Month guide · Hobart · Australia
Hobart in May
What May is really like in Hobart: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
May is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 7°C (45°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 9.7 hours of daylight. Cool and crisp with fewer visitors and some of the year's lowest hotel rates.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
- Sea temperature
- 13°C (55°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in May
May is the 8th-warmest month in Hobart: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 17°C (63°F), and nights fall to about 7°C (45°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (17°C (63°F)), May is cooler; by June highs drop to around 13°C (55°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 07:16
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 16:58
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
- Sea
- 13°C (55°F)
Winter (June–August). Cold, short days with snow on the mountain, but Dark Mofo in June and cosy pubs make it a distinctive time to visit.
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 Hobart, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Nature · South Hobart
Hobart Rivulet Track
Start at the Collins Street end near Molle Street and walk uphill to the brewery, which is the more scenic direction.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours return
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Nature
Museum · Berriedale
MONA – Museum of Old and New Art
Built into a sandstone cliff on the Berriedale peninsula, David Walsh's private museum mixes ancient antiquities with provocative contemporary installations across three underground levels.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Market · Salamanca
Salamanca Market
Arrive before 10am for the produce stalls and space to move, then climb Kelly's Steps to Battery Point for coffee.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Kids
Waterfront · Waterfront and CBD
Constitution Dock and the fish punts
Constitution Dock is the finishing point of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and home to floating fish punts selling fish and chips, oysters and scallops straight from the boats.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Iconic
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 7°C and 9 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 Hobart?
A good-value shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Hobart in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Hobart?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Cool and crisp with fewer visitors and some of the year's lowest hotel rates.
+How warm is Hobart in May?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Hobart in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.