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New Zealand Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in New Zealand in May.

Planning a getaway to New Zealand this May and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in New Zealand in May

New Zealand offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In May, one might encounter temperatures that range from cold to pleasant, and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is cold in Mount Cook Village at 6°C (43°F) and pleasant in Cable Bay at 19°C (66°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 12°C (54°F) in Cable Bay and -2°C (28°F) in Mount Cook Village.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of New Zealand, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Christchurch with an average of 54 mm (2.1 in) to heavy rainfall in Haast with 349 mm (14 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine amounts are decent in most places. Auckland gets approximately 140 hours of sunlight in May, offering a reasonable amount of both bright and cloudy periods. Curious about sunnier destinations? Our weather planner makes it easy to find places worldwide with pleasant weather.

Explore New Zealand by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in New Zealand — and find the best time to visit. (based on Auckland)

Best Places to Visit in New Zealand in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across New Zealand.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in New Zealand

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in New Zealand?

Temperature range in New Zealand (May)

Precipitation variation in New Zealand (May)

Auckland

In May Auckland generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
156 hours
140 hours
117 hours
Monthly rainfall
89 mm (3.5 in)
104 mm (4.1 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
17 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Christchurch

In May Christchurch generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
15°C (59°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
161 hours
138 hours
117 hours
Monthly rainfall
58 mm (2.3 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
11 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Queenstown

In May Queenstown generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
8°C (46°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
145 hours
87 hours
72 hours
Monthly rainfall
114 mm (4.5 in)
140 mm (5.5 in)
115 mm (4.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Rotorua

In May Rotorua generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
16°C (61°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
170 hours
145 hours
121 hours
Monthly rainfall
119 mm (4.7 in)
113 mm (4.4 in)
126 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Taupo

In May Taupo generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
15°C (59°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
158 hours
130 hours
97 hours
Monthly rainfall
110 mm (4.3 in)
111 mm (4.4 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
12 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in New Zealand.

In our records: New Zealand May extremes

Notable May records observed across cities in New Zealand in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the coldest May daytime high in New Zealand was -6°C (21°F) in Franz Josef on May 28, 2013.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in New Zealand in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Auckland 18°C (64°F) 12°C (54°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Christchurch 15°C (59°F) 6°C (43°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Queenstown 8°C (46°F) 1°C (34°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Nelson 15°C (59°F) 8°C (46°F) 123 mm (4.8 in)
Wellington 15°C (59°F) 11°C (52°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Franz Josef 10°C (50°F) 4°C (39°F) 313 mm (12 in)

New Zealand weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in New Zealand in May?

Expect tolerable weather across New Zealand in May. The popular destination of Auckland averages 18°C (64°F) by day and 12°C (54°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in New Zealand in May?

Average temperatures in New Zealand during May range from a nighttime low near 12°C (54°F) to a daytime high around 18°C (64°F) in Auckland.

Does New Zealand get a lot of rain in May?

Yes, May tends to be a wetter month in New Zealand. Average rainfall in Auckland sits around 104 mm (4.1 in).

Is May a Good Time to Visit New Zealand?

In our opinion, May is a good time to visit New Zealand with overall tolerable weather in Auckland. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

Generally speaking, January, February, March, April and November provide perfect weather in Auckland. On the other hand, the months of June, July, August and September tend to have unpleasant weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in New Zealand.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to New Zealand? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in New Zealand.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.