Information on sailing sites around N.Z.
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Weather Conditions in New Zealand

Seasons:

  • Summer; December - March.
  • Autumn; April/May.
  • Winter; June - August.
  • Spring; September - November.

Wind:
Each region has it's own particular weather patterns, but most get seabreezes or thermals on hot summer days which build up to 20 knots by the afternoon.

Sun:
A word of warning about the New Zealand sun - it has strong UV rays so a high factor, waterproof suntan lotion should be applied often during the day! Sunhats and UV protective sunglasses should also be worn.

Temperatures:
Generally, the further south you go, the colder it gets. Winds from the south are colder than those from the North, and wetsuits are required year round; shorties in summer and steamers (and sometimes hats and gloves) when it gets colder. In Autumn, the water is warmer than in spring, but many people sail year round except in some of the southern lakes which freeze over. Below are the average air and water temperatures in degrees celsius.


REGION______________AIR___________________WATER
                SUMMER/WINTER           SUMMER/WINTER

Northland_____  23.8    15.2            21.0    14.0
Auckland_____   23.1    14.9            20.0    14.0
Bay_of_Plenty_  23.6    14.1            20.0    13.0
Taupo________   23.5    11.0            20.0    10.0
New_Plymouth_   21.4    13.0            19.0    13.0
Gisborne______  24.4    13.8            19.5    13.5
Wellington____  20.0    10.9            16.5    11.5
Nelson________  21.9    11.9            17.0    11.8
Christchurch__  21.5    10.3            16.5    9.5
Queenstown___   21.7    7.7_            16.5    7.0
Dunedin_______  9.0     9.9_            15.0    9.0

 

Auckland Four Winds Nowcasting

0900 4 WIND (0900 49463)

Four Winds Nowcasting is open for business in Auckland! Currently we have one site operational, being Pt Chevalier. This site reports wind conditions that suit Southerly-Westerly-Northerly windsurfing locations. We have just received permission for setting up our second site, at Takapuna Boating club, which will report wind conditions that suit Northerly-Easterly-Southerly locations. This should be operational at the end of Feburary.

Reported is:
Wind direction, speed and gust for the last 10 minutes, Wind direction and speed for 2 hours ago, Tide height and times for the day.

Access is via 0900 4 WIND (9463), with calls costing $1.50 including GST ($1.33 + GST)

Contact details:
Four Winds Nowcasting
Box 35-838
Browns Bay
mps@4winds.co.nz Ph (09) 473 0412

Auckland Wind and Windsurfing Information- WindTrack 0900 99 666

Mount Maunganui/Raglan Surf/Wind Information 0900 900 98

Wellington WINDLINE - Phone (04) 388-8813

This is a FREE (local calling area) now-casting system with two measurement locations at present, one in EVANS BAY (aka the Ditch) and the other at PLIMMERTON. Average , maximum, minimum wind speeds (last 15 minutes), direction, trend (rising/ falling/ steady), wind chill factor. Also other event information such as the Harbour Blast.

TELECOM 0900 Services (pay-by-the-minute forecasts)

Special Recreational Forecast Areas

  • Hauraki Gulf 0900 999 99
  • Wellington Inshore Waters 0900 999 22
  • Canterbury Inshore Waters 0900 999 44

Coastal Metphone: Dial 0900 499 + area code (see below)

  • Hokianga 23
  • Manukau 22
  • Kawhia 21
  • Farewell 20
  • DUrville 19
  • Foulwind 18
  • Fox 17
  • Milford 16
  • Uysegur 15
  • Foveaux 14
  • Chalmers 13
  • Waitaki 12
  • Rakaia 11
  • Pegasus 10
  • Clarence 09
  • Cook 08
  • Castlepoint 07
  • Kidnappers 06
  • Nick 05
  • Plenty 04
  • Coromandel 03
  • Brett 02
  • Reinga 01 
 ...more information
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