Back to grid

Best destinations to visit in May in Oceania

Back to grid
Queenstown
Adventure capital with alpine beauty
8.5
Autumn colours around Arrowtown, Millbrook and Lake Hayes peak from late April to early May. Cottonwoods turn the hills red and gold. A five mile loop track circles Lake Hayes. May highs average 53°F with lows near 36°F. Four ski fields operate nearby for winter.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the historic TSS Earnslaw
  • ⚡ Zipline through the pine trees at Bob's Peak
  • 🚡 Ride the Skyline Gondola for panoramic views
Cairns
Gateway to Reef and Rainforest Wonders
8.1
The Esplanade Lagoon opened in March 2003 and has been a local favourite since. May ends the wet season, so showers linger but fade. Highs average 82°F with about 3.2 inches of rain over roughly 10 days. Reef tours run daily from Cairns Seaport on catamarans carrying over 300 passengers.
Highlights:
  • 💦 Explore the tropical waterfalls and swimming holes of Atherton Tablelands
  • 🚡 Ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway above the treetops
  • 🐠 Snorkel or dive in the Great Barrier Reef
Darwin
Tropical gateway to ancient wetlands and reefs
9.2
Low humidity and nearly daily sunshine mark the dry season that starts in May. Highs reach about 90°F with afternoon humidity near 30 to 40 percent. Mindil Beach Sunset Market runs Thursdays and Sundays in the dry season. Saltwater crocodiles live in local waterways, so heed warning signs.
Highlights:
  • 🤿 Snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef
  • 🖼️ Visit Kakadu National Park for ancient rock art
  • 🏞️ Explore Litchfield National Park's waterfalls
Kakadu National Park
Ancient Rock Art and Wild Wetlands
8.3
At 7,646 square miles this park is nearly the size of Wales. Traditional owners own about half the land and co-manage it. Over 5,000 rock art sites have been recorded and some paintings are up to 20,000 years old. The dry season runs roughly from April or May to September.
Highlights:
  • 🏞️ Take a challenging hike to Jim Jim Falls gorge
  • 🦅 Cruise the Yellow Water Billabong for crocs and birdlife
  • 🌄 Watch the sunset over Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr
Broome
Pearl Coast Sunsets and Red Earth
6.8
The Staircase to the Moon appears at Town Beach when a receding tide and a rising moon line up. A food and craft market runs on those nights. May falls in the April to November dry season, with highs averaging 89°F and nearly every day clear. Cable Beach runs 14 miles.
Highlights:
  • ⚓ Learn pearling history at the Pearl Luggers Museum
  • 🌕 Watch the Staircase to the Moon phenomenon
  • 🐪 Ride a camel along Cable Beach at sunset
Great Barrier Reef
World's largest living coral wonder
May falls in the dry season on the reef, with clear skies and less murky water. Water temperatures run 75 to 84°F all year. Box and Irukandji jellyfish occur year round, so a stinger suit is recommended. Manta rays appear year round with larger numbers in winter. Humpback whales arrive in June.
Highlights:
  • 🚁 Fly over the reef to spot the Heart Reef
  • 🤿 Take a scuba dive at the outer reef
  • 🐠 Snorkel among colorful coral gardens and tropical fish
Fiji
Tropical paradise with diverse landscapes
8.2
More than 330 islands make up this nation and about 110 are inhabited. Viti Levu holds nearly three quarters of the people. The cooler season runs from May to October. The warmer wet season runs from November to April and brings roughly one cyclone a year. Soft coral reefs make diving popular.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Explore the underwater coral gardens at Rainbow Reef
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine sands of Natadola Beach
  • 🌊 Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the Mamanuca Islands
French Polynesia
Paradise of Crystal Clear Lagoons
8.9
The dry season starts in May and runs through September. Cyclone season runs from November to April. May temperatures range from about 75 to 82°F and about 27 percent of days bring rain. Five archipelagos spread across 121 islands and atolls, from Tahiti to the 80 atolls of the Tuamotus.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Snorkel the coral gardens of Moorea’s turquoise lagoon
  • 🤿 Dive with sharks and manta rays in Rangiroa
  • 🏝️ Stay in an overwater bungalow above the Bora Bora lagoon
Uluru
Majestic sandstone monolith under endless skies
The climbing ban took effect on 26 October 2019 at the request of the Anangu traditional owners. The rock rises 1,142 feet and has a 5.8 mile perimeter. It glows red at dawn and sunset. From May to September days generally reach 68 to 86°F. Frost can cover the ground by late May.
Highlights:
  • ✨ Take a guided night tour to see stars overhead
  • 🚶‍♂️ Walk the base trail and spot ancient rock art
  • 🌅 Witness sunrise over Uluru from the viewing platform
Feedback