Skip to content
seatemperatures.net

Warmest sea in New Zealand in March

245 coastal locations in New Zealand ranked by their typical March sea temperature. Region-wide average in March: 18.8°C. The top of the list is where to find the warmest swimming this month.

Warmest in March

Fishing Rock

24.1°C March mean in New Zealand

Regional March average

18.8°C

across all 245 coastal locations in New Zealand

Vs annual mean

+2.5°C

above the year-round regional average

What the New Zealand sea feels like in March

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
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
  • 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 March fits in the year

March 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 March 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 March

Sorted by the typical March 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 March mean
1 Fishing Rock Sugar Loaf Islands 24.1°C
2 Bay of Islands 21.6°C
3 Coopers Beach 21.6°C
4 Kerikeri 21.6°C
5 Paihia 21.5°C
6 Russell 21.5°C
7 Waitangi (Northland) 21.5°C
8 Waitangi 21.5°C
9 Matapouri 21.4°C
10 Ngunguru 21.4°C
11 Tutukaka 21.4°C
12 Whangamumu Harbour Northland 21.4°C
13 Mangonui 21.4°C
14 Waiiti Bay Northland 21.4°C
15 Doubtless Bay 21.3°C
16 Karikari Peninsula 21.3°C
17 Taipa 21.3°C
18 Bay of Plenty 21.3°C
19 Doves Bay Northland 21.3°C
20 Opua Northland 21.3°C
21 Whangarei 21.3°C
22 Auckland 21.3°C
23 Manukau City 21.3°C
24 Mission Bay 21.3°C
25 Murrays Bay 21.3°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 North Shore 21.3°C
27 Orewa 21.3°C
28 Pakuranga 21.3°C
29 Takapuna 21.3°C
30 Tamaki 21.3°C
31 Waiheke Island 21.2°C
32 Devonport Naval Base Auckland 21.2°C
33 Matiatia Bay Auckland 21.2°C
34 Tiritiri Matangi Island Auckland 21.2°C
35 Weiti River Entrance Auckland 21.2°C
36 Goat Island 21.2°C
37 Whangaroa Northland 21.2°C
38 Ruakaka 21.2°C
39 Thames 21.2°C
40 Coromandel Harbour - Whanganui Island Waikato 21.2°C
41 Man o'War Bay Auckland 21.2°C
42 Ohope Beach 21.2°C
43 Rocky Point Waikato 21.2°C
44 Bon Accord Harbour - Mansion House Bay Auckland 21.2°C
45 Coromandel 21.2°C
46 Leigh Auckland 21.2°C
47 Burgess Island (Pokohinu) Auckland 21.2°C
48 Cathedral Cove 21.2°C
49 Hahei 21.2°C
50 Hot Water Beach 21.2°C

Coldest 10 in New Zealand in March

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

# Location March mean
1 Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku - Perseverance Harbour New Zealand Outlying Islands 9.6°C
2 Auckland Island - Carnley Harbour Auckland 10.9°C
3 Snares Islands/Tini Heke - North East Island New Zealand Outlying Islands 13.8°C
4 Kaka Point 14.0°C
5 Stewart Island 14.0°C
6 Dunedin 14.2°C
7 Portobello 14.2°C
8 Port Adventure Southland 14.5°C
9 Green Island Otago 14.6°C
10 Nugget Point Otago 14.7°C

More on this region