Cable Bay

Northland Weather in May

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

Planning a journey to Northland, New Zealand this May and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Northland in May

Northland, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. May in Northland generally has pleasant temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high.

Temperatures

You can expect pleasant maximum daytime temperatures of around 19°C (66°F) and nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) in Paihia.

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

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Whangarei with an average of 86 mm (3.4 in) to high rainfall in Opononi with 131 mm (5.2 in).

Explore Northland by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Northland in May

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

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 Northland

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

Temperature range in Northland (May)

Precipitation variation in Northland (May)

Paihia

In May Paihia generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
19°C (66°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly rainfall
86 mm (3.4 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
111 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
14 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Russell

In May Russell generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
19°C (66°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
113 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
14 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Whangarei

In May Whangarei generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
19°C (66°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly rainfall
78 mm (3.1 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
100 mm (3.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
18 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Kerikeri

In May Kerikeri generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
19°C (66°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly rainfall
88 mm (3.5 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
16 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Mangawhai

In May Mangawhai generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
19°C (66°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly rainfall
83 mm (3.3 in)
97 mm (3.8 in)
106 mm (4.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
16 days
18 days
Weather conditions

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Paihia 19°C (66°F) 13°C (55°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Russell 19°C (66°F) 13°C (55°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Whangarei 19°C (66°F) 12°C (54°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Kerikeri 19°C (66°F) 12°C (54°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Mangawhai 19°C (66°F) 13°C (55°F) 97 mm (3.8 in)
Cable Bay 19°C (66°F) 12°C (54°F) 98 mm (3.9 in)

Northland weather in May: frequently asked questions

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

In May, Northland, New Zealand generally has pleasant weather conditions. Paihia sees daytime temperatures near 19°C (66°F), with nights cooling to roughly 13°C (55°F).

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

In Paihia, the average daytime high in May is 19°C (66°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 13°C (55°F).

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

Not particularly. Paihia averages just 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain in May, making it a mostly dry month for Northland, New Zealand.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Northland, New Zealand?

Given the typically pleasant weather conditions in Paihia, May might be a good time to visit Northland, New Zealand. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

On average, the best time to visit Northland, New Zealand is in January, February, March, April, November and December with generally perfect weather in Paihia. In contrast, June, July and August tend to have unpleasant weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Northland.

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.