Month guide · Gold Coast · Australia
Gold Coast in May
What May is really like in Gold Coast: 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 Gold Coast. Expect average highs of 23°C (73°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 10.7 hours of daylight. Sunny and comfortable with fewer crowds; the sea is still pleasant for swimming.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 23°C (73°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 10.7 hours
- Sea temperature
- 22°C (72°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 8th-warmest month in Gold Coast: days average 23°C (73°F) against a yearly average high of 25°C (77°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with April (26°C (79°F)), May is cooler; by June highs drop to around 21°C (70°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:20
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 17:05
- Daylight
- About 10.7 hours
- Sea
- 22°C (72°F)
Winter (June–August). Mild, sunny and dry, with cool mornings, cooler sea and whale migration offshore.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Blues on Broadbeach music festival (usually May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Theme park · Oxenford
Warner Bros. Movie World
Head to the biggest coasters first at opening, then catch the parade and stunt show later in the day.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Iconic
- Active
Nature · Burleigh Heads
Burleigh Head National Park
A small national park covers the Burleigh headland with rainforest, basalt columns and the Oceanview Walk around the point, which looks north along the beach to Surfers Paradise.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
Theme park · Coomera
Dreamworld
Use a train or bus to Coomera station if you are staying in Brisbane; the park is a short connection away.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
Theme park · Oxenford
Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast
A large water park with high-speed slides, a wave pool, lazy river and splash areas for younger children.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
The sea averages 22°C (72°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Gold Coast.
What to pack
For highs near 23°C, lows near 14°C and 10 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 Gold Coast?
One of the best months to visit Gold Coast, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are April and September–November. Compare every month.
Gold Coast in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Gold Coast?
It is one of the best months to visit Gold Coast. Sunny and comfortable with fewer crowds; the sea is still pleasant for swimming.
+How warm is Gold Coast in May?
Average highs are around 23°C (73°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Gold Coast in May?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.