Is December a good time for surfing at Ōkārito?
December is a fair month for surfing at Ōkārito; the best time is June–August. Waves 0.8 m, water 16°C (4/3 wetsuit), air 18°C.
Plan your trip to ŌkāritoEvery 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: 0.8 m on average (daily maximum)
- Water: 16°C, 4/3 wetsuit
- Air: 18°C by day, 12°C at night
- Weather: 25 sunny days, 19 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 December
1
DecGOOD
Opunake
New Zealand
2 m waves18° water19° air
520 km away · Intermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ NPL 57 km
2
DecGOOD
Manu Bay
Raglan · New Zealand
1.9 m waves19° water20° air
718 km away · Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ HLZ 46 km
3
DecGOOD
Ahipara
New Zealand
1.9 m waves19° water21° air
932 km away · Beginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ KAT 16 km
4
DecGOOD
Lyall Bay
Wellington · New Zealand
2 m waves17° water19° air
436 km away · Beginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ WLG 1 km
5
DecGOOD
Stent Road
Taranaki · New Zealand
1.9 m waves18° water19° air
537 km away · Advanced only · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ NPL 43 km
6
DecGOOD
Fitzroy Beach
New Plymouth · New Zealand
1.9 m waves18° water20° air
570 km away · Beginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ NPL 8 km
Within 1,500 km, ranked by wave height and, a little, warm water.
Where to go surfing in December →Questions
Is December a good time for surfing at Ōkārito?
December is a fair month for surfing at Ōkārito; the best time is June–August. Waves 0.8 m, water 16°C (4/3 wetsuit), air 18°C.
How warm is the water at Ōkārito in December?
About 16°C: 4/3 wetsuit.
How big are the waves at Ōkārito in December?
About 0.8 m on average (daily maximum).
What is the weather like at Ōkārito in December?
Around 18°C by day and 12°C at night, with about 25 sunny and 19 rainy days.
Where else can I go surfing in December?
Within 1,500 km: Opunake (2 m waves), Raglan – Manu Bay (1.9 m waves) & Ahipara (1.9 m waves).
Read more
North Island Surf Road Trip: 3 Weeks in a Motorhome, Coast to Coast7 min read
Which wetsuit do you need? Water temperature at popular spots, month by month2 min read