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Warmest sea in New Zealand in January

245 coastal locations in New Zealand ranked by their typical January sea temperature. Region-wide average in January: 18.7°C. The top of the list is where to find the warmest swimming this month.

Warmest in January

Fishing Rock

23.7°C January mean in New Zealand

Regional January average

18.7°C

across all 245 coastal locations in New Zealand

Vs annual mean

+2.4°C

above the year-round regional average

What the New Zealand sea feels like in January

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 January fits in the year

January 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 January 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 January

Sorted by the typical January 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 January mean
1 Fishing Rock Sugar Loaf Islands 23.7°C
2 Rocky Point Waikato 21.6°C
3 Coromandel Harbour - Whanganui Island Waikato 21.4°C
4 Devonport Naval Base Auckland 21.3°C
5 Matiatia Bay Auckland 21.3°C
6 Tiritiri Matangi Island Auckland 21.3°C
7 Weiti River Entrance Auckland 21.3°C
8 Thames 21.3°C
9 Tinopai Northland 21.3°C
10 Auckland 21.2°C
11 Manukau City 21.2°C
12 Mission Bay 21.2°C
13 Murrays Bay 21.2°C
14 North Shore 21.2°C
15 Orewa 21.2°C
16 Pakuranga 21.2°C
17 Shelly Beach Auckland 21.2°C
18 Takapuna 21.2°C
19 Tamaki 21.2°C
20 Man o'War Bay Auckland 21.2°C
21 Bon Accord Harbour - Mansion House Bay Auckland 21.1°C
22 Leigh Auckland 21.1°C
23 Pouto Point Northland 21.1°C
24 Parakai 21.1°C
25 Waiheke Island 21.1°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 Muriwai 21.1°C
27 Piha 21.1°C
28 Anawhata Auckland 21.1°C
29 Omaio Bay - Motunui Island Bay of Plenty 21.0°C
30 Umaio Bay (Motunui Island) Bay of Plenty 21.0°C
31 Opotiki Wharf Bay of Plenty 21.0°C
32 Matakana River - Sandspit Auckland 21.0°C
33 Bay of Plenty 20.9°C
34 Port Ohope Wharf Bay of Plenty 20.9°C
35 Coromandel 20.9°C
36 Motuhora Island Bay of Plenty 20.9°C
37 Moutohora Island - Whale Island Bay of Plenty 20.9°C
38 Katikati 20.9°C
39 Ohope Beach 20.9°C
40 Mount Maunganui 20.9°C
41 Tauranga 20.9°C
42 Waihi Beach 20.9°C
43 Coopers Beach 20.9°C
44 Bay of Islands 20.8°C
45 Lottin Point Gisborne 20.8°C
46 Marsden Point Northland 20.8°C
47 Papamoa 20.8°C
48 Portland Wharf Northland 20.8°C
49 Goat Island 20.8°C
50 Huruhi Harbour Waikato 20.8°C

Coldest 10 in New Zealand in January

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

# Location January mean
1 Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku - Perseverance Harbour New Zealand Outlying Islands 9.6°C
2 Auckland Island - Carnley Harbour Auckland 10.8°C
3 Snares Islands/Tini Heke - North East Island New Zealand Outlying Islands 13.4°C
4 Stewart Island 13.9°C
5 Kaka Point 14.1°C
6 Dunedin 14.3°C
7 Portobello 14.3°C
8 Port Adventure Southland 14.3°C
9 Easy Harbour Southland 14.4°C
10 Small Craft Retreat Southland 14.4°C

More on this region