Swimming in New Zealand in march 2025 Sea temperature by city in march
Do you want to go to the beach in New Zealand in march 2025? Is it the right month to go for pleasant temperatures and staying in the water for a long time? The answer is on this page with the sea temperatures in march in New Zealand by city and our opinion on the chances of enjoying pleasant sea conditions.
Sea temperature in New Zealand in march 2025
Here, find the average sea temperature in New Zealand in march in several coastal cities.
North Island in march
70°F
min: 68°F / max: 72°F
62°F
min: 61°F / max: 65°F
71°F
min: 68°F / max: 73°F
Cape Reinga
70°F
min: 68°F / max: 72°F
Castlepoint
65°F
min: 62°F / max: 67°F
70°F
min: 69°F / max: 73°F
South Island in march
60°F
min: 58°F / max: 62°F
56°F
min: 54°F / max: 58°F
Abel Tasman National Park
65°F
min: 63°F / max: 66°F
60°F
min: 58°F / max: 62°F
The Catlins
59°F
min: 56°F / max: 61°F
Hokitika
64°F
min: 61°F / max: 66°F
Where should you go swimming in New Zealand in the month of march?
Swimming in New Zealand in march is pleasant (in the best case scenario)
In march in New Zealand swimming conditions vary by city. Details below:
As for Auckland, Tauranga, Cathedral Cove, Coromandel, Omamari, Whatipu Beach, Kerikeri, Ruakaka, Thames, Waihi Beach, Whakatane and Whangamata, swimming is pleasant in march. The sea water is 70°F on average (min: 68°F/max: 72°F) so you can easily spend time in the water.
Swimming in march in Abel Tasman National Park, Cape Reinga, Castlepoint, Hokitika, Māhia, Mokau, Napier, Nelson, Porangahau, Ruatoria, Waiheke Island, Waitārere Beach, Wharariki beach, Blenheim, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hawera, Kaitaia, New Plymouth, Opunake, Picton, Raglan, Takaka, Wairoa, Waitara, Waiuku, Wanganui, Warkworth and Westport is possible but the sea is generally cool. So though the sea temperature may sometimes reach 66°F, it can also go as low as 63°F. Note that the average is 65°F.
Swimming in march in Christchurch, Wellington, Akaroa, Kaikoura, Levin, Oamaru, Paraparaumu, Porirua and Timaru is possible... with a wetsuit! Indeed, the water is cold at this time of year with an average temperature of 60°F (min: 58°F/max: 62°F).
Forget about swimming in Dunedin, The Catlins, Invercargill, Moeraki Boulders, Otago Peninsula, Stewart Island and Balclutha in march! The water temperature is freezing, reaching as low as 54°F (and only 58°F at the best of times). Our advice: plan on sightseeing, and don't bring your beach towel!
Where to go swimming in New Zealand in march: the map of sea temperatures
ideal swimming 
pleasant swimming 
cool swimming 
cold swimming 
freezing swimmingWater temperature and seasonal norms in march
Auckland
| March | |||
| Average sea temperature | 70°F | ||
| Minimum sea temperature | 68°F | ||
| Maximum sea temperature | 72°F | ||
| Average outside temperature | 67°F | ||
| Maximum outside temperature | 72°F | ||
| Minimum outside temperature | 63°F | ||
| Precipitation | 4.1in | ||
| Number of days of precipitation | 5 jour(s) (15%) | ||
| Cloud cover | 39% | ||
| Our opinion | pleasant swimming |
More information on swimming in Auckland in march
Christchurch
| March | |||
| Average sea temperature | 60°F | ||
| Minimum sea temperature | 58°F | ||
| Maximum sea temperature | 62°F | ||
| Average outside temperature | 61°F | ||
| Maximum outside temperature | 68°F | ||
| Minimum outside temperature | 52°F | ||
| Precipitation | 1.8in | ||
| Number of days of precipitation | 3 jour(s) (9%) | ||
| Cloud cover | 37% | ||
| Our opinion | cold swimming |
More information on swimming in Christchurch in march
Dunedin
| March | |||
| Average sea temperature | 56°F | ||
| Minimum sea temperature | 54°F | ||
| Maximum sea temperature | 58°F | ||
| Average outside temperature | 58°F | ||
| Maximum outside temperature | 61°F | ||
| Minimum outside temperature | 54°F | ||
| Precipitation | 2.2in | ||
| Number of days of precipitation | 4 jour(s) (12%) | ||
| Cloud cover | 40% | ||
| Our opinion | freezing swimming |
More information on swimming in Dunedin in march
Wellington
| March | |||
| Average sea temperature | 62°F | ||
| Minimum sea temperature | 61°F | ||
| Maximum sea temperature | 65°F | ||
| Average outside temperature | 63°F | ||
| Maximum outside temperature | 65°F | ||
| Minimum outside temperature | 59°F | ||
| Precipitation | 2.2in | ||
| Number of days of precipitation | 3 jour(s) (10%) | ||
| Cloud cover | 33% | ||
| Our opinion | cold swimming |
More information on swimming in Wellington in march
Tauranga
| March | |||
| Average sea temperature | 71°F | ||
| Minimum sea temperature | 68°F | ||
| Maximum sea temperature | 73°F | ||
| Average outside temperature | 65°F | ||
| Maximum outside temperature | 70°F | ||
| Minimum outside temperature | 58°F | ||
| Precipitation | 4.8in | ||
| Number of days of precipitation | 5 jour(s) (17%) | ||
| Cloud cover | 38% | ||
| Our opinion | pleasant swimming |
More information on swimming in Tauranga in march
List of coastal cities in New Zealand
| Auckland in march | pleasant swimming |
| Christchurch in march | cold swimming |
| Dunedin in march | freezing swimming |
| Wellington in march | cold swimming |
| Tauranga in march | pleasant swimming |
| Abel Tasman National Park in march | cool swimming |
| Akaroa in march | cold swimming |
| Cape Reinga in march | cool swimming |
| Castlepoint in march | cool swimming |
| Cathedral Cove in march | pleasant swimming |
| The Catlins in march | freezing swimming |
| Coromandel in march | pleasant swimming |
| Hokitika in march | cool swimming |
| Invercargill in march | freezing swimming |
| Māhia in march | cool swimming |
| Moeraki Boulders in march | freezing swimming |
| Mokau in march | cool swimming |
| Napier in march | cool swimming |
| Nelson in march | cool swimming |
| Omamari in march | pleasant swimming |
| Otago Peninsula in march | freezing swimming |
| Porangahau in march | cool swimming |
| Ruatoria in march | cool swimming |
| Stewart Island in march | freezing swimming |
| Waiheke Island in march | cool swimming |
| Waitārere Beach in march | cool swimming |
| Wharariki beach in march | cool swimming |
| Whatipu Beach in march | pleasant swimming |
| Balclutha in march | freezing swimming |
| Blenheim in march | cool swimming |
| Gisborne in march | cool swimming |
| Greymouth in march | cool swimming |
| Hawera in march | cool swimming |
| Kaikoura in march | cold swimming |
| Kaitaia in march | cool swimming |
| Kerikeri in march | pleasant swimming |
| Levin in march | cold swimming |
| New Plymouth in march | cool swimming |
| Oamaru in march | cold swimming |
| Opunake in march | cool swimming |
| Paraparaumu in march | cold swimming |
| Picton in march | cool swimming |
| Porirua in march | cold swimming |
| Raglan in march | cool swimming |
| Ruakaka in march | pleasant swimming |
| Takaka in march | cool swimming |
| Thames in march | pleasant swimming |
| Timaru in march | cold swimming |
| Waihi Beach in march | pleasant swimming |
| Wairoa in march | cool swimming |
| Waitara in march | cool swimming |
| Waiuku in march | cool swimming |
| Wanganui in march | cool swimming |
| Warkworth in march | cool swimming |
| Westport in march | cool swimming |
| Whakatane in march | pleasant swimming |
| Whangamata in march | pleasant swimming |