Month guide · Christchurch · New Zealand
Christchurch in May
What May is really like in Christchurch: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Winstonwolfe, Public domain
Quick answer
May is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 4°C (39°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 9.7 hours of daylight. Cool and increasingly frosty at night; snow arrives on the Southern Alps.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
- Sea temperature
- 12°C (54°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in May
May is the 9th-warmest month in Christchurch: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 17°C (63°F), and nights fall to about 4°C (39°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with April (18°C (64°F)), May is cooler; by June highs drop to around 12°C (54°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 07:36
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 17:15
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
- Sea
- 12°C (54°F)
Winter (June–August). Cold, crisp days and frosty nights; quiet in the city and the gateway to ski fields inland.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 2 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in January). That makes May one of the better-value months to book.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Christchurch, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Viewpoint · Port Hills
Christchurch Gondola
Go on a clear morning for the best chance of seeing the Alps, and walk part of the Crater Rim track.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Zoo · McLeans Island
Orana Wildlife Park
New Zealand's open-range zoo, on the city's north-western edge, keeps lions, giraffes, rhinos and gorillas in large enclosures, as well as native kiwi, tuatara and birds.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Park · Central City
Margaret Mahy Family Playground
Bring a change of clothes for the water-play area in summer.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
Beach · New Brighton
New Brighton Pier and He Puna Taimoana
New Brighton's long surf beach has a 300-metre concrete pier with a library at its base, and next to it He Puna Taimoana, a set of hot saltwater pools opened in 2021 with views of the sea.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near 14°C, lows near 4°C and 8 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Christchurch?
A quieter month with trade-offs. If your dates are flexible, December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Christchurch in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Christchurch?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool and increasingly frosty at night; snow arrives on the Southern Alps.
+How warm is Christchurch in May?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Christchurch in May?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.