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Warmest sea in New Zealand in December

245 coastal locations in New Zealand ranked by their typical December sea temperature. Region-wide average in December: 17.6°C. The top of the list is where to find the warmest swimming this month.

Warmest in December

Fishing Rock

22.8°C December mean in New Zealand

Regional December average

17.6°C

across all 245 coastal locations in New Zealand

Vs annual mean

+1.3°C

above the year-round regional average

What the New Zealand sea feels like in December

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 December fits in the year

December 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 December mean, useful for trip planning weeks or months ahead.

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 warmest New Zealand locations in December

Sorted by the typical December mean built from a decade of daily readings at each location. Click any place for its 30-day chart, monthly profile, and full 10-year history.

# Location December mean
1 Fishing Rock Sugar Loaf Islands 22.8°C
2 Rocky Point Waikato 20.6°C
3 Coromandel Harbour - Whanganui Island Waikato 20.4°C
4 Thames 20.3°C
5 Devonport Naval Base Auckland 20.2°C
6 Matiatia Bay Auckland 20.2°C
7 Tiritiri Matangi Island Auckland 20.2°C
8 Weiti River Entrance Auckland 20.2°C
9 Auckland 20.1°C
10 Man o'War Bay Auckland 20.1°C
11 Manukau City 20.1°C
12 Mission Bay 20.1°C
13 Murrays Bay 20.1°C
14 North Shore 20.1°C
15 Orewa 20.1°C
16 Pakuranga 20.1°C
17 Takapuna 20.1°C
18 Tamaki 20.1°C
19 Tinopai Northland 20.1°C
20 Shelly Beach Auckland 20.1°C
21 Waiheke Island 20.0°C
22 Pouto Point Northland 20.0°C
23 Bon Accord Harbour - Mansion House Bay Auckland 20.0°C
24 Leigh Auckland 20.0°C
25 Anawhata Auckland 19.9°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 Muriwai 19.9°C
27 Parakai 19.9°C
28 Piha 19.9°C
29 Raglan 19.9°C
30 Onetaunga Bay Auckland 19.9°C
31 Paratutae Island Auckland 19.9°C
32 Coromandel 19.9°C
33 Rosebank 19.8°C
34 Takanini 19.8°C
35 Waitakere 19.8°C
36 Bay of Islands 19.8°C
37 Bay of Plenty 19.8°C
38 Coopers Beach 19.8°C
39 Waikato River Entrance Waikato 19.8°C
40 Omaio Bay - Motunui Island Bay of Plenty 19.8°C
41 Opotiki Wharf Bay of Plenty 19.8°C
42 Umaio Bay (Motunui Island) Bay of Plenty 19.8°C
43 Whangamumu Harbour Northland 19.8°C
44 Waiiti Bay Northland 19.7°C
45 Matakana River - Sandspit Auckland 19.7°C
46 Kerikeri 19.7°C
47 Ohope Beach 19.7°C
48 Port Jackson Waikato 19.7°C
49 Tikinui Northland 19.7°C
50 Tryphena Auckland 19.7°C

Coldest 10 in New Zealand in December

Same data the other way. Helpful if you want to know which New Zealand coasts to avoid for swimming in December.

# Location December mean
1 Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku - Perseverance Harbour New Zealand Outlying Islands 8.7°C
2 Auckland Island - Carnley Harbour Auckland 9.9°C
3 Snares Islands/Tini Heke - North East Island New Zealand Outlying Islands 12.4°C
4 Kaka Point 13.2°C
5 Stewart Island 13.3°C
6 Dunedin 13.4°C
7 Portobello 13.4°C
8 Port Adventure Southland 13.6°C
9 Green Island Otago 13.7°C
10 Easy Harbour Southland 13.8°C

More on this region