INSTRUMENT / SEA TEMPERATURE
Bay of Islands Water Temperature
Updated Tue 14:51 (Pacific/Auckland)
New Zealand · Forecast updated Nov 10, 2026, 14:51 UTC
Current Sea Temperature
16.6°C
61.9°F
Cold water
Valid Nov 10, 2026, 14:51 (Pacific/Auckland). Source: stored Open-Meteo marine forecast. Temperature is not a safety rating or snorkel score.
Versus this month's average
1.1°C below
The typical November average is 17.7°C (63.9°F) from the historical baseline.
Recent trend
Warming by 0.5°C
Seven-day average: 17.1°C, versus 16.6°C in the prior seven days.
What to wear
Cold water
Use a full 3-5 mm wetsuit and keep the session within your cold-water experience.
Cold tolerance varies. Wind, session length, sunshine, and exertion also affect comfort; temperature alone does not describe sea conditions or replace the snorkel forecast.
Typical Sea Temperature Over the Year
In the historical baseline for Bay of Islands, typical monthly averages range from about 15.3°C (59.5°F) in August to 21.8°C (71.2°F) in February.
Over the past 30 days, the average sea temperature in Bay of Islands has been 16.7°C.
Historical baseline (full year)
Southern Hemisphere. Summer is generally December–February; winter is June–August.
Typical monthly sea-surface temperature near Bay of Islands, calculated from hourly observations for 2023–2025. This is not this site's forecast archive.
| Month | Typical range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| January | 20.5–21.5°C | 20.9°C / 69.6°F |
| February | 21.7–22.0°C | 21.8°C / 71.2°F |
| March | 20.1–21.9°C | 21.2°C / 70.2°F |
| April | 19.6–20.4°C | 20.0°C / 68.0°F |
| May | 18.2–19.5°C | 18.7°C / 65.7°F |
| June | 16.7–17.1°C | 16.9°C / 62.4°F |
| July | 15.7–15.8°C | 15.8°C / 60.4°F |
| August | 14.9–15.6°C | 15.3°C / 59.5°F |
| September | 15.2–16.0°C | 15.6°C / 60.1°F |
| October | 15.8–15.8°C | 15.8°C / 60.4°F |
| November | 17.4–18.4°C | 17.7°C / 63.9°F |
| December | 19.0–19.7°C | 19.3°C / 66.7°F |
Source: Open-Meteo Marine API, MeteoFrance sea-surface temperature dataset. Nearest sea grid cell (-35.13, 174.21). Each month is the mean of yearly monthly means; the range is the lowest and highest of those yearly monthly means. Open-Meteo methodology.
Water temperature by month
Each month uses the 2023–2025 baseline. The range is the lowest and highest yearly monthly mean, not an hourly extreme.
Bay of Islands in January
Typical January water temperature near Bay of Islands is 20.9°C (69.6°F), with yearly monthly means from 20.5–21.5°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cool water. A 3 mm shorty or full wetsuit will make longer snorkels more comfortable.
Adjacent months: December 19.3°C · February 21.8°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in January, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Bay of Islands in February
Typical February water temperature near Bay of Islands is 21.8°C (71.2°F), with yearly monthly means from 21.7–22.0°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cool water. A 3 mm shorty or full wetsuit will make longer snorkels more comfortable.
Adjacent months: January 20.9°C · March 21.2°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in February, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Bay of Islands in March
Typical March water temperature near Bay of Islands is 21.2°C (70.2°F), with yearly monthly means from 20.1–21.9°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cool water. A 3 mm shorty or full wetsuit will make longer snorkels more comfortable.
Adjacent months: February 21.8°C · April 20.0°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in March, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Bay of Islands in April
Typical April water temperature near Bay of Islands is 20.0°C (68.0°F), with yearly monthly means from 19.6–20.4°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cool water. A 3 mm shorty or full wetsuit will make longer snorkels more comfortable.
Adjacent months: March 21.2°C · May 18.7°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in April, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Bay of Islands in May
Typical May water temperature near Bay of Islands is 18.7°C (65.7°F), with yearly monthly means from 18.2–19.5°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cool water. A 3 mm shorty or full wetsuit will make longer snorkels more comfortable.
Adjacent months: April 20.0°C · June 16.9°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in May, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Bay of Islands in June
Typical June water temperature near Bay of Islands is 16.9°C (62.4°F), with yearly monthly means from 16.7–17.1°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cold water. Use a full 3-5 mm wetsuit and keep the session within your cold-water experience.
Adjacent months: May 18.7°C · July 15.8°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in June, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Bay of Islands in July
Typical July water temperature near Bay of Islands is 15.8°C (60.4°F), with yearly monthly means from 15.7–15.8°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cold water. Use a full 3-5 mm wetsuit and keep the session within your cold-water experience.
Adjacent months: June 16.9°C · August 15.3°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in July, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Bay of Islands in August
Typical August water temperature near Bay of Islands is 15.3°C (59.5°F), with yearly monthly means from 14.9–15.6°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cold water. Use a full 3-5 mm wetsuit and keep the session within your cold-water experience.
Adjacent months: July 15.8°C · September 15.6°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in August, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Bay of Islands in September
Typical September water temperature near Bay of Islands is 15.6°C (60.1°F), with yearly monthly means from 15.2–16.0°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cold water. Use a full 3-5 mm wetsuit and keep the session within your cold-water experience.
Adjacent months: August 15.3°C · October 15.8°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in September, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Bay of Islands in October
Typical October water temperature near Bay of Islands is 15.8°C (60.4°F), with yearly monthly means from 15.8–15.8°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cold water. Use a full 3-5 mm wetsuit and keep the session within your cold-water experience.
Adjacent months: September 15.6°C · November 17.7°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in October, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Bay of Islands in November
Typical November water temperature near Bay of Islands is 17.7°C (63.9°F), with yearly monthly means from 17.4–18.4°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cold water. Use a full 3-5 mm wetsuit and keep the session within your cold-water experience.
Adjacent months: October 15.8°C · December 19.3°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in November, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Bay of Islands in December
Typical December water temperature near Bay of Islands is 19.3°C (66.7°F), with yearly monthly means from 19.0–19.7°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: cool water. A 3 mm shorty or full wetsuit will make longer snorkels more comfortable.
Adjacent months: November 17.7°C · January 20.9°C.
Explore Bay of Islands sea temperature in December, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Forecast archive (growing)
These values come from hourly forecasts SnorkelForecast has stored. They cover only months with records and do not replace the historical baseline.
| Month | Min | Average | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| August | 15.9°C / 60.6°F | 16.1°C / 61.1°F | 16.4°C / 61.5°F |
| September | 15.5°C / 59.9°F | 15.8°C / 60.5°F | 16.2°C / 61.2°F |
| October | 15.7°C / 60.3°F | 16.4°C / 61.6°F | 17.4°C / 63.3°F |
| November | 16.5°C / 61.7°F | 17.0°C / 62.6°F | 17.9°C / 64.2°F |
Partial coverage: 4 calendar months with records. Profile calculated from 2255 hourly forecast records across 4 monthly periods. This is a growing archive, not a long-term climate normal.
About the water at Bay of Islands
Subtropical Northland bays with clear water, kelp forests and abundant fish.
- Area
- Northland
Bay of Islands Water Temperature: Common Questions
What is the water temperature in Bay of Islands today?
The current sea surface temperature near Bay of Islands is 16.6°C (61.9°F). Over the last 30 days, the average has been 16.7°C.
When is the water warmest in Bay of Islands?
The water is typically warmest in February, at around 21.8°C (71.2°F) in the 2023–2025 historical baseline.
When is the water coldest in Bay of Islands?
The water is typically coldest in August, at around 15.3°C (59.5°F) in the same historical baseline. A wetsuit is usually recommended during this period.
Can you swim in Bay of Islands today?
The water is 16.6°C. It may feel cool, but a wetsuit or short swims can help.
Full Snorkeling Forecast
See how today's sea temperature, wave height, wind, and tides combine into a detailed snorkeling score for Bay of Islands.
View Snorkel Forecast →