Best time to cruise · Shoulder season
Australia & New Zealand cruises in May
New Zealand cruising has mostly ended, while Australia-based ships keep sailing to Queensland and the Pacific islands. The Southern Ocean grows rougher. Vivid Sydney, a festival of light projections on the Opera House and around the harbor, begins late in the month, a good reason for a land stay.
- Shoulder season
- Avg high 65°F
- 10 hrs daylight
Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Australia & New Zealand in May: Shoulder season
New Zealand cruising has mostly ended, while Australia-based ships keep sailing to Queensland and the Pacific islands. The Southern Ocean grows rougher. Vivid Sydney, a festival of light projections on the Opera House and around the harbor, begins late in the month, a good reason for a land stay.
Across Australia & New Zealand cruise ports, May brings average highs around 65°F (18°C) and lows near 56°F, with about 3 inches of rain over the month and roughly 10 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- Shoulder season
- Season
- October to April; December to March best for New Zealand; some ships year-round from Sydney and Brisbane
- Average high / low
- 65°F / 56°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 3 in
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 10 to 14 nights between Sydney and Auckland; 3- to 10-night coastal cruises from Australia
What to pack: warm-weather clothes with layers: shorts and light pants, a sweater or light jacket for breezy evenings on deck, and comfortable walking shoes.
How May compares with the rest of the year
- Jan: Best time to go
- Feb: Best time to go
- Mar: Best time to go
- Apr: Good time to go
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Good time to go
- Nov: Best time to go
- Dec: Best time to go
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
Australia & New Zealand weather in May
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 7625 | 7624 | 7423 | 6921 | 6518 | 6116 | 6016 | 6116 | 6418 | 6720 | 7122 | 7423 |
| Low °F (°C) | 6518 | 6518 | 6317 | 6015 | 5613 | 5312 | 5111 | 5111 | 5312 | 5613 | 5915 | 6217 |
| Rain in (mm) | 4.0101 | 3.897 | 3.998 | 3.179 | 3.077 | 3.179 | 3.486 | 2.871 | 2.769 | 2.872 | 2.871 | 3.588 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
May weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 68°F | 59°F | 1.3 in | 10 h |
| Auckland | 64°F | 56°F | 4.8 in | 10 h |
| Milford Sound & Fiordland | 57°F | 48°F | 7.6 in | 10 h |
| Melbourne | 62°F | 50°F | 2.5 in | 10 h |
| Hobart, Tasmania | 58°F | 47°F | 2.2 in | 10 h |
| Tauranga (for Rotorua) | 63°F | 57°F | 5.0 in | 10 h |
| Bay of Islands | 65°F | 62°F | 4.2 in | 10 h |
| Wellington | 59°F | 53°F | 3.5 in | 10 h |
| Port Chalmers (for Dunedin) | 55°F | 48°F | 1.7 in | 9 h |
| Akaroa & Lyttelton (for Christchurch) | 56°F | 51°F | 2.1 in | 10 h |
| Cairns | 82°F | 71°F | 2.5 in | 11 h |
| Brisbane | 74°F | 62°F | 2.8 in | 11 h |
| Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) | 79°F | 69°F | 2.0 in | 11 h |
| Napier | 63°F | 51°F | 2.6 in | 10 h |
Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.
Other great cruise destinations in May
Australia & New Zealand in May: FAQs
Is May a good time to cruise Australia & New Zealand?
It can be, as a shoulder-season month. New Zealand cruising has mostly ended, while Australia-based ships keep sailing to Queensland and the Pacific islands. The Southern Ocean grows rougher. Vivid Sydney, a festival of light projections on the Opera House and around the harbor, begins late in the month, a good reason for a land stay.
What is the weather like on a Australia & New Zealand cruise in May?
Across Australia & New Zealand cruise ports, May brings average highs around 65°F (18°C) and lows near 56°F, with about 3 inches of rain over the month and roughly 10 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.
What should I pack for a Australia & New Zealand cruise in May?
Pack warm-weather clothes with layers: shorts and light pants, a sweater or light jacket for breezy evenings on deck, and comfortable walking shoes. Check your cruise line's dress code for evenings.
When is the best time to cruise Australia & New Zealand?
October to April; December to March best for New Zealand; some ships year-round from Sydney and Brisbane. The best months are usually January, February, March, November, December.
Where else can I cruise in May?
May is also a top month for Bahamas, Bermuda, Hawaii, Pacific Coastal, Galápagos Islands.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.