Next 7 departures
- SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 8–11°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Picton7 AM NZDT Partly sunny8°C Seddon7:30 AM NZDT Partly sunny8°C Kaikōura8:45 AM NZDT Mostly sunny9°C Cheviot9:45 AM NZDT Mostly sunny9°C Amberley10:30 AM NZDT Sunny11°C Christchurch11 AM NZDT Sunny11°C - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 2–11°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Picton7 AM NZDT Sunny4°C Seddon7:30 AM NZDT Fog2°C Kaikōura8:45 AM NZDT Mostly sunny9°C Cheviot9:45 AM NZDT Fog8°C Amberley10:30 AM NZDT Mostly sunny10°C Christchurch11 AM NZDT Sunny11°C - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 6–14°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Picton7 AM NZDT Mostly sunny8°C Seddon7:30 AM NZDT Sunny6°C Kaikōura8:45 AM NZDT Partly sunny10°C Cheviot9:45 AM NZDT Cloudy8°C Amberley10:30 AM NZDT Cloudy11°C Christchurch11 AM NZDT Cloudy14°C - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 8–16°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Picton7 AM NZDT Cloudy9°C Seddon7:30 AM NZDT Partly sunny8°C Kaikōura8:45 AM NZDT Partly sunny11°C Cheviot9:45 AM NZDT Partly sunny11°C Amberley10:30 AM NZDT Partly sunny14°C Christchurch11 AM NZDT Partly sunny16°C - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 9–11°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Picton7 AM NZDT Cloudy11°C Seddon7:30 AM NZDT Cloudy11°C Kaikōura8:45 AM NZDT Rain9°C Cheviot9:45 AM NZDT Rain9°C Amberley10:30 AM NZDT Light rain9°C Christchurch11 AM NZDT Rain10°C - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 8–10°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Picton7 AM NZDT Cloudy8°C Seddon7:30 AM NZDT Partly sunny8°C Kaikōura8:45 AM NZDT Cloudy9°C Cheviot9:45 AM NZDT Partly sunny8°C Amberley10:30 AM NZDT Cloudy9°C Christchurch11 AM NZDT Partly sunny10°C - SatOct 10
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 7–12°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Picton7 AM NZDT Partly sunny7°C Seddon7:30 AM NZDT Partly sunny8°C Kaikōura8:45 AM NZDT Partly sunny8°C Cheviot9:45 AM NZDT Cloudy10°C Amberley10:30 AM NZDT Partly sunny11°C Christchurch11 AM NZDT Partly sunny12°C
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Picton (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Picton, NZStart 10 melevation
- Seddon, NZKm 51 · 37 min 85 melevation
- Kaikōura, NZKm 156 · 1 h 49 min 7 melevation
- Cheviot, NZKm 224 · 2 h 41 min 64 melevation
- Amberley, NZKm 290 · 3 h 24 min 52 melevation
- Christchurch, NZKm 336 · 4 h 1 min 10 melevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rain, at Kaikōura and Christchurch.
| Month | Kaikōura 101 m | Christchurch 37 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °C | Precip (mm) | High / low °C | Precip (mm) | |
| Jan | 21° / 12° | 34 | 23° / 11° | 40 |
| Feb | 21° / 13° | 37 | 23° / 11° | 40 |
| Mar | 19° / 11° | 69 | 20° / 9° | 45 |
| Apr | 17° / 9° | 61 | 17° / 5° | 56 |
| May | 15° / 8° | 54 | 15° / 3° | 55 |
| Jun | 12° / 6° | 68 | 12° / 0° | 72 |
| Jul | 12° / 5° | 66 | 11° / 0° | 63 |
| Aug | 12° / 6° | 61 | 13° / 1° | 53 |
| Sep | 15° / 7° | 43 | 15° / 3° | 41 |
| Oct | 16° / 7° | 58 | 17° / 4° | 44 |
| Nov | 18° / 9° | 42 | 19° / 7° | 40 |
| Dec | 20° / 11° | 41 | 21° / 10° | 49 |
1991–2020 averages computed from NOAA NCEI daily station records (GHCN-Daily): KAIKOURA, NZ (NZM00093678, 101 m); CHRISTCHURCH INTERNATIONAL, NZ (NZM00093781, 37 m). Precipitation is the monthly total of rain and melted snow, in millimetres. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for New Zealand rather than repeat them.
- New Zealand · NZTA Waka KotahiNZTA journey planner and road conditions
Check the official forecast from MetService and each road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Picton to Christchurch with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Picton to Christchurch?
336 km (209 miles), about 4 hours of driving without stops, by way of SH1. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the wettest month in Christchurch?
June. Christchurch averages 72 mm of rain and melted snow that month (1991–2020 averages).
How cold is Christchurch in July?
Christchurch averages a high of 11°C and a low of 0°C in July (1991–2020 averages).