Catlins Weather in May

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

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Owaka Kaka Point Waikawa

Considering a trip to the Catlins, New Zealand this May and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in the Catlins in May

The Catlins, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. May in the Catlins generally has mild temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high.

Temperatures

You can expect mild maximum daytime temperatures of around 13°C (55°F) and nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) in Owaka.

To explore the conditions in the Catlins, New Zealand in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Kaka Point with an average of 78 mm (3.1 in) to high rainfall in Waikawa with 108 mm (4.3 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine hours are generally lower in most areas during May. Owaka experiences about 99 hours of sunlight. If you're looking for brighter destinations, our weather planner can suggest better options.

Explore the Catlins by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in the Catlins in May

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

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 the Catlins

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

Temperature range in the Catlins (May)

Precipitation variation in the Catlins (May)

Owaka

In May Owaka generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
128 hours
99 hours
98 hours
Monthly rainfall
77 mm (3 in)
83 mm (3.3 in)
77 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
20 days
18 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Owaka →

Kaka Point

In May Kaka Point generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
128 hours
99 hours
98 hours
Monthly rainfall
73 mm (2.9 in)
78 mm (3.1 in)
73 mm (2.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
18 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Kaka Point →

Waikawa

In May Waikawa generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
119 hours
88 hours
77 hours
Monthly rainfall
96 mm (3.8 in)
108 mm (4.3 in)
102 mm (4 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
21 days
19 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
poor
poor
Climate in Waikawa →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Owaka 13°C (55°F) 6°C (43°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Kaka Point 13°C (55°F) 7°C (45°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Waikawa 13°C (55°F) 7°C (45°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)

The Catlins weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Catlins, New Zealand in May?

In May, the Catlins, New Zealand generally has unpleasant weather conditions. Owaka sees daytime temperatures near 13°C (55°F), with nights cooling to roughly 6°C (43°F).

What is the average temperature in the Catlins, New Zealand in May?

Owaka averages a daytime maximum of 13°C (55°F) in May, with overnight lows close to 6°C (43°F).

Does the Catlins, New Zealand get a lot of rain in May?

May is on the drier side in the Catlins, New Zealand. Owaka averages only about 83 mm (3.3 in), with most days staying dry.

Is May a Good Time to Visit the Catlins, New Zealand?

In our view, May might not be the best time to travel to the Catlins, New Zealand with often unpleasant weather in Owaka.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in February offering mostly pleasant weather in Owaka. The weather in July, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Catlins.

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.

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