Best Time to Ride · New Plymouth – Fitzroy Beach vs Opunake
New Plymouth – Fitzroy Beach vs Opunake: which is better for kitesurfing & surfing?
New Plymouth – Fitzroy Beach or Opunake? Month by month: windy days, waves and water temperature side by side, from years of weather data.
Find the best time to goTap a spot to see when to go: wind, waves, water temperature, sun and rain in every month, from years of weather statistics.
Updated October 2026 · weather data 2022–2026
In short
- Opunake is windier in 11 of 12 months.
- Opunake has bigger waves in 6 of 12 months.
- New Plymouth – Fitzroy Beach has warmer water in 10 of 12 months.
- Best months at New Plymouth – Fitzroy Beach: January–March, September–December.
- Best months at Opunake: September–October.
- 51 km apart.
New Plymouth – Fitzroy BeachTaranaki, New ZealandWindy days per month (15+ knots)
JFMAMJJASOND9898109121216151110
Water temperature per month (°C)
JFMAMJJASOND201919181716151414151718
Best time to go →
OpunakeTaranaki, New ZealandWindy days per month (15+ knots)
JFMAMJJASOND11910101013121419201313
Water temperature per month (°C)
JFMAMJJASOND192019181716141414151618
Best time to go →Windy days: days with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots between 9:00 and 18:00, averaged over recent years. Water: average sea surface temperature.