Tasmania (Australia): where to swim in May?
Tasmania, in May: the sea is at 15.3 °C on average along the coast, from 14.2 °C to 16.2 °C depending on the spot. Where the water is warmest (16.2 °C), it is cool. Swimming is fine if you like cool water: you get used to it after a few minutes, especially in mild weather.
Sea temperature, month by month
| Month | Average temperature | Depending on the spot | Where it is warmest |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17.2 °C | 15.6 °C – 18.6 °C | cool |
| February | 18.1 °C | 16.5 °C – 19.6 °C | pleasant |
| March | 17.8 °C | 16.0 °C – 19.2 °C | pleasant |
| April | 16.8 °C | 15.1 °C – 18.0 °C | cool |
| May | 15.3 °C | 14.2 °C – 16.2 °C | cool |
| June | 14.4 °C | 13.5 °C – 15.2 °C | cool |
| July | 13.6 °C | 12.8 °C – 14.6 °C | cold |
| August | 12.9 °C | 12.0 °C – 13.8 °C | cold |
| September | 12.8 °C | 12.0 °C – 13.6 °C | cold |
| October | 13.3 °C | 12.2 °C – 14.3 °C | cold |
| November | 14.3 °C | 13.2 °C – 15.5 °C | cool |
| December | 15.8 °C | 14.5 °C – 17.2 °C | cool |
Compared with April, the water cools down by 1.5 °C in May. The warmest month: February (18.1 °C). The coldest: September (12.8 °C).
Nearby, in May
- Victoria 16.2 °C · cool
- New South Wales 22.0 °C · warm
- South Australia 17.6 °C · cool
- Queensland 26.0 °C · very warm
- Western Australia 23.9 °C · very warm
And right now?
For the temperature measured right now, station by station and to the hour: Tasmania: water temperature
Frequently asked questions
What is the sea temperature in May?
Tasmania, in May: 15.3 °C on average along the coast, from 14.2 °C in the coolest waters to 16.2 °C in the warmest (average of the years 2011 to 2025).
Can you swim in May?
Where the water is warmest (16.2 °C), it is cool. Swimming is fine if you like cool water: you get used to it after a few minutes, especially in mild weather.
What is the best month for swimming?
The water is warmest in February (18.1 °C on average) and coldest in September (12.8 °C). Even where it is warmest, the water never reaches 20 °C in any month; the three warmest months are: February, March, January.
What temperature do you need to swim comfortably?
Below 15 °C the water is cold: the cold takes your breath away and tires you quickly. Between 20 °C and 25 °C most people find it pleasant. Below 10 °C it is very cold.
Where do these temperatures come from?
These are averages of the sea surface temperature from 2011 to 2025, computed from NOAA satellite images (OISST, one value about every 50 km), in a 100 km strip along the coasts of the main country: distant territories (overseas, remote islands) are not counted. It is an estimate, not a measurement taken at the beach: lakes and rivers are not included.