Australia in May

Shoulder month: dry season starts in the north, the Red Centre cools, the south is crisp.

• South-east coast · Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaidefine

  Summer is beach season and school-holiday peak; Melbourne swings between cool and 40 °C in a day. Winter is mild and sunny in Sydney, grey and cool in Melbourne.

• Tasmania · Hobart, Cradle Mountain, Freycinetcool

  Walking season is Nov–Apr; snow is possible in the highlands any month.

• Tropical north · Cairns, Port Douglas, Darwin, Kakadu, Kimberleybest weather

  Dry season May–Oct is the window: roads open, no stingers in most of it, waterfalls still flowing early on. Nov–Apr brings humidity, monsoon floods, cyclones and box jellyfish.

• Red Centre · Uluru, Kings Canyon, Alice Springsbest weather

  Winter days are clear and 20 °C with nights near freezing; summer passes 40 °C and some walks close from 11:00.

• South-west · Perth, Margaret River, Rottnestfine

  Dry, hot summers with afternoon sea breeze; wildflowers north of Perth Aug–Oct.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Vivid Sydney

  Late May – mid June

  Light shows around the harbour; evening crowds at Circular Quay.

Crowds · Australia

Low

Prices · Australia

Medium

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Rated best or good this month

• Tropical north

  Best weather of the year (Cairns, Port Douglas, Darwin, Kakadu, Kimberley)

• Red Centre

  Best weather of the year (Uluru, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs)

• Sydney

  Mild days; cool evenings.