly. Haast Pass to Wanaka is lower at 564 m, but it is remote. Check road status before leaving and avoid late, tired driving.

How far ahead should I book West Coast holiday parks in December?

For 1 to 20 December, a few weeks ahead is often workable, especially if you are flexible on powered versus unpowered sites. From 26 December, treat it as peak holiday season. Book key nights in Hokitika, Franz Josef, Fox Glacier and Punakaiki 2 to 4 months ahead if you have fixed dates. The same applies to Cook Strait ferry sailings if your trip starts or ends through Picton.

West Coast in December: motorhome weather, parks and routes

summer
peak-season
west coast

Avg temp 16–26°C

Rainfall Lower (Eastern coasts)

Daylight 14-15 hr

Phase Peak

West Coast in December is summer, but not dry-summer in the Australian or Mediterranean sense. Expect warm afternoons, long daylight, green rainforest, full waterfalls and the chance of a proper downpour that changes your driving day.

The first three weeks are easier than the last week. NZ schools usually finish in the third week of December, then holiday parks tighten hard from 26 December through late January.

Get a December-in-West Coast planning note with the booking windows pre-set, or reply with your dates if you'd like a planner to flag the gotchas for your exact week.

What the West Coast is like in December

Use Hokitika, Franz Josef and Fox Glacier as your mental model. December average temperatures sit around 19°C high and 11°C low on the West Coast. Mornings can be cool and damp. Afternoons often feel mild rather than hot, especially under cloud.

Rain is part of the region, not a sign that the trip has failed. December is not the wettest month, but alpine showers are expected and the Southern Alps can wring out heavy rain at short notice. Build one spare day if you care about glacier views or the Hokitika Gorge.

Daylight is excellent. Around the solstice, first light is about 5:15 a.m. and last light about 9:45 p.m. That helps on SH6, where Greymouth to Franz Josef is 175 km and 2.5 to 3 hours before photo stops, fuel, lunch and roadworks.

Crowds and pricing in December

December has two different personalities. From 1 to about 20 December, the West Coast is busy enough to feel alive but not jammed. From Boxing Day, New Zealand families arrive, international visitors are moving between Christchurch, Queenstown and Picton, and the small number of powered sites becomes the pinch point.

Motorhome daily rates are in summer peak by late December. Early December can sit below Christmas week, but it is no longer a quiet shoulder-season month. For the 26 December to 10 January period, treat Hokitika Holiday Park, Franz Josef holiday parks and Fox Glacier sites as book-ahead stops, not places to wander into at 5 p.m.

If your route uses the Cook Strait ferry, pressure starts earlier. Interislander and Bluebridge between Wellington and Picton take about 3 hours 20 minutes on the water, roughly 3.5 hours with loading. For late December sailings with a motorhome, book 3 to 4 months out if you can.

What to do specifically in December

December is good for the classic coast run: Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki, Hokitika Gorge, Franz Josef Glacier valley, Lake Matheson near Fox Glacier, and then south through Bruce Bay toward Haast. The bush is bright, the rivers run full, and the long evenings make short walks easier after driving.

Be careful with helicopter plans at Franz Josef or Fox. They are weather-dependent. Book early in the day and keep your next stop close, so a delayed flight does not force a tired late run on SH6.

What to skip? Do not try to drive Nelson to Franz Josef, walk a glacier valley, and reach Wanaka in one hit. Nelson to Greymouth is 285 km and about 4 to 4.5 hours. Fox Glacier to Wanaka is 260 km and 3.75 to 4.5 hours via Haast Pass at 564 m, longer in rain or traffic.

Holiday parks, DOC sites and road access

Snow chains are not normally a West Coast December issue. Flooding, slips and temporary closures are more realistic. SH6 is the spine road and it can be delayed after heavy rain. Arthur's Pass on SH73 is 920 m if you cross to Christchurch, and Haast Pass is 564 m if you head to Wanaka. Check road conditions before committing to either pass.

For camps, mix one serviced night with one simpler night. Hokitika Holiday Park is useful for laundry and power. DOC sites such as Lake Paringa Campsite and Gillespies Beach Campsite suit self-contained vehicles, but arrive earlier in the day after Christmas. Freedom camping rules are council-specific, and self-containment certification matters, so read Freedom camping in NZ before assuming a beach pull-off is legal.

New Zealand drives on the left. A foreign licence in English is valid for up to 12 months. If your licence is not in English, carry an International Driving Permit or approved translation.

Routes that make sense from the West Coast in December

The South Island in 14 days route gives the West Coast enough room. It usually links Christchurch, Arthur's Pass, Greymouth, Franz Josef, Wanaka and Queenstown without asking you to drive all day, every day. South Island in 10 days can work, but you need to choose between extra glacier time and extra Queenstown time.

For point-to-point planning, Greymouth to Franz Josef and Fox Glacier to Wanaka are the two drive guides to read closely. They explain where the fuel, supermarkets, one-lane bridges and slow sections sit. Also compare this page with the broader December when-to-go page and the West Coast region page, because the coast behaves differently from Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook and Queenstown in the same month.

If you are still deciding the season, the Best time of year for a NZ campervan trip guide is a better starting point than trying to force one region into one date.

Hand-drawn map of West Coast, New Zealand — West Coast — December

The weather mood of west coast in december — motorhome guide

West Coast in December motorhome guide