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Coldest sea in New Zealand in May

245 coastal locations in New Zealand ranked by typical May sea temperature, coldest first. Region-wide average in May: 16.5°C.

Coldest in May

Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku - Perseverance Harbour

8.6°C May mean in New Zealand

Regional May average

16.5°C

across all 245 coastal locations in New Zealand

Vs annual mean

+0.2°C

above the year-round regional average

What the New Zealand sea feels like in May

At this temperature, water will feel cold compared to a swimming pool, but with a bit of experience and practice most people will find the water relatively comfortable to swim in.

New Zealand monthly average 13.6°C to 19.3°C
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  • Warmest month February 19.3°C
  • Coldest month August 13.6°C
  • Annual mean 16.3°C
  • Months above 20°C 0 of 12

Where May fits in the year

May sits inside the regional pattern shown on the left. Pick a different month to see how the ranking shifts.

All twelve New Zealand month rankings:

New Zealand sea temperature map (live)

The map shows today's latest reading at every New Zealand location. The list below is based on the typical May mean.

Zoom in to see individual locations. Click a pin for water temperatures. View list →
°C -2 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 24 27 30 35

Top 50 coldest New Zealand locations in May

Sorted by typical May mean from a decade of daily readings, coldest first. Click any place for the full location page.

# Location May mean
1 Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku - Perseverance Harbour New Zealand Outlying Islands 8.6°C
2 Auckland Island - Carnley Harbour Auckland 10.0°C
3 Kaka Point 12.2°C
4 Dunedin 12.3°C
5 Portobello 12.3°C
6 Green Island Otago 12.7°C
7 Port Chalmers Otago 12.8°C
8 Spit Wharf Otago 12.8°C
9 Nugget Point Otago 12.8°C
10 Snares Islands/Tini Heke - North East Island New Zealand Outlying Islands 12.9°C
11 Timaru 12.9°C
12 Stewart Island 12.9°C
13 Oamaru Otago 13.0°C
14 Waikawa Harbour Southland 13.1°C
15 Waipapa Point Southland 13.1°C
16 Ruapuke Island Southland 13.1°C
17 Invercargill 13.1°C
18 Bluff Southland 13.2°C
19 Dog Island Southland 13.2°C
20 Riverton/Aparima Southland 13.2°C
21 Port Adventure Southland 13.2°C
22 Christchurch 13.3°C
23 Lyttelton 13.3°C
24 Riverton 13.3°C
25 New River Entrance Southland 13.3°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 Oban Southland 13.3°C
27 French Bay Canterbury 13.4°C
28 Kaikoura 13.4°C
29 Tikao Bay Canterbury 13.4°C
30 Akaroa 13.4°C
31 Kawakaputa Bay Southland 13.4°C
32 Sumner 13.4°C
33 Pahia 13.5°C
34 Yankee River Southland 13.5°C
35 Easy Harbour Southland 13.6°C
36 Small Craft Retreat Southland 13.6°C
37 Ernest Islands Southland 13.8°C
38 Port Craig Southland 13.9°C
39 Solander Island (Hautere) Southland 14.0°C
40 Cape Campbell Marlborough 14.0°C
41 Kaingaroa Chatham Islands Territory 14.2°C
42 Waitangi Chatham Islands Territory 14.2°C
43 Chalky Island - Sealers Bay Southland 14.3°C
44 Coal Island - Fishing Bay Southland 14.3°C
45 Jane Coves Southland 14.3°C
46 Welcombe Bay Southland 14.3°C
47 Owenga Chatham Islands Territory 14.3°C
48 Port Underwood Marlborough 14.3°C
49 Lyall Bay 14.4°C
50 Oriental Bay 14.4°C

Warmest 10 in New Zealand in May

Same data the other way. The warmest spots for the same month.

# Location May mean
1 Fishing Rock Sugar Loaf Islands 21.9°C
2 Bay of Islands 19.2°C
3 Coopers Beach 19.2°C
4 Whangamumu Harbour Northland 19.1°C
5 Kerikeri 19.1°C
6 Paihia 19.1°C
7 Russell 19.1°C
8 Waitangi (Northland) 19.1°C
9 Waitangi 19.1°C
10 Matapouri 19.0°C

More on this region