Karikari Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.84° S 173.39° E

Karikari Beach Sea Temperature and Wetsuit Guide

Issued: 11 am 08 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Karikari Beach sea temperature is
16.0° C
0.5° 

Karikari Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.

Today's Karikari Beach sea temperature is 16.0 °C

(Slightly warmer than usual (0.5° above average))

Mean: 15.5 °C
Range: 14.5 °C to 16.8 °C
Statistics for 08 Aug (1981–2005)
  • wetsuit boots for warmth, grip, and protection in cold temperatures

Today, many surfers would wear a spring wetsuit and neoprene boots.

The Karikari Beach water temperature is rather cool (16 °C) and the air temperature will feel about the same. A good quality spring wetsuit with optional neoprene boots should suffice. No need for wetsuit gloves.

New Zealand Sea Water Temperature

Map of current New Zealand
Surface Water Temperatures

(based on measurements from oceanographic satellites)
New Zealand Water Temperature Anomaly

Map of current New Zealand
Sea Water Temperature Anomalies

(compared with long term averages
at this time of year)

click thumbnails to expand

Below is a graph of Historical Sea Surface Temperature for Karikari Beach. This has been derived from analysis of two decades of oceanographic satellite measurements of nearby open water. We have calculated the average water temperature variation around the year as well as the extremes that have been observed on each date.

Karikari Beach Water Temperature Graph

All of the graphs for the surf breaks presented on Surf-Forecast.com are on the same scale to enable comparison between locations around the world.

Karikari Beach sea water temperatures peak in the range 20 to 23°C (68 to 73°F) on around the 7th of February and are at their coldest on about the 20th of August, in the range 14 to 16°C (57 to 61°F). Karikari Beach sea water temperatures are warmest in the first part of February. Surfers should use a 2mm long sleeve shorty or a 3/2mm spring wetsuit if the wind is up. The coldest seasonal sea water temperatures at Karikari Beach in mid to late August lend themselves to a 4/3mm wetsuit or a 3/2mm suit and 3mm neoprene boots.

Actual sea surface water temperatures close to shore at Karikari Beach can vary by several degrees compared with these open water averages. This is especially true after heavy rain, close to river mouths or after long periods of strong offshore winds. Offshore winds cause colder deep water to replace surface water that has been warmed by the sun. Air temperature, wind-chill and sunshine should also be considered before deciding on the kind of wetsuit needed to stay warm when surfing at Karikari Beach. Refer to our detailed weather forecasts for this information.

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