May · New Zealand
Best time to visit Te Anau in May Weather, crowds & prices
Weather in Te Anau in May
Average temperature 6°C, 250 mm of rain, about 0 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 94% humidity — based on the five most recent complete years of ERA5 data (2021–2025).
May score
2.8/10
Ranked #9 of 12 months
- Avg temp
- 6°C
- Rainfall
- 250 mm
- Humidity
- 94%
- Days with 6h+ sun
- 0
- Crowd Density
- Quiet / Uncrowded
- Average Expenses
- $ · Budget Friendly ($)
May in Te Anau scores 2.8/10 for nature and wildlife travel - ranked #9 of 12. Expect around 6°C, 250 mm of rain, and roughly 0 days with 6+ hours of sunshine this month.
Te Anau is Fiordland's lake town for Milford Sound cruises and glowworm cave evenings. Best window: November through March in the Southern Hemisphere.
May in Te Anau — the hardest end of the year
Expect 6°C (43°F) in May. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Expect monsoon-level rainfall at 250 mm: only almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the month, and stretches of heavy rain are normal.
That is 2.8/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 7.7/10 for the best month here.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Te Anau — 4.9 points higher on the same scale.
Frequently asked
- What is the weather like in Te Anau in May?
- In May, Te Anau averages 6°C, 250 mm of rain, and about 0 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. Its climate-comfort score is 2.8/10.
- Is May a good time to visit Te Anau?
- May earns a 2.8/10 climate-comfort score. Use the year-round chart to weigh the weather against your budget and crowd preferences.
- How much does it rain in Te Anau in May?
- Expect about 250 mm of rain in May. Average humidity is 94% and there are about 0 days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
Curated in Te Anau
Tickets & experiences
Things to do in Te Anau
Te Anau, New Zealand. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.