When to go · Cairns
Cairns in May
Good month. Outside the best window (Jun–Oct (dry season, lower humidity)). Across Australia: Shoulder month: dry season starts in the north, the Red Centre cools, the south is crisp.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Temperature
- 28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C) / 20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 9
- Crowds
- Low
- Australia overall
- Prices
- Medium
- Australia overall
Verdict
Outside the best window (Jun–Oct (dry season, lower humidity)). Across Australia: Shoulder month: dry season starts in the north, the Red Centre cools, the south is crisp.
Is another month better than May?
May is rated good. These months rate higher:
- JuneGreatInside Cairns's best window: Jun–Oct (dry season, lower humidity).
- JulyGreatInside Cairns's best window: Jun–Oct (dry season, lower humidity).
- AugustGreatInside Cairns's best window: Jun–Oct (dry season, lower humidity).
- SeptemberGreatInside Cairns's best window: Jun–Oct (dry season, lower humidity).
Weather in May
- CairnsHighs around 28 °C (82 °F), lows around 20 °C (68 °F), rain on about 9 daysHighs around 82 °F (28 °C), lows around 68 °F (20 °C), rain on about 9 days
- Tropical north, Australia · Cairns, Port Douglas, Darwin, Kakadu, Kimberleybest weather
Dry season May–Oct is the window: roads open, no stingers in most of it, waterfalls still flowing early on. Nov–Apr brings humidity, monsoon floods, cyclones and box jellyfish.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Australia overall
- Low
- Prices · Australia overall
- Medium
Australia overall: Shoulder month: dry season starts in the north, the Red Centre cools, the south is crisp.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Cairns, side by side.
Verdict
May: Good
Jun: Great (better)
Daytime high
May: 28 °C (82 °F)82 °F (28 °C)
Jun: 27 °C (81 °F)81 °F (27 °C)
Night low
May: 20 °C (68 °F)68 °F (20 °C)
Jun: 19 °C (66 °F)66 °F (19 °C)
Rain days
May: 9
Jun: 7 (better)
Crowds
May: Low
Jun: Medium
Prices
May: Medium
Jun: Medium
Festivals listed
May: 0
Jun: 0
May: Outside the best window (Jun–Oct (dry season, lower humidity)). Across Australia: Shoulder month: dry season starts in the north, the Red Centre cools, the south is crisp.
June: Inside Cairns's best window: Jun–Oct (dry season, lower humidity).
Cairns: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.