Weather in December

[Radbooks]

Hi!

 

We're taking a cruise from Sydney to Melbourne to Tasmania and then to both the south and north islands of New Zealand and wondered what the weather will be like at that time. I assume it will be warm as all of the excursions say to bring water and wear sunscreen, etc.

 

What sort of temperatures are typical for that time of the year? Is a light jacket enough for cool evenings on the ship or do we need something heavier?

 

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

Radbooks

[shireboi]

Hi!

 

We're taking a cruise from Sydney to Melbourne to Tasmania and then to both the south and north islands of New Zealand and wondered what the weather will be like at that time. I assume it will be warm as all of the excursions say to bring water and wear sunscreen, etc.

 

What sort of temperatures are typical for that time of the year? Is a light jacket enough for cool evenings on the ship or do we need something heavier?

 

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

Radbooks

 

Even though it will be heading towards summer in Oz, you will find that these cruises may still be quite chilly given the proximity to the southern seas. (Real summers in Australia have been in the later Jan/Feb periods)

 

For Melbourne - the weather could be anything on the day - it's possible to have 4 seasons in one day ... from extreme heat.. to cold... you can never predict it.... it can be 40 degrees Celsius (HOT !!!!) and far less.

 

For Tasmanian ports - cooler (not extreme heats)..... low 20 degree days.

 

For NZ - cooler days (no extreme heats) and nights...

 

 

Heavier jackets for cruises aren't really required for these seasons... just something light.

Edited September 20, 2016 by shireboi

[megsie]

We like cruising Nov - Dec and mostly have had reasonable weather and seas.

Although last year we had a day of rough weather in Bass Strait and it snowed on Mt Wellington the day before we arrived in Hobart! But sunny skies the next day but still the need for a warm but not heavy jacket.

NZ will probably be still cool around the south, it was still cool when we were the in January.

Weather is very changeable and changes very quickly down south expect a bit of all seasons.

[Opua Kiwi]

Is a light jacket enough for cool evenings on the ship or do we need something heavier?

I would suggest some warmer clothing especially if you intend to be on open decks in Fiordland.

 

Southern NZ is often still chilly that time of year, especially in a Southerly.

Add the ship's speed onto that and it can be cold on deck.

 

My guess for an average Dec temp in Dunedin would be about 16 C.

[Blue Elephant]

I did a New Zealand cruise in January this year. Once we left Dunedin and cruised through Fiordland, I was wearing thick track pants and a hoodie on the balcony.

 

btw, I live in Canberra where the temperature drops below freezing on most winter nights.

[NSWP]

I have been to Hobart in December and encountered snow atop Mt Wellington. You get all the seasons in 1 day in Tasweiga. Just came back from Tassie on the weekend, freezing, temp range was 0C to 10C. The shorts stayed in ye olde portmanteau.

Edited September 20, 2016 by NSWP

[jspqld]

I would pack shorts and t-shirts & long pants and thick waterproof jackets.

In Melbourne you could score a hot summer's day, or not!

In the south of NZ there will still be snow on the mountains around the fjords. We cruised through there once in early December and it was wet and freezing on the open decks, but the views made it all worth it!

[SinbadThePorter]

Hi!

 

We're taking a cruise from Sydney to Melbourne to Tasmania and then to both the south and north islands of New Zealand and wondered what the weather will be like at that time. I assume it will be warm as all of the excursions say to bring water and wear sunscreen, etc.

 

What sort of temperatures are typical for that time of the year? Is a light jacket enough for cool evenings on the ship or do we need something heavier?

 

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

Radbooks

 

As others have said, mainland Australia will be warm to hot. Tassie and North Island NZ will be cool to warm (if you are lucky), and South Island NZ will be almost anything except hot.

 

Take some warm clothes for the southern sections. Always have sunscreen and insect repellent.

[Willow45]

Take at least one thicker jacket, you shouldn't need more you don't wear it all day, if you plan to be on deck in the mornings for Tasmania and Southern NZ. We went end of January and it was freezing on deck in the mornings but did warm up during the day.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Radbooks]

Thanks for all of your responses! It really helps me as I think about packing. It sort of sounds like doing an Alaska cruise which can be cold and wet but you can also get gorgeous sunny days! :)

[GUT2407]

I've been in Hobart in December with day's close to 40c, layers is the answer.

[Lexicat]

I definitely agree about layers. Those of us in this part of the world dress this way for much of the year. Because this means bringing 4 seasons of clothes for a couple of weeks, it is easier to stick mostly to the same colours. I am navy and white personally. You can throw in bits of colour with scarves, necklaces, camis, tees etc.

You need sunscreen down here regardless. A cloudy day can still burn.