Is January a good time for surfing at Colac Bay / Ōraka?
January is outside the best season for surfing at Colac Bay / Ōraka; the best time is June–August. Waves 0.6 m, water 16°C (4/3 wetsuit), air 17°C.
Plan your trip to Colac Bay / ŌrakaEvery month at a glance, daily wind and waves from years of weather statistics, photos, videos and local tips.Updated November 2026 · weather data 2022–2026
In short
- Waves: 0.6 m on average (daily maximum)
- Water: 16°C, 4/3 wetsuit
- Air: 17°C by day, 11°C at night
- Weather: 25 sunny days, 15 rainy days
Wave height: average daily maximum. Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).
Best time to go →Other spots for surfing in January
1
JanGOOD
Wainui Beach
Gisborne · New Zealand
2 m waves20° water22° air
1192 km away · Beginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ GIS 9 km
2
JanGOOD
Ahipara
New Zealand
1.8 m waves20° water23° air
1321 km away · Beginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ KAT 16 km
3
JanGOOD
Opunake
New Zealand
1.8 m waves19° water21° air
908 km away · Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ NPL 57 km
4
JanGOOD
Lyall Bay
Wellington · New Zealand
1.9 m waves18° water20° air
787 km away · Beginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ WLG 1 km
5
JanGOOD
Manu Bay
Raglan · New Zealand
1.7 m waves20° water22° air
1107 km away · Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ HLZ 46 km
6
JanGOOD
St Clair
Dunedin · New Zealand
1.9 m waves15° water19° air
207 km away · Intermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ DUD 23 km
Within 1,500 km, ranked by wave height and, a little, warm water.
Where to go surfing in January →Questions
Is January a good time for surfing at Colac Bay / Ōraka?
January is outside the best season for surfing at Colac Bay / Ōraka; the best time is June–August. Waves 0.6 m, water 16°C (4/3 wetsuit), air 17°C.
How warm is the water at Colac Bay / Ōraka in January?
About 16°C: 4/3 wetsuit.
How big are the waves at Colac Bay / Ōraka in January?
About 0.6 m on average (daily maximum).
What is the weather like at Colac Bay / Ōraka in January?
Around 17°C by day and 11°C at night, with about 25 sunny and 15 rainy days.
Where else can I go surfing in January?
Within 1,500 km: Gisborne – Wainui Beach (2 m waves), Ahipara (1.8 m waves) & Opunake (1.8 m waves).
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