NZ Wellington · Spring

Wellington weather
in May

Wellington in May? Not the best window — aim for January.

Open-Meteo · 10 years · 12 months compared · -41.29°N 174.78°E
15°CMax temperature
37%Rainy days
8.7hSunshine / day

Wellington weather in May

⚠️ Fair
🌡️ Temperature min / max
11°C – 15°C
🌧 Rainy days
37% of days
☀️ Sunshine
8.7h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Spring
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
6.1/10
📅 📅 Best month
January (7.8/10)

Should you visit Wellington in May?

⚠️ Fair

✅ Yes if: you want to explore the city on foot without suffering from heat.

❌ No if: you're looking for a beach destination — water and air are still cool.

🌧 Rain : ████░░░░░░ 37%
🌡 Temperature : ████░░░░░░ 15°C
☀️ Sunshine : ██████░░░░ 8.7h/d

Our take: Wellington in May is possible but January offers a score of 7.8/10 vs 6.1.

Wellington in May by trip type

What to expect in May

🎯 Open terraces and outdoor markets — best season for al fresco dining Spring marks the start of the good season in Wellington. Temperatures rise (15°C) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. Expect rain on 37% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended. Not the best window, but acceptable if dates are constrained. January (7.8/10) is significantly better if possible.

All months for Wellington

Month-by-month comparison

MonthMin °CMax °CRain %Precip mmSun h/dScore
🌤️ January15°C20°C26%1.513.6h7.8/10
🌤️ February16°C20°C26%2.812.9h7.7/10
🌤️ March14°C19°C32%2.311.0h7.3/10
⛅ April13°C17°C32%3.310.0h7.1/10
⛅ May11°C15°C37%3.38.7h6.1/10
🌦️ June10°C13°C41%3.67.9h4.8/10
🌦️ July9°C12°C43%3.78.0h4.5/10
🌦️ August9°C12°C42%3.29.1h4.9/10
🌦️ September10°C14°C40%2.910.7h6.2/10
🌦️ October11°C15°C41%2.511.5h7.0/10
⛅ November13°C17°C39%2.812.8h7.1/10
🌤️ December14°C18°C37%2.713.2h7.3/10
Ideal Fair Challenging climate ◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In May, Wellington averages 15°C, 37% rainy days and 8.7h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 6.1/10. See methodology →

May vs January (best month)

The best month is January (score 7.8/10). Difference:

FAQ — Wellington in May

Is May a good time to visit Wellington?
May is an acceptable time for Wellington (score 6.1/10). Conditions are decent but not optimal — consider January (7.8/10) if possible.
What to do in Wellington in May?
With 15°C max and 8.7h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.

Find a place to stay in Wellington

Find places to stay in Wellington in May Search on Hotels.com

Activities and tours in Wellington

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and local experiences. Browse activities on GetYourGuide

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Real-time data with ECMWF seasonal corrections · updated daily

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