What wetsuit do you need in New Zealand?
The one suit that covers most of the swimming season, for 15 coastal cities in New Zealand.
| City | Coldest | Warmest | One suit for the season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch | 10.0°C Aug | 17.8°C Feb | shorty, or skins if you are used to it |
| Wellington | 12.9°C Aug | 16.9°C Feb | 3/2 mm full suit |
| Tauranga | 14.6°C Aug | 21.8°C Feb | nothing, or a rash vest |
| Dunedin | 10.6°C Aug | 15.3°C Feb | 4/3 mm full suit |
| Hastings | 13.5°C Aug | 20.0°C Feb | nothing, or a rash vest |
| Napier | 13.1°C Aug | 20.2°C Feb | nothing, or a rash vest |
| Porirua | 13.2°C Aug | 17.5°C Feb | 3/2 mm full suit |
| Invercargill | 10.8°C Aug | 16.3°C Feb | 3/2 mm full suit |
| Nelson | 12.5°C Aug | 20.3°C Feb | nothing, or a rash vest |
| Whanganui | 13.5°C Aug | 19.4°C Feb | nothing, or a rash vest |
| Gisborne | 13.9°C Aug | 20.0°C Feb | nothing, or a rash vest |
| Blenheim | 12.3°C Aug | 16.7°C Feb | 3/2 mm full suit |
| Timaru | 9.8°C Aug | 18.0°C Feb | 4/3 mm full suit |
| Whakatane | 14.7°C Aug | 21.6°C Feb | nothing, or a rash vest |
| Greymouth | 13.3°C Aug | 18.8°C Feb | 3/2 mm full suit |
Thicknesses above are for swimming. Surfing the same water wants a step more — most of a session is spent sitting still in the wind rather than moving and immersed. Each city page gives both, along with when you need boots, gloves and a hood.
Sea temperature and swimming season in New Zealand →
Boots below 14°C, gloves below 12°C, a hood below 10°C. Where the numbers come from