Byron Bay

New South Wales Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in New South Wales, Australia in May.

Thinking about venturing to New South Wales, Australia this May and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in New South Wales in May

New South Wales, Australia is a region in Australia. New South Wales, Australia has a wide variety of climate types. During May, you can expect temperatures that range from mild to warm and precipitation levels ranging from low to high.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is mild in Thredbo at 12°C (54°F) and warm in Moree at 24°C (75°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 9°C (48°F) in Moree and 2°C (36°F) in Thredbo.

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

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Broken Hill with an average of 15 mm (0.6 in) to high rainfall in Byron Bay with 118 mm (4.6 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine amounts are decent in most places. Sydney gets approximately 180 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 South Wales by month

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

Best Places to Visit in New South Wales in May

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

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 South Wales

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in New South Wales, Australia?

Temperature range in New South Wales (May)

Precipitation variation in New South Wales (May)

Sydney

In May Sydney generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
20°C (68°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
192 hours
180 hours
186 hours
Monthly rainfall
79 mm (3.1 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
98 mm (3.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
11 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Byron Bay

In May Byron Bay generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
23°C (73°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
205 hours
190 hours
Monthly rainfall
109 mm (4.3 in)
118 mm (4.6 in)
136 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Jindabyne

In May Jindabyne generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly rainfall
50 mm (2 in)
44 mm (1.7 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
13 days
Weather conditions

The Entrance

In May The Entrance generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
20°C (68°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
14°C (57°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly rainfall
91 mm (3.6 in)
85 mm (3.3 in)
107 mm (4.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
11 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Merimbula

In May Merimbula generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly rainfall
66 mm (2.6 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
11 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in New South Wales, in Australia.

Popular cities in May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Sydney 20°C (68°F) 14°C (57°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Byron Bay 23°C (73°F) 16°C (61°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Jindabyne 13°C (55°F) 2°C (36°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
The Entrance 20°C (68°F) 14°C (57°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Merimbula 18°C (64°F) 11°C (52°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Coffs Harbour 21°C (70°F) 14°C (57°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)

New South Wales weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in New South Wales, Australia in May?

In May, New South Wales, Australia generally has perfect weather conditions. Sydney sees daytime temperatures near 20°C (68°F), with nights cooling to roughly 14°C (57°F).

What is the average temperature in New South Wales, Australia in May?

Daytime temperatures in Sydney peak at roughly 20°C (68°F) in May, dropping to about 14°C (57°F) overnight.

Does New South Wales, Australia get a lot of rain in May?

May is on the drier side in New South Wales, Australia. Sydney averages only about 79 mm (3.1 in), with most days staying dry.

Is May a Good Time to Visit New South Wales, Australia?

We consider May to be one of the best times to travel to New South Wales, Australia. Typically, the climate in Sydney is perfect. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

Generally speaking, January, March, April, May, September, October, November and December provide perfect weather in Sydney.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in New South Wales.

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

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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