Dunedin – St Clair
Dunedin, Otago (Dunedin), New Zealand
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: January, March–November
St Clair is a sandy beach on the southern edge of Dunedin, facing south into the Southern Ocean. It picks up almost every southerly swell, making it one of the most consistent surf beaches in New Zealand, with beach-break peaks along the sand and a right-hander near the sea wall and the heated salt-water pool at the southern end. Northerly to north-westerly winds blow offshore.
The water is cold all year, around 10–14 °C, so a thick wetsuit with boots and hood is needed in winter. The beach is patrolled in summer, and there are cafés along the esplanade. On big swells the waves become powerful and the sea wall area dangerous. Sea lions sometimes haul out on the beach; keep your distance.
Month by month at Dunedin – St Clair
- January: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.9 m, water 15°C, air 19°C (nights 11°C), 26 sunny days, 13 rainy days
- February: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 16°C, air 19°C (nights 11°C), 23 sunny days, 11 rainy days
- March: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2.1 m, water 15°C, air 18°C (nights 10°C), 24 sunny days, 13 rainy days
- April: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2.2 m, water 14°C, air 16°C (nights 9°C), 22 sunny days, 11 rainy days
- May: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2.3 m, water 13°C, air 14°C (nights 6°C), 21 sunny days, 11 rainy days
- June: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2.3 m, water 11°C, air 11°C (nights 5°C), 18 sunny days, 13 rainy days
- July: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2.4 m, water 11°C, air 11°C (nights 4°C), 18 sunny days, 11 rainy days
- August: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2.2 m, water 10°C, air 12°C (nights 4°C), 24 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- September: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 2.4 m, water 11°C, air 14°C (nights 5°C), 26 sunny days, 16 rainy days
- October: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 2.4 m, water 11°C, air 15°C (nights 6°C), 26 sunny days, 15 rainy days
- November: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.9 m, water 13°C, air 17°C (nights 9°C), 26 sunny days, 14 rainy days
- December: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 14°C, air 18°C (nights 11°C), 24 sunny days, 18 rainy days
When is the best time to go surfing at Dunedin – St Clair?
January, March–November, when the waves are biggest.
How warm is the water at Dunedin – St Clair?
10°C to 16°C over the year: a 5/4 with boots in the warmest month, a 5/4 with hood, boots and gloves in the coolest.
How windy is Dunedin – St Clair?
About 81 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in September.
Figures from 4 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).
Spots near Dunedin – St Clair
- Lake Wānaka – Roys Bay (172 km)
More: All spots in New Zealand · Surfing in New Zealand
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