Sea temperature and swimming season in New Zealand
When the sea is warm enough to swim in 15 coastal cities in New Zealand.
| City | Warmest | Coldest | Swimming season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch | 17.8°C Feb | 10.0°C Aug | never comfortable |
| Wellington | 16.9°C Feb | 12.9°C Aug | never comfortable |
| Tauranga | 21.8°C Feb | 14.6°C Aug | Dec – Apr (5 months) |
| Dunedin | 15.3°C Feb | 10.6°C Aug | never comfortable |
| Hastings | 20.0°C Feb | 13.5°C Aug | Jan – Mar (3 months) |
| Napier | 20.2°C Feb | 13.1°C Aug | Jan – Mar (3 months) |
| Porirua | 17.5°C Feb | 13.2°C Aug | never comfortable |
| Invercargill | 16.3°C Feb | 10.8°C Aug | never comfortable |
| Nelson | 20.3°C Feb | 12.5°C Aug | Jan – Mar (3 months) |
| Whanganui | 19.4°C Feb | 13.5°C Aug | Feb – Feb (1 months) |
| Gisborne | 20.0°C Feb | 13.9°C Aug | Jan – Mar (3 months) |
| Blenheim | 16.7°C Feb | 12.3°C Aug | never comfortable |
| Timaru | 18.0°C Feb | 9.8°C Aug | never comfortable |
| Whakatane | 21.6°C Feb | 14.7°C Aug | Dec – Apr (5 months) |
| Greymouth | 18.8°C Feb | 13.3°C Aug | never comfortable |
Knowing the temperature is only half of it. What to wear, and why cold shock is the real risk →
Season uses 19°C. Why that number, and where the data comes from