Wellington

Wellington Weather in May

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

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Wellington Lower Hutt Martinborough Masterton

Thinking about venturing to Wellington, New Zealand 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 Wellington in May

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

Temperatures

You can expect mild maximum daytime temperatures of around 15°C (59°F) and nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) in Wellington.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Wellington, New Zealand, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Masterton with an average of 72 mm (2.8 in) to high rainfall in Otaki with 136 mm (5.4 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine levels are moderate in most locations. Wellington typically sees 118 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 Wellington by month

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

January19°C (66°F) February19°C (66°F) March18°C (64°F) April17°C (63°F) May15°C (59°F) This monthJune13°C (55°F) July13°C (55°F) August13°C (55°F) September14°C (57°F) October15°C (59°F) November16°C (61°F) December17°C (63°F)
Best Time to Visit Wellington →

Best Places to Visit in Wellington in May

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

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 Wellington

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

Temperature range in Wellington (May)

Precipitation variation in Wellington (May)

Wellington

In May Wellington generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
151 hours
118 hours
106 hours
Monthly rainfall
79 mm (3.1 in)
78 mm (3.1 in)
102 mm (4 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
15 days
18 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
tolerable
poor
Climate in Wellington →

Lower Hutt

In May Lower Hutt generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
151 hours
118 hours
106 hours
Monthly rainfall
84 mm (3.3 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
107 mm (4.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
16 days
19 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
tolerable
poor
Climate in Lower Hutt →

Martinborough

In May Martinborough generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°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
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
151 hours
118 hours
106 hours
Monthly rainfall
81 mm (3.2 in)
72 mm (2.8 in)
97 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
14 days
16 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
tolerable
unpleasant
Climate in Martinborough →

Masterton

In May Masterton 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
17°C (63°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
147 hours
110 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
86 mm (3.4 in)
72 mm (2.8 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
15 days
17 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
tolerable
unpleasant
Climate in Masterton →

Paraparaumu Beach

In May Paraparaumu Beach generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
151 hours
118 hours
106 hours
Monthly rainfall
125 mm (4.9 in)
130 mm (5.1 in)
150 mm (5.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
16 days
17 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
poor
Climate in Paraparaumu Beach →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Wellington 15°C (59°F) 11°C (52°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Lower Hutt 15°C (59°F) 10°C (50°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Martinborough 15°C (59°F) 8°C (46°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Masterton 15°C (59°F) 7°C (45°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Paraparaumu Beach 15°C (59°F) 11°C (52°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Greytown 15°C (59°F) 7°C (45°F) 76 mm (3 in)

Wellington weather in May: frequently asked questions

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

May in Wellington, New Zealand brings tolerable weather. In Wellington, daytime temperatures are typically around 15°C (59°F) and nighttime lows hover near 11°C (52°F).

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

Daytime temperatures in Wellington peak at roughly 15°C (59°F) in May, dropping to about 11°C (52°F) overnight.

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

Rain is generally moderate to light in Wellington, New Zealand during May, with Wellington averaging close to 78 mm (3.1 in).

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

Given the typically tolerable weather conditions in Wellington, May might be a good time to visit Wellington, New Zealand. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, February and March offering mostly pleasant weather in Wellington. The weather in June, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Wellington.

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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