Month guide · Brisbane · Australia
Brisbane in May
What May is really like in Brisbane: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Brisbane. Expect average highs of 24°C (75°F), lows of 13°C (55°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 10.8 hours of daylight. Sunny, mild and dry — one of the best months for walking and outdoor dining.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 24°C (75°F) / 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 10.8 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 9th-warmest month in Brisbane: days average 24°C (75°F) against a yearly average high of 26°C (79°F), and nights fall to about 13°C (55°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with April (27°C (81°F)), May is cooler; by June highs drop to around 22°C (72°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:21
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 17:07
- Daylight
- About 10.8 hours
Winter (June–August). Mild, dry and sunny with cool nights; peak season for visitors escaping southern winters.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Paniyiri Greek festival at Musgrave Park (usually May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Experience · Brisbane River
CityCat river ferry
Ride the whole route once, sitting on the outside deck at the front, and stop off at New Farm Park or Howard Smith Wharves.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
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Viewpoint · Mount Coot-tha
Mount Coot-tha Lookout and Botanic Gardens
The lookout at 287 metres, about 15 minutes' drive west of the CBD, gives the widest view of the city, river and Moreton Bay islands.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
Garden · Brisbane CBD
City Botanic Gardens
Follow the riverside boardwalk from the gardens to Eagle Street Pier and the Riverwalk at New Farm.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Kids
Waterfront · Fortitude Valley
Howard Smith Wharves
Restored heritage wharf sheds beneath the Story Bridge now hold restaurants, a riverside brewery, bars and lawns facing Kangaroo Point.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Couples
- Views
What to pack
For highs near 24°C, lows near 13°C and 7 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Brisbane?
One of the best months to visit Brisbane, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are April, June and August–October. Compare every month.
Brisbane in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Brisbane?
It is one of the best months to visit Brisbane. Sunny, mild and dry — one of the best months for walking and outdoor dining.
+How warm is Brisbane in May?
Average highs are around 24°C (75°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Brisbane in May?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.