Bay of Plenty Weather in May

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

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Rotorua Tauranga Mount Maunganui Waihi Beach

Planning a trip to Bay of Plenty, New Zealand this May? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Bay of Plenty in May

Bay of Plenty, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. May in Bay of Plenty generally has mild temperatures, with high precipitation.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are mild and range from 16°C (61°F) in Rotorua to 18°C (64°F) in Whakatāne. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 11°C (52°F) in Whakatāne and 8°C (46°F) in Rotorua.

For a closer look at conditions across Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Rotorua with an average of 113 mm (4.4 in) to high rainfall in Opotiki with 136 mm (5.4 in).

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Rotorua as an example - it receives around 145 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

Explore Bay of Plenty by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Bay of Plenty — and find the best time to visit. (based on Rotorua)

January23°C (73°F) February24°C (75°F) March21°C (70°F) April19°C (66°F) May16°C (61°F) June13°C (55°F) This monthJuly13°C (55°F) August13°C (55°F) September15°C (59°F) October17°C (63°F) November19°C (66°F) December21°C (70°F)
Best Time to Visit Bay of Plenty →

Best Places to Visit in Bay of Plenty in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Bay of Plenty.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
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 Bay of Plenty

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

Temperature range in Bay of Plenty (May)

Precipitation variation in Bay of Plenty (May)

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.

« April
May
June »
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
tolerable
unpleasant
poor
Climate in Rotorua →

Tauranga

In May Tauranga generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
186 hours
168 hours
138 hours
Monthly rainfall
128 mm (5 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
139 mm (5.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
11 days
14 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Tauranga →

Mount Maunganui

In May Mount Maunganui generally has moderate 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.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
20°C (68°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
186 hours
168 hours
138 hours
Monthly rainfall
128 mm (5 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
139 mm (5.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
11 days
14 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
Climate in Mount Maunganui →

Waihi Beach

In May Waihi Beach generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
186 hours
168 hours
138 hours
Monthly rainfall
124 mm (4.9 in)
117 mm (4.6 in)
136 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
14 days
16 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
Climate in Waihi Beach →

Ngongotaha

In May Ngongotaha 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.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°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
122 mm (4.8 in)
117 mm (4.6 in)
131 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
14 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Ngongotaha →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Bay of Plenty, 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 Bay of Plenty in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Rotorua 16°C (61°F) 8°C (46°F) 113 mm (4.4 in)
Tauranga 17°C (63°F) 12°C (54°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Mount Maunganui 18°C (64°F) 12°C (54°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Waihi Beach 18°C (64°F) 13°C (55°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Ngongotaha 16°C (61°F) 8°C (46°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Papamoa 18°C (64°F) 12°C (54°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)

Bay of Plenty weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand in May?

Expect unpleasant weather across Bay of Plenty, New Zealand in May. The popular destination of Rotorua averages 16°C (61°F) by day and 8°C (46°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand in May?

In Rotorua, the average daytime high in May is 16°C (61°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 8°C (46°F).

Does Bay of Plenty, New Zealand get a lot of rain in May?

Rotorua typically receives notable rainfall in May, about 113 mm (4.4 in) on average across Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Bay of Plenty, New Zealand?

Given the typically unpleasant weather conditions in Rotorua, May may not be the ideal time to visit Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

Generally speaking, January and March provide perfect weather in Rotorua. On the other hand, the weather in June, July and August tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Bay of Plenty.

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.

White-water sledge and raft in Rotorua

We recommend to white-water sledge and raft in Rotorua in summer (January, February) when the Glacier melt fills the rivers. This is the best time.
White-water sledge and raft in Rotorua

We recommend to white-water sledge and raft in Rotorua in summer (January, February) when the Glacier melt fills the rivers. This is the best time.
Must visit in New Zealand →