New South Wales is a coastal area of Australia on the Tasman Sea, with 115 tracked beaches. The sea here ranges from about 15°C in the coolest month to 22°C at the summer peak, with roughly 5 months a year sitting above 20°C — the level most swimmers describe as pleasant without a wetsuit. Use the beach list below to check the current sea temperature at each spot before you head out.
New South Wales
115 tracked beaches in New South Wales, Australia, with live Tasman Sea temperatures.
Sea
Tasman Sea
Avg sea temp now
20.1°C
Best months
November – March
Best time to swim in New South Wales
The sea in New South Wales peaks in February, when the water averages around 23°C.
The main swimming season runs from November – April, when surface temperatures stay comfortable for extended sessions.
On average, 6 months a year sit above 20°C — the threshold most swimmers describe as pleasant without a wetsuit.
Shoulder months like October and May are noticeably cooler but often quieter, with fewer crowds and steadier weather.
Outside peak season the water drops toward 16°C, so a 3/2mm shorty or full wetsuit makes long swims much more comfortable.
The coldest month is typically July at around 16°C, when cold-water swimmers dominate the coast.
New South Wales sits in the Southern Hemisphere, so the warmest sea coincides with the December–February summer and the coolest with July–August.
New South Wales sea temperature history
Long-term climatology for New South Wales shows an annual mean sea temperature of 19°C, ranging from 16°C in winter to 23°C at the summer peak.
The seasonal swing is roughly 7°C between the coldest and warmest month — a useful yardstick when comparing years or checking whether the current sea is running above or below average.
Recent decades have trended slightly warmer at New South Wales, in line with regional sea-surface temperature records for the wider basin.
Monthly averages below are drawn from multi-decadal climatology and are updated as new observations arrive.
Jan
22°C
Feb
23°C
Mar
22°C
Apr
20°C
May
18°C
Jun
17°C
Jul
16°C
Aug
16°C
Sep
17°C
Oct
19°C
Nov
20°C
Dec
22°C
Values are area averages; individual beaches vary by exposure and depth.
New South Wales sea temperature: frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month to swim in New South Wales?
February is the warmest month in New South Wales, when the sea averages about 23°C. Late-season warmth often persists a few weeks after peak.
When is the sea coldest in New South Wales?
The coldest month in New South Wales is typically July, when the water averages around 16°C. Cold-water swimmers and surfers dominate this period.
When can you swim in New South Wales without a wetsuit?
The main swimming season in New South Wales runs from November – April — about 6 months a year when the sea sits above 20°C, the level most swimmers describe as pleasant without a wetsuit.
Do I need a wetsuit in New South Wales?
Outside peak summer the water in New South Wales drops toward 16°C, so a 3/2mm shorty or full wetsuit makes long swims much more comfortable. In peak months most swimmers go without.
What is the average sea temperature in New South Wales?
The long-term annual mean sea temperature in New South Wales is about 19°C, based on multi-decadal climatology of the surrounding waters.
How do I check the current sea temperature in New South Wales?
The live reading at the top of this page shows the current sea temperature in New South Wales, updated hourly from marine buoy and satellite data. The 7-day forecast covers water, air, waves, wind and UV for the week ahead.
Beaches in the New South Wales
Ranked by current live sea temperature.
- 1Palm BeachSydney, Australia28.3°C
- 2Seven Mile BeachGerroa, Australia27.3°C
- 3Bondi BeachSydney, Australia20.7°C
- 4Byron Main BeachByron Bay, Australia20.7°C
- 5Forster Main BeachForster, Australia20.7°C
- 6Evans Head BeachEvans Head, Australia20.7°C
- 7Bronte BeachSydney, Australia20.6°C
- 8Kiama BeachKiama, Australia20.6°C
- 9Werri BeachGerringong, Australia20.6°C
- 10Merimbula MainMerimbula, Australia20.6°C
- 11Rose Bay BeachSydney, Australia20.6°C
- 12Congwong BeachSydney, Australia20.6°C
- 13Wanda BeachSydney, Australia20.6°C
- 14Fingal Beach NSWFingal Bay, Australia20.6°C
- 15Diggers BeachCoffs Harbour, Australia20.6°C
- 16Tamarama BeachSydney, Australia20.5°C
- 17Maroubra BeachSydney, Australia20.5°C
- 18Lennox HeadLennox Head, Australia20.5°C
- 19Kingscliff BeachKingscliff, Australia20.5°C
- 20Terrigal BeachTerrigal, Australia20.5°C
- 21Ettalong BeachEttalong Beach, Australia20.5°C
- 22Killcare BeachKillcare, Australia20.5°C
- 23Angourie BeachAngourie, Australia20.5°C
- 24Whale BeachSydney, Australia20.4°C
- 25WattamollaRoyal National Park, Australia20.4°C
- 26North WollongongWollongong, Australia20.4°C
- 27Cabarita BeachCabarita Beach, Australia20.4°C
- 28Nobbys BeachNewcastle, Australia20.4°C
- 29Bungan BeachSydney, Australia20.4°C
- 30Vincentia BeachVincentia, Australia20.4°C
- 31Cave BeachSussex Inlet, Australia20.4°C
- 32Camp CoveSydney, Australia20.3°C
- 33Austinmer BeachAustinmer, Australia20.3°C
- 34Hyams BeachHyams Beach, Australia20.3°C
- 35Pambula BeachPambula, Australia20.3°C
- 36Tallow BeachByron Bay, Australia20.3°C
- 37Milk BeachSydney, Australia20.3°C
- 38Chinamans Beach JervisVincentia, Australia20.3°C
- 39Avoca BeachAvoca Beach, Australia20.2°C
- 40Little Bay BeachSydney, Australia20.2°C
- 41Bar BeachNewcastle, Australia20.2°C
- 42Hat Head BeachHat Head, Australia20.2°C
- 43Nambucca Heads BeachNambucca Heads, Australia20.2°C
- 44Coogee BeachSydney, Australia20.1°C
- 45Manly BeachSydney, Australia20.1°C
- 46Curl Curl BeachSydney, Australia20.1°C
- 47Avalon BeachSydney, Australia20.1°C
- 48Lady Bay BeachSydney, Australia20.1°C
- 49Shark BeachSydney, Australia20.1°C
- 50Frenchmans BaySydney, Australia20.1°C
- 51Broken Head BeachBroken Head, Australia20.1°C
- 52Callala BeachCallala Beach, Australia20.1°C
- 53Store BeachSydney, Australia20.0°C
- 54Clovelly BeachSydney, Australia20.0°C
- 55Umina BeachUmina Beach, Australia20.0°C
- 56South West Rocks BeachSouth West Rocks, Australia20.0°C
- 57Woolgoolga BeachWoolgoolga, Australia20.0°C
- 58Narrabeen BeachSydney, Australia19.9°C
- 59Trial BaySouth West Rocks, Australia19.9°C
- 60Park Beach CoffsCoffs Harbour, Australia19.9°C
- 61One Mile Beach ForsterForster, Australia19.9°C
- 62Catherine Hill BayCatherine Hill Bay, Australia19.9°C
- 63Chinamans BeachSydney, Australia19.9°C
- 64Bilgola BeachSydney, Australia19.9°C
- 65Elouera BeachSydney, Australia19.9°C
- 66Cronulla BeachSydney, Australia19.8°C
- 67Dee Why BeachSydney, Australia19.8°C
- 68Belongil BeachByron Bay, Australia19.8°C
- 69Sawtell BeachSawtell, Australia19.8°C
- 70Birubi BeachAnna Bay, Australia19.8°C
- 71Wamberal BeachWamberal, Australia19.8°C
- 72Nielsen ParkSydney, Australia19.8°C
- 73Collins Flat BeachSydney, Australia19.8°C
- 74Malabar BeachSydney, Australia19.8°C
- 75Copacabana Beach NSWCopacabana, Australia19.8°C
- 76Wollongong City BeachWollongong, Australia19.7°C
- 77Jervis Bay BeachVincentia, Australia19.7°C
- 78Wategos BeachByron Bay, Australia19.7°C
- 79Hat Head BeachHat Head, Australia19.7°C
- 80Coffs Jetty BeachCoffs Harbour, Australia19.7°C
- 81Parsley BaySydney, Australia19.7°C
- 82Long Reef BeachSydney, Australia19.7°C
- 83Tura BeachTura Beach, Australia19.7°C
- 84Thirroul BeachThirroul, Australia19.6°C
- 85Dixon Park BeachNewcastle, Australia19.6°C
- 86Shoal Bay NSWShoal Bay, Australia19.6°C
- 87Diamond Beach NSWDiamond Beach, Australia19.6°C
- 88Yamba Main BeachYamba, Australia19.6°C
- 89Fingal Head BeachFingal Head, Australia19.6°C
- 90Blenheim BeachVincentia, Australia19.6°C
- 91Freshwater BeachSydney, Australia19.5°C
- 92Mona Vale BeachSydney, Australia19.5°C
- 93Newport BeachSydney, Australia19.5°C
- 94Garie BeachRoyal National Park, Australia19.5°C
- 95Pebbly BeachMurramarang, Australia19.5°C
- 96Stockton BeachNewcastle, Australia19.5°C
- 97Redleaf BeachSydney, Australia19.5°C
- 98Warriewood BeachSydney, Australia19.5°C
- 99Gordons BaySydney, Australia19.5°C
- 100North Cronulla BeachSydney, Australia19.5°C
- 101Newcastle BeachNewcastle, Australia19.5°C
- 102Zenith BeachNelson Bay, Australia19.5°C
- 103Crescent Head BeachCrescent Head, Australia19.5°C
- 104Iluka Bluff BeachIluka, Australia19.5°C
- 105Collaroy BeachSydney, Australia19.4°C
- 106Stanwell ParkStanwell Park, Australia19.4°C
- 107Tathra BeachTathra, Australia19.4°C
- 108Merewether BeachNewcastle, Australia19.4°C
- 109One Mile BeachAnna Bay, Australia19.4°C
- 110The PassByron Bay, Australia19.4°C
- 111Balmoral BeachSydney, Australia19.3°C
- 112Mollymook BeachMollymook, Australia19.3°C
- 113Port Stephens Shoal BayPort Stephens, Australia19.3°C
- 114Clontarf BeachSydney, Australia19.3°C
- 115Pebbly Beach NSWForster, Australia19.3°C
Swimming in the New South Wales — FAQ
How warm is the sea in the New South Wales in November?
The Tasman Sea off the New South Wales averages about 20.0°C in November, based on long-term monthly averages for this coast.
When is the best time to swim in the New South Wales?
The New South Wales is warmest in February (around 23.0°C) and coldest in July (around 16.0°C). There are typically 4 months a year when the water sits above 22°C.
What is the average yearly sea temperature in the New South Wales?
Across all twelve months, the sea in the New South Wales averages about 19.3°C.
Do you need a wetsuit to swim in the New South Wales?
In peak season (around February, ~23.0°C) most swimmers are comfortable without a wetsuit. Outside summer, when the water drops toward 16.0°C, a 3/2mm to 5/4mm wetsuit is recommended.