Things to Do in Australia in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Australia
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is May Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Shoulder season pricing kicks in across Australia - hotels that were booked solid in April suddenly have availability and rates drop 25-30% from peak
- + The autumn foliage in the Adelaide Hills and Dandenong Ranges peaks in mid-May - Japanese maples turn crimson while European oaks shift gold, creating a color show that rivals New England
- + Marine life viewing hits its stride - southern right whales migrate past the Great Ocean Road, while humpback whales start their northern journey along the Queensland coast
- + The Red Centre becomes comfortable - Uluru's average May temperature of 22°C (72°F) means you can hike the Valley of the Winds without the 40°C (104°F) summer heat that sends visitors retreating to air-conditioning
- − The wet season lingers in northern Queensland - Cairns averages 150 mm (5.9 inches) of rain that falls in intense afternoon bursts, making reef trips a gamble with 40% chance of cancellation
- − Southern cities turn moody - Melbourne's famous four-seasons-in-one-day weather intensifies, with sudden cold fronts dropping temperatures 10°C (18°F) in an hour, sending locals scrambling for coats they packed away
Year-Round Climate
How May compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°C | 20°C | 3.6 inches |
| Feb | 26°C | 19°C | 5.2 inches |
| Mar | 25°C | 18°C | 4.6 inches |
| Apr | 23°C | 15°C | 4.5 inches |
| May | 20°C | 12°C | 4.0 inches |
| Jun | 18°C | 10°C | 5.6 inches |
| Jul | 17°C | 8°C | 3.2 inches |
| Aug | 19°C | 9°C | 3.0 inches |
| Sep | 21°C | 12°C | 2.5 inches |
| Oct | 23°C | 14°C | 2.7 inches |
| Nov | 24°C | 16°C | 3.6 inches |
| Dec | 25°C | 18°C | 2.9 inches |
Best Activities in May
Top things to do during your visit
May transforms the Red Centre from furnace to great destination - the sandstone walls of Kings Canyon stay cool enough to touch even at midday, while the Larapinta Trail's 223 km (139 miles) of ridges become accessible without risking heat exhaustion. The desert wildflowers that survived April's rains bloom in impossible colors against the red earth, and the night skies arrive earlier, giving you more time to stargrive under skies so clear you can see the Milky Way's dust lanes with naked eyes.
Southern right whales arrive in May, hugging the coastline from Warrnambool to Portland where they birth and nurse calves in the sheltered bays. The 243 km (151 miles) of winding road between Torquay and Allansford becomes a moving wildlife viewing platform - pull over at Logan's Beach to watch mothers teaching calves to breach, while the Twelve Apostles' limestone stacks glow amber in the low autumn light that photographers wait all year for.
May's cooler weather drives Melburnians into the city's famous laneways for comfort food that defines Australian cuisine - from 19th-century coffee palaces to modern fusion that started the third-wave coffee movement. The covered arcades between Flinders Lane and Little Bourke Street create natural outdoor rooms where the smell of roasting coffee beans mingles with steam from xiaolongbao dumplings, while the sound of espresso machines provides the soundtrack to Australia's food capital.
May marks the start of Tasmania's 'off-season' - the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park sees a quarter of summer's crowds while the deciduous beech trees turn gold against ancient pencil pines. The Overland Track's 65 km (40 miles) become navigable without summer's hordes, and the evening soundscape shifts from tourist chatter to the mechanical clicking of possums and the haunting calls of currawongs echoing across glacial valleys.
May in the Barossa means vintage festivals where you can taste shiraz straight from French oak barrels that won't be bottled for another 18 months. The valley's 150-year-old stone wineries - built by German settlers who knew the 500m (1,640 ft) elevation would moderate temperatures - host cellar door tastings where winemakers personally explain why Australia's oldest vine plantings produce wines that collectors chase globally.
May Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
The harbor city's winter festival of light transforms the Opera House sails into a canvas of moving projections, while the Harbour Bridge becomes a tunnel of colored LEDs that pulse in time with music. Local photographers stake out positions at Mrs Macquarie's Chair by 5pm to catch the 'blue hour' when the sky turns cobalt against the illuminated installations.
Queensland's premium food event brings together 150+ producers across the Sunshine Coast's microclimates - from macadamia growers in the hinterland to spanner crab fishermen working the 40 km (25 miles) of pristine coastline. The beachfront setting means you taste wines while barefoot in the sand, a uniquely Australian experience that European festivals can't replicate.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page , your progress is saved between visits
Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Book Experiences in Australia
Top-rated things to do in Australia this May
