Marlborough Sounds Weather in May

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

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Picton Blenheim Anakiwa Renwick

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

What to Expect in the Marlborough Sounds in May

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

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are mild and range from 13°C (55°F) in Wairau Valley to 16°C (61°F) in Picton. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 9°C (48°F) in Picton and 3°C (37°F) in Wairau Valley.

For a closer look at conditions across the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Blenheim with an average of 70 mm (2.8 in) to high rainfall in Rai Valley with 110 mm (4.3 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine levels are moderate in most locations. Picton typically sees 176 hours of sunlight, creating comfortable conditions that aren't too bright or too dim. Looking for something sunnier? Our weather planner helps you discover destinations with more reliable sunshine.

Explore the Marlborough Sounds by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in the Marlborough Sounds — and find the best time to visit. (based on Picton)

January21°C (70°F) February22°C (72°F) March20°C (68°F) April18°C (64°F) May16°C (61°F) June13°C (55°F) This monthJuly13°C (55°F) August13°C (55°F) September15°C (59°F) October16°C (61°F) November18°C (64°F) December20°C (68°F)
Best Time to Visit the Marlborough Sounds →

Best Places to Visit in the Marlborough Sounds in May

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

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 Marlborough Sounds

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

Temperature range in the Marlborough Sounds (May)

Precipitation variation in the Marlborough Sounds (May)

Picton

In May Picton generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
195 hours
176 hours
144 hours
Monthly rainfall
79 mm (3.1 in)
76 mm (3 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
11 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
Climate in Picton →

Blenheim

In May Blenheim generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
195 hours
176 hours
144 hours
Monthly rainfall
75 mm (3 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
Climate in Blenheim →

Anakiwa

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

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°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
195 hours
176 hours
144 hours
Monthly rainfall
85 mm (3.3 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
102 mm (4 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
11 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
tolerable
poor
Climate in Anakiwa →

Renwick

In May Renwick generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
15°C (59°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
195 hours
176 hours
144 hours
Monthly rainfall
84 mm (3.3 in)
80 mm (3.1 in)
99 mm (3.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
8 days
8 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
Climate in Renwick →

Havelock

In May Havelock 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.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
195 hours
176 hours
144 hours
Monthly rainfall
94 mm (3.7 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
9 days
10 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
tolerable
poor
Climate in Havelock →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Picton 16°C (61°F) 9°C (48°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Blenheim 15°C (59°F) 7°C (45°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Anakiwa 16°C (61°F) 8°C (46°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Renwick 15°C (59°F) 5°C (41°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Havelock 15°C (59°F) 6°C (43°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Endeavour Inlet 15°C (59°F) 11°C (52°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)

The Marlborough Sounds weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand in May?

the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand typically experiences tolerable weather in May, part of the season. Daytime highs in Picton average around 16°C (61°F), and temperatures drop to about 9°C (48°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand in May?

In Picton, the average daytime high in May is 16°C (61°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 9°C (48°F).

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

Rain is generally moderate to light in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand during May, with Picton averaging close to 76 mm (3 in).

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

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

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, February, March and December offering mostly perfect weather in Picton. On the other hand, the months of June, July and August tend to have unpleasant weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Marlborough Sounds.

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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