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
19.2°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.
- 1Seven Mile BeachGerroa, Australia29.5°C
- 2Palm BeachSydney, Australia27.4°C
- 3Hyams BeachHyams Beach, Australia19.7°C
- 4Yamba Main BeachYamba, Australia19.7°C
- 5Fingal Head BeachFingal Head, Australia19.7°C
- 6Vincentia BeachVincentia, Australia19.7°C
- 7Cave BeachSussex Inlet, Australia19.7°C
- 8Maroubra BeachSydney, Australia19.6°C
- 9Collaroy BeachSydney, Australia19.6°C
- 10Tathra BeachTathra, Australia19.6°C
- 11Tallow BeachByron Bay, Australia19.6°C
- 12Kingscliff BeachKingscliff, Australia19.6°C
- 13Hat Head BeachHat Head, Australia19.6°C
- 14Sawtell BeachSawtell, Australia19.6°C
- 15Coffs Jetty BeachCoffs Harbour, Australia19.6°C
- 16One Mile Beach ForsterForster, Australia19.6°C
- 17Store BeachSydney, Australia19.6°C
- 18Bilgola BeachSydney, Australia19.6°C
- 19Jervis Bay BeachVincentia, Australia19.5°C
- 20Stockton BeachNewcastle, Australia19.5°C
- 21Rose Bay BeachSydney, Australia19.5°C
- 22Ettalong BeachEttalong Beach, Australia19.5°C
- 23Fingal Beach NSWFingal Bay, Australia19.5°C
- 24Diamond Beach NSWDiamond Beach, Australia19.5°C
- 25Tura BeachTura Beach, Australia19.5°C
- 26Bondi BeachSydney, Australia19.4°C
- 27Austinmer BeachAustinmer, Australia19.4°C
- 28Byron Main BeachByron Bay, Australia19.4°C
- 29Wategos BeachByron Bay, Australia19.4°C
- 30Birubi BeachAnna Bay, Australia19.4°C
- 31Nobbys BeachNewcastle, Australia19.4°C
- 32Terrigal BeachTerrigal, Australia19.4°C
- 33Chinamans BeachSydney, Australia19.4°C
- 34South West Rocks BeachSouth West Rocks, Australia19.4°C
- 35Tamarama BeachSydney, Australia19.3°C
- 36Cronulla BeachSydney, Australia19.3°C
- 37Whale BeachSydney, Australia19.3°C
- 38Camp CoveSydney, Australia19.3°C
- 39Wollongong City BeachWollongong, Australia19.3°C
- 40Werri BeachGerringong, Australia19.3°C
- 41Pebbly BeachMurramarang, Australia19.3°C
- 42Cabarita BeachCabarita Beach, Australia19.3°C
- 43Avoca BeachAvoca Beach, Australia19.3°C
- 44Clontarf BeachSydney, Australia19.3°C
- 45Collins Flat BeachSydney, Australia19.3°C
- 46Bungan BeachSydney, Australia19.3°C
- 47Umina BeachUmina Beach, Australia19.3°C
- 48Chinamans Beach JervisVincentia, Australia19.3°C
- 49Garie BeachRoyal National Park, Australia19.2°C
- 50Mollymook BeachMollymook, Australia19.2°C
- 51Forster Main BeachForster, Australia19.2°C
- 52Port Stephens Shoal BayPort Stephens, Australia19.2°C
- 53Warriewood BeachSydney, Australia19.2°C
- 54Shoal Bay NSWShoal Bay, Australia19.2°C
- 55Coogee BeachSydney, Australia19.1°C
- 56Curl Curl BeachSydney, Australia19.1°C
- 57Merewether BeachNewcastle, Australia19.1°C
- 58Gordons BaySydney, Australia19.1°C
- 59Copacabana Beach NSWCopacabana, Australia19.1°C
- 60Zenith BeachNelson Bay, Australia19.1°C
- 61Crescent Head BeachCrescent Head, Australia19.1°C
- 62Evans Head BeachEvans Head, Australia19.1°C
- 63Broken Head BeachBroken Head, Australia19.1°C
- 64Blenheim BeachVincentia, Australia19.1°C
- 65Manly BeachSydney, Australia19.0°C
- 66Thirroul BeachThirroul, Australia19.0°C
- 67North WollongongWollongong, Australia19.0°C
- 68Pambula BeachPambula, Australia19.0°C
- 69Nielsen ParkSydney, Australia19.0°C
- 70Parsley BaySydney, Australia19.0°C
- 71North Cronulla BeachSydney, Australia19.0°C
- 72Killcare BeachKillcare, Australia19.0°C
- 73Newcastle BeachNewcastle, Australia19.0°C
- 74Pebbly Beach NSWForster, Australia19.0°C
- 75Dee Why BeachSydney, Australia18.9°C
- 76Narrabeen BeachSydney, Australia18.9°C
- 77Wamberal BeachWamberal, Australia18.9°C
- 78Little Bay BeachSydney, Australia18.9°C
- 79Malabar BeachSydney, Australia18.9°C
- 80Elouera BeachSydney, Australia18.9°C
- 81Mona Vale BeachSydney, Australia18.8°C
- 82Stanwell ParkStanwell Park, Australia18.8°C
- 83Belongil BeachByron Bay, Australia18.8°C
- 84Congwong BeachSydney, Australia18.8°C
- 85One Mile BeachAnna Bay, Australia18.8°C
- 86Nambucca Heads BeachNambucca Heads, Australia18.8°C
- 87Callala BeachCallala Beach, Australia18.8°C
- 88Freshwater BeachSydney, Australia18.7°C
- 89Newport BeachSydney, Australia18.7°C
- 90WattamollaRoyal National Park, Australia18.7°C
- 91Lennox HeadLennox Head, Australia18.7°C
- 92Bar BeachNewcastle, Australia18.7°C
- 93Dixon Park BeachNewcastle, Australia18.7°C
- 94Woolgoolga BeachWoolgoolga, Australia18.7°C
- 95The PassByron Bay, Australia18.7°C
- 96Merimbula MainMerimbula, Australia18.6°C
- 97Long Reef BeachSydney, Australia18.6°C
- 98Clovelly BeachSydney, Australia18.6°C
- 99Diggers BeachCoffs Harbour, Australia18.6°C
- 100Bronte BeachSydney, Australia18.5°C
- 101Avalon BeachSydney, Australia18.5°C
- 102Balmoral BeachSydney, Australia18.5°C
- 103Park Beach CoffsCoffs Harbour, Australia18.5°C
- 104Catherine Hill BayCatherine Hill Bay, Australia18.5°C
- 105Lady Bay BeachSydney, Australia18.5°C
- 106Redleaf BeachSydney, Australia18.5°C
- 107Milk BeachSydney, Australia18.5°C
- 108Frenchmans BaySydney, Australia18.5°C
- 109Hat Head BeachHat Head, Australia18.5°C
- 110Angourie BeachAngourie, Australia18.5°C
- 111Kiama BeachKiama, Australia18.4°C
- 112Shark BeachSydney, Australia18.4°C
- 113Iluka Bluff BeachIluka, Australia18.4°C
- 114Trial BaySouth West Rocks, Australia18.3°C
- 115Wanda BeachSydney, Australia18.3°C
Swimming in the New South Wales — FAQ
How warm is the sea in the New South Wales in October?
The Tasman Sea off the New South Wales averages about 19.0°C in October, 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.