New Zealand
Wellington in May
🍂 AutumnCool and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings · compact umbrella or rain jacket
Why May scores 8.9What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.9
- !Cool (15°C highs / 9°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 10°C)
- !Wet: ~145 mm rain, ~4 heavy-rain days
- Air quality10.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~4 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.5
- ·Normal precautions
| May | Feb | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.9 Excellent | 9.7 Excellent |
| Season | 🍂 Autumn | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 15° / 9° | 21° / 14° |
| Rain | 145 mm | 56 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 10° | dew pt 14° |
| PM2.5 | 4 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Wellington weather-station normals. Rainfall: Wellington weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
No national public holidays in New Zealand this month.
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore WellingtonEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyNew Zealand's compact capital on a harbour at the southern tip of the North Island, known for Te Papa museum, café culture and windy weather.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
MatarikiDate variesPublic holiday in June or July, date moves each year
Māori New Year marked by the rising of the Matariki star cluster.
Why go: Light shows and events across the city.
Where: Across the city
Waitangi DayEvery year6 February every year
New Zealand's national day, marking the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
Why go: It is a public holiday with community events around the waterfront.
Where: Across the city
Te Papa Tongarewa
The national museum covering Māori culture, nature and history.
Wellington Cable Car
A funicular from Lambton Quay to the Botanic Garden.
Mount Victoria Lookout
A viewpoint over the city and harbour.
Zealandia
A fenced urban ecosanctuary protecting native birds.
Weta Workshop
The film effects studio in Miramar with tours.
Parliament and the Beehive
New Zealand's parliamentary buildings with free tours.
Coffee and flat white
Wellington is known for its café culture.
💡 Cuba Street and the CBD
Craft beer
Wellington has a strong local brewing scene.
💡 Taprooms around Te Aro
Pāua and green-lipped mussels
New Zealand shellfish, often served in fritters or steamed.
💡 Seafood restaurants
Hāngī
Māori food cooked in an earth oven, mainly at cultural events.
💡 Cultural events and some markets
Pounamu (greenstone)
New Zealand jade carved into traditional Māori designs.
💡 Certified shops; ask about origin
Merino and possum knitwear
Warm woollens made from merino wool blended with possum fur.
💡 Lambton Quay shops
Mānuka honey
New Zealand honey from the mānuka bush.
💡 Supermarkets and gift shops