SeasonMapAustralia in May
May is Australia's 5th-best month (rank 5 of 12): its 31 destinations average 76/100, led by Exmouth at 93 — 27°C and 2 rainy days — while Mount Buller is cooler at 3°C and scores 49.
#5 of 12 months for Australia · 31 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Where in Australia in May
| # | Place | Type | Feels-like high | Rain | Comfort | At its best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exmouth | Beach | 27°C | 36 mm · 2 days | 93 tier S | — |
| 2 | Alice Springs | City | 20°C | 19 mm · 1 day | 91 tier S | Yes |
| 3 | Broome | Beach | 32°C | 36 mm · 1 day | 91 tier S | — |
| 4 | Uluru | National park | 18°C | 14 mm · 1 day | 90 tier S | Yes |
| 5 | Brisbane | City | 24°C | 69 mm · 7 days | 89 tier A | Yes |
| 6 | Airlie Beach | Beach | 25°C | 63 mm · 7 days | 86 tier A | — |
| 7 | Perth | City | 20°C | 74 mm · 9 days | 86 tier A | — |
| 8 | Cairns | Beach | 30°C | 61 mm · 12 days | 85 tier A | — |
| 9 | Katoomba | Trekking hub | 12°C | 58 mm · 10 days | 85 tier A | — |
| 10 | Sydney | City | 19°C | 106 mm · 9 days | 83 tier A | — |
| 11 | Adelaide | City | 16°C | 53 mm · 9 days | 82 tier A | — |
| 12 | Gold Coast | Beach | 24°C | 87 mm · 10 days | 82 tier A | — |
| 13 | Hervey Bay | Beach | 24°C | 85 mm · 8 days | 82 tier A | — |
| 14 | Port Douglas | Beach | 30°C | 99 mm · 12 days | 82 tier A | — |
| 15 | Byron Bay | Beach | 22°C | 120 mm · 12 days | 79 tier B | — |
| 16 | Melbourne | City | 15°C | 49 mm · 8 days | 79 tier B | — |
| 17 | Darwin | City | 35°C | 14 mm · 2 days | 78 tier B | — |
| 18 | Noosa | Beach | 24°C | 146 mm · 11 days | 78 tier B | — |
| 19 | Wollongong | Beach | 18°C | 94 mm · 6 days | 77 tier B | — |
| 20 | Canberra | City | 14°C | 42 mm · 5 days | 76 tier B | — |
| 21 | Hobart | City | 14°C | 58 mm · 9 days | 73 tier B | — |
| 22 | Launceston | City | 14°C | 62 mm · 8 days | 73 tier B | — |
| 23 | Lord Howe Island | Island | 19°C | 105 mm · 11 days | 72 tier B | — |
| 24 | Kangaroo Island | Island | 15°C | 43 mm · 8 days | 71 tier B | — |
| 25 | Margaret River | Beach | 17°C | 109 mm · 12 days | 67 tier C | — |
| 26 | Kakadu | National park | 35°C | 11 mm · 2 days | 62 tier C | Yes |
| 27 | Cradle Mountain | National park | 6°C | 317 mm · 20 days | 56 tier D | — |
| 28 | Thredbo | Ski resort | 3°C | 159 mm · 10 days | 56 tier D | — |
| 29 | Perisher Valley | Ski resort | 4°C | 92 mm · 8 days | 51 tier D | — |
| 30 | Falls Creek | Ski resort | 4°C | 133 mm · 12 days | 49 tier F | — |
| 31 | Mount Buller | Ski resort | 3°C | 146 mm · 12 days | 49 tier F | — |
Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 score; each place is judged through the lens that suits it — beaches on beach weather, ski resorts on snow. "At its best" means May is one of that place's own top three months. Feels-like highs fold in humidity, wind and sun.
What's on in Australia in May
- Whale shark season · Exmouth · 10 Mar – 10 Aug (usually)
- Humpback migration · Sydney · 15 May – 15 Nov (usually)
- Vivid Sydney · Sydney · 22 May – 13 Jun
- Blues on Broadbeach · Gold Coast · 12–20 May (usually)
- Port Douglas Carnivale · Port Douglas · 22–24 May
- Autumn colour in the gardens · Melbourne · 15 Apr – 20 May (usually)
- Autumn colour · Canberra · 15 Apr – 20 May (usually)
- Aurora australis · Hobart · 1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)
Seasons in force
Peak crowds at 1 of Australia's 20 well-known places this month.