Australia 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

🇦🇺 Australia, month by month

76/100 in May
  1. 68Jan
  2. 70Feb
  3. 70Mar
  4. 76Apr
  5. 76May
  6. 75Jun
  7. 76Jul
  8. 79Aug
  9. 80Sep
  10. 77Oct
  11. 75Nov
  12. 71Dec

Where in Australia in May

#PlaceTypeFeels-like highRainComfortAt its best
1ExmouthBeach27°C36 mm · 2 days93 tier S—
2Alice SpringsCity20°C19 mm · 1 day91 tier SYes
3BroomeBeach32°C36 mm · 1 day91 tier S—
4UluruNational park18°C14 mm · 1 day90 tier SYes
5BrisbaneCity24°C69 mm · 7 days89 tier AYes
6Airlie BeachBeach25°C63 mm · 7 days86 tier A—
7PerthCity20°C74 mm · 9 days86 tier A—
8CairnsBeach30°C61 mm · 12 days85 tier A—
9KatoombaTrekking hub12°C58 mm · 10 days85 tier A—
10SydneyCity19°C106 mm · 9 days83 tier A—
11AdelaideCity16°C53 mm · 9 days82 tier A—
12Gold CoastBeach24°C87 mm · 10 days82 tier A—
13Hervey BayBeach24°C85 mm · 8 days82 tier A—
14Port DouglasBeach30°C99 mm · 12 days82 tier A—
15Byron BayBeach22°C120 mm · 12 days79 tier B—
16MelbourneCity15°C49 mm · 8 days79 tier B—
17DarwinCity35°C14 mm · 2 days78 tier B—
18NoosaBeach24°C146 mm · 11 days78 tier B—
19WollongongBeach18°C94 mm · 6 days77 tier B—
20CanberraCity14°C42 mm · 5 days76 tier B—
21HobartCity14°C58 mm · 9 days73 tier B—
22LauncestonCity14°C62 mm · 8 days73 tier B—
23Lord Howe IslandIsland19°C105 mm · 11 days72 tier B—
24Kangaroo IslandIsland15°C43 mm · 8 days71 tier B—
25Margaret RiverBeach17°C109 mm · 12 days67 tier C—
26KakaduNational park35°C11 mm · 2 days62 tier CYes
27Cradle MountainNational park6°C317 mm · 20 days56 tier D—
28ThredboSki resort3°C159 mm · 10 days56 tier D—
29Perisher ValleySki resort4°C92 mm · 8 days51 tier D—
30Falls CreekSki resort4°C133 mm · 12 days49 tier F—
31Mount BullerSki resort3°C146 mm · 12 days49 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)
  • Perth Comedy Festival · Perth · 20 Apr – 17 May
  • Humpback migration · Sydney · 15 May – 15 Nov (usually)
  • Vivid Sydney · Sydney · 22 May – 13 Jun
  • Tasting Australia · Adelaide · 25 Apr – 18 May (usually)
  • 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)

Peak crowds at 1 of Australia's 20 well-known places this month.

Better months for Australia

September · 80/100August · 79/100October · 77/100Weakest: January · 68/100
← Australia in AprilAustralia in June →Best time to visit Australia, month by monthCompare: Exmouth vs Alice Springs in May