Geography of Canterbury
Geography of Canterbury: location, coordinates, elevation, terrain and the places around it.
Geography of Canterbury
West Coast is 104 mi to the north-west, South Island is 111 mi to the west, Tasman is 154 mi to the north and Marlborough is 155 mi to the north-east.
Map of Canterbury
Interactive map with nearby places. Switch between street, terrain and satellite views.
Coordinates: 43°31′55.6″S 172°38′10.3″E (-43.5321, 172.6362)
Quick facts about Canterbury
| Type | Region |
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Coordinates | 43°31′55.6″S 172°38′10.3″E (-43.5321, 172.6362) |
| Population | 660.000 |
| Local time | 7:22 PM (UTC+12:00) |
| Best months | January, February, March, November and December |
| Climate | Temperate |
Geography by mountain in Canterbury
1 mountains and peaks mapped in this atlas
Geography by city in Canterbury
2 cities mapped in this atlas
Summary
Canterbury is a region in New Zealand. Canterbury is a region of New Zealand. It has a population of about 660.000.
Right now it is 58°F (14°C) in Canterbury with clear sky. It feels like 44°F. Today runs from 44°F to 60°F. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Sightseeing conditions score 6.2/10 - fair - plan around the weather.
The best time to visit Canterbury is January, February, March, November and December. The climate is temperate. June, July and August tend to be the least comfortable months. December is the warmest month with average highs near 69°F, while August is the coldest with lows near 39°F.
The closest major airport is Queenstown Airport (ZQN), about 218 mi away. Nearby highlights include Aoraki / Mount Cook, South Island, Lake Wakatipu and Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand.
In plain terms. Today is slightly warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 60°F is 7°F above the 53°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 12 PM to 3 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. fishing is the strongest bet in Canterbury today at 7/10. Gusts to 49 mph will push high-sided vehicles on exposed roads and bridges. Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Climate in Canterbury month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 68° | 55° | 3,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| February | 69° | 55° | 2,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| March | 66° | 52° | 2,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| April | 62° | 50° | 2,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 57° | 43° | 1,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 54° | 42° | 3,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| July | 52° | 40° | 1,8 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| August | 53° | 39° | 1,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| September | 59° | 43° | 2,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 62° | 46° | 2,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 66° | 51° | 1,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| December | 69° | 54° | 2,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
Climate type: Temperate. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Explore Canterbury
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Geography for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Canterbury?
Canterbury is a region in New Zealand. Its coordinates are -43.5321, 172.6362. It lies in Oceania.
What is the weather like in Canterbury right now?
It is currently 58°F (14°C) with clear sky. Humidity is 33% and wind is 21 mph.
When is the best time to visit Canterbury?
January, February, March, November and December offer the most comfortable conditions in Canterbury, which has a temperate climate. June, July and August are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Canterbury in?
Canterbury observes Pacific/Auckland (UTC+12:00). The local time is 7:22 PM.
How many people live in Canterbury?
Canterbury has a population of approximately 660.000.
What is the nearest airport to Canterbury?
The closest airports are Queenstown Airport (ZQN), 218 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Canterbury?
Popular options include Aoraki / Mount Cook, South Island, Lake Wakatipu, Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand and Milford Sound.
What places are in Canterbury?
Canterbury covers 3 places in this atlas, including Aoraki / Mount Cook, Christchurch and Kaikoura.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (nz-regions) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Map tiles | OpenStreetMap contributors, CARTO and Esri. |
| Elevation | Open-Meteo digital elevation model where the dataset has no value. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 23, 2026 at 7:22 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
