El Niño Is Here: Get Ready for a Hot, Dry Hahei Summer

We've been watching the weather maps here at Cove. with more interest than usual this spring, and the news is pretty exciting if you love a proper beach summer. El Niño has well and truly arrived, and the forecasters reckon it could be one of the strongest we've seen in years. For us on the Coromandel, that's likely to mean a hot, dry and windy summer.

So here's what that means for your summer at the beach, and what to pack so you can make the most of it. (Short on time? Browse all our beach essentials.)

So, what actually is El Niño?

The short version: the Pacific Ocean near the equator warms up more than usual, and it shifts the weather patterns all the way down here. In New Zealand, an El Niño summer tends to bring more westerly and south-westerly winds. The west coast cops the rain, and the north and east of the country, which includes us, usually end up drier than normal with more hot, sunny days.

Earth Sciences New Zealand (you might know them as NIWA) says this one is likely to peak in late spring or early summer and hang around until about autumn. Their latest outlook gives our part of the country, Northland, Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, the best odds of above-average temperatures and below-normal rainfall. Our own Thames-Coromandel District Council puts it plainly: a hot, dry and windy summer is likely on the way.

Translation? More beach days. Lots more beach days.

What an El Niño summer looks like in Hahei

Long, sunny, dry days. Fewer rainy days means more mornings that start with a swim and end with fish and chips on the sand. It's the kind of summer we all remember from when we were kids.

The sun will be fierce. New Zealand's UV is some of the strongest in the world even in a normal summer. With more clear skies, you'll be out in it more often and for longer. You can burn here in under 15 minutes on a clear summer day. SunSmart has handy tips and a UV forecast app.

The wind will have a say. El Niño brings more westerlies, and our side of the peninsula is often sheltered from the worst of them. That's good news for Hahei Beach, but expect breezy afternoons and the odd day where the wind gets up out of nowhere. Shade that won't blow away is worth its weight in gold.

Hot days, warm nights. Expect a few scorchers. Plan your big walks, like the Cathedral Cove walk, for early in the morning, and save the middle of the day for swimming and lying under an umbrella. Our guide to things to do in Hahei has more ideas for your days here, and if you're heading to Hot Water Beach, read what to pack for a day at Hot Water Beach.

Your El Niño beach kit

(For the full day-trip list, see what to pack for Hahei Beach and the Cathedral Cove walk.) We've been getting the shop ready for exactly this kind of summer. Here's what we'd pack, and what we'll be using ourselves:

1. Sunscreen, and plenty of it

SPF50+, broad spectrum, and reapplied every two hours or straight after a swim. A tube in the beach bag, one in the car and a face stick in your pocket is not overdoing it this year. Shop suncare

2. Proper shade

Hahei Beach is gloriously open, which means there's not much natural shade once you're on the sand. A good beach umbrella or cabana means you can stay all day rather than giving up at lunchtime. Look for one with a sturdy anchor for those breezy afternoons. Shop beach umbrellas and cabanas

A few of our favourites this season: the SunnyLife Resort Luxe Beach Umbrella in Coastal Blue, the Beach Kit Hula Raffia Thatch Umbrella for proper holiday vibes, the SunnyLife Compact Beach Umbrella if you're carrying it down the track, and the SunnyLife Beach Cabana in Sea Sage Stripe for families who want to set up camp for the day.

3. A wide-brim sun hat

A cap leaves your ears and neck out in the sun. Go for a proper brim, and ideally one with a chin strap so it doesn't end up halfway to Mercury Bay. Shop sun hats

4. Good sunnies

All that glare off the water and white sand adds up over a long day. UV-protective sunglasses aren't just a style choice. Shop sunglasses

5. Water, and lots of it

Hot days at the beach sneak up on you. A big insulated drink bottle keeps water icy cold all day, and a chilly bin or cooler bag sorts the drinks and snacks. Shop drink bottles or coolers and picnic gear

6. A sand-free towel

A quick-dry, sand-shedding towel is a game changer. It dries in no time between swims and doubles as a wrap when the afternoon breeze kicks in. Shop towels and ponchos

7. A beach bag that can handle it all

Wet togs, sandy toys, three sunscreens and a picnic. You need a bag that won't fall apart halfway down the track. The SANDE Beach Hauler mesh bag lets the sand fall straight out, and a Kip & Co oversized terry beach bag fits the whole family's gear. Shop all beach bags

8. Something fun for the water

It's going to be a long, hot summer, so you might as well float through it. Shop beach and pool inflatables

See the coast from the water

Calm, sunny El Niño mornings are made for getting out on the water. Our friends at Ocean Leopard are a local family business running Cathedral Cove boat tours from Whitianga Wharf. Their two-hour cruise takes in Cathedral Cove, Hahei, the huge Orua Sea Cave and Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve, with a shade canopy so you're not baking in the sun. It's a brilliant way to see the bits of coastline you can't reach on foot. Book a tour with Ocean Leopard, and pop in to see us for your sunscreen and sunnies on the way.

Looking after our patch

A dry summer is brilliant for beach days, but it's hard on the land. A few things that help everyone:

• Go easy on the water. Lots of Coromandel homes and baches rely on tank water, and the council has warned that water restrictions are possible this summer. Shorter showers and a quick rinse off the sand go a long way.
• Check before you light anything. Fire risk goes up when everything dries out. Check checkitsalright.nz before any fire or BBQ outdoors, and follow any fire bans.
• Look after each other. Heat exhaustion is real. Drink water, find shade in the middle of the day, and keep an eye on kids, older family members and the dog. Walk them early or late when the sand isn't too hot for paws.

Planning the rest of your trip? The Coromandel and Tourism New Zealand have heaps of ideas for things to do and places to stay, and our own local's guide to getting ready for summer in Hahei covers the rest.

Come and see us

We're in the village at 3/3 Grange Road, just up from the beach and on the way to Cathedral Cove. Pop in to the store if you've forgotten something, or order online before your trip and have it all ready to go. Shipping is free across New Zealand on orders over $150. Any questions? Get in touch.

Here's to a long, hot, golden summer. See you at the beach! 🧡

The Cove. team

Weather information from Earth Sciences New Zealand's seasonal climate outlook and Thames-Coromandel District Council. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on MetService for day-to-day weather.