Is Tauranga sunnier than Napier?

Tauranga is the sunnier: about 2,513 hours of sunshine a year versus 2,256 — a difference of 257 hours.

Which is warmer, Tauranga or Napier?

Year-round daytime highs are similar: Tauranga averages 18°C (64°F), Napier 19°C (66°F).

Which is better in winter (November–February), Tauranga or Napier?

Napier scores better across November–February: 81/100 average versus 78, with daytime highs around 23°C.

Which has the warmer sea, Tauranga or Napier?

Both peak at about 21°C (70°F); month-by-month sea temperatures for both are on this page.

Tauranga vs Napier: which is sunnier?

🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇳🇿 New Zealand · 208 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Tauranga is the sunnier overall: about 2,513 hours of sunshine a year to Napier's 2,256. Napier has the higher Sunshine Score in 7 of 12 months, Tauranga in 2 (3 within 2 points).

Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.

At a glance

	Tauranga	Napier
Sunshine hours / year	2,513	2,256
Sunniest month	January (81/100)	February (82/100)
Nov–Feb average score	78/100	81/100
Jun–Aug average score	38/100	36/100
Rain / year	1,149 mm	852 mm
Warmest sea	21°C / 70°F	21°C / 70°F
Peak midday UV	10 (very high)	9 (very high)

Tauranga vs Napier month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm		Sea °C
Month	Tauranga	Napier	Tauranga	Napier	Tauranga	Napier	Tauranga	Napier
January	81	81	22°	24°	70	62	21°	21°
February	79	82	23°	24°	79	52	21°	21°
March	78	80	21°	22°	84	65	20°	19°
April	68	71	19°	19°	107	78	19°	18°
May	55	59	17°	17°	110	72	17°	15°
June	41	38	15°	14°	123	87	16°	14°
July	35	31	14°	13°	124	96	15°	12°
August	37	39	14°	14°	112	73	14°	12°
September	45	52	15°	16°	94	73	15°	14°
October	59	66	17°	18°	84	73	16°	15°
November	76	82	19°	20°	60	54	17°	17°
December	75	80	21°	23°	102	67	19°	20°

The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb Napier · Mar even · Apr Napier · May Napier · Jun Tauranga · Jul Tauranga · Aug even · Sep Napier · Oct Napier · Nov Napier · Dec Napier.

When to pick which

November–February: Napier (average score 81/100 vs 78). Napier is the warmer, around 23°C daytime highs vs 21°C.
March–May: Napier (average score 70/100 vs 67). Daytime highs are similar (19°C vs 19°C).
June–August: too close to call — Tauranga averages 38/100, Napier 36/100. Daytime highs are similar (14°C vs 14°C).
September–October: Napier (average score 59/100 vs 52). Daytime highs are similar (16°C vs 17°C).

Sea temperature

Both seas peak at 21°C / 70°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Tauranga about 2 months a year, Napier about 2 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.

Full month-by-month guides: Tauranga weather by month · Napier weather by month · Best time to visit New Zealand.

More comparisons: Tauranga vs Auckland · Tauranga vs New Plymouth · Napier vs Auckland · Napier vs Palmerston North · Napier vs New Plymouth · all head-to-heads