Wanaka

Otago Weather in May

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

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Queenstown Wanaka Oamaru Cromwell

Planning a getaway to Otago, New Zealand this May and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Otago in May

Otago, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. May in Otago generally has temperatures that range from cold to mild, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from cold in Glenorchy at 7°C (45°F) to mild in Waitati at 14°C (57°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 5°C (41°F) in Waitati and 0°C (32°F) in Glenorchy.

For specific regional insights in Otago, New Zealand, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Herbert with an average of 57 mm (2.2 in) to heavy rainfall in Makarora with 218 mm (8.6 in).

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Queenstown receives around 87 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Otago by month

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

January17°C (63°F) February17°C (63°F) March15°C (59°F) April12°C (54°F) May8°C (46°F) June4°C (39°F) This monthJuly3°C (37°F) August4°C (39°F) September6°C (43°F) October9°C (48°F) November13°C (55°F) December15°C (59°F)
Best Time to Visit Otago →

Best Places to Visit in Otago in May

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

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 Otago

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

Temperature range in Otago (May)

Precipitation variation in Otago (May)

Queenstown

In May Queenstown generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
8°C (46°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
145 hours
87 hours
72 hours
Monthly rainfall
114 mm (4.5 in)
140 mm (5.5 in)
115 mm (4.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Queenstown →

Wanaka

In May Wanaka generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
9°C (48°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
163 hours
135 hours
120 hours
Monthly rainfall
110 mm (4.3 in)
127 mm (5 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
9 days
8 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Wanaka →

Oamaru

In May Oamaru 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
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly rainfall
68 mm (2.7 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
9 days
8 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Oamaru →

Cromwell

In May Cromwell generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
9°C (48°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Monthly sun hours
163 hours
135 hours
120 hours
Monthly rainfall
82 mm (3.2 in)
93 mm (3.7 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
9 days
7 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Cromwell →

Alexandra

In May Alexandra generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
9°C (48°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
145 hours
87 hours
72 hours
Monthly rainfall
71 mm (2.8 in)
78 mm (3.1 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
9 days
7 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Alexandra →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Queenstown 8°C (46°F) 1°C (34°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Wanaka 9°C (48°F) 2°C (36°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oamaru 13°C (55°F) 7°C (45°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Cromwell 9°C (48°F) 1°C (34°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Alexandra 9°C (48°F) 1°C (34°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Clyde 9°C (48°F) 1°C (34°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)

Otago weather in May: frequently asked questions

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

Expect poor weather across Otago, New Zealand in May. The popular destination of Queenstown averages 8°C (46°F) by day and 1°C (34°F) at night during this month.

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

Queenstown averages a daytime maximum of 8°C (46°F) in May, with overnight lows close to 1°C (34°F).

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

Otago, New Zealand sees substantial rainfall in May. Queenstown typically averages about 140 mm (5.5 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

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

In our opinion, May may not be the ideal time to visit Otago, New Zealand due to the typically poor weather in Queenstown.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, February, March and December offering mostly unpleasant weather in Queenstown.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Otago.

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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