Sydney weather in May
Sydney averages 20°C by day and 11°C at night in May, with the sea at 21°C and about 78 mm of rain in the month. It cools by about 3°C into June.
Day
20°C
Night
11°C
Sea
21°C
Rain
78 mm
Flight from London
20½h
What May feels like
May is mild in Sydney: good for exploring, not reliably beach weather.
The sea is 21°C: fine for swimming without a wetsuit.
Rain is occasional: about 78 mm in the month.
That is 2°C warmer than an average May day in London.
Of the 56 sun destinations we track, Sydney is the #56 warmest in May.
Going to Sydney in May?
Share the TikToks and Instagram Reels you've saved for Sydney to Dream Trip. It finds the places, pins them on a map and builds your days around them.
Want it warmer in May?
These are hotter than Sydney this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Sydney weather by month
May is highlighted. Compare with April and June, or see the full year in Sydney.
Sydney in May: quick answers
Is Sydney hot in May?
May is mild in Sydney: good for exploring, not reliably beach weather. Average highs are 20°C and lows 11°C.
Can you swim in Sydney in May?
The sea is 21°C: fine for swimming without a wetsuit.
Does it rain in Sydney in May?
Rain is occasional: about 78 mm in the month.
What is the warmest month in Sydney?
January, at an average high of 27°C. The coolest is June at 17°C.
How long is the flight to Sydney from the UK?
About 20½h direct from London, estimated from the 17,016 km distance. Check your airline for exact times.
Still choosing? See where is hot in May for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in May from 2016 to 2025, from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis). Sea temperature is the 2023 to 2025 average from the Open-Meteo marine archive. Rain is the average monthly total. Reanalysis describes an area about 25 km across, so sheltered resorts can run a degree or two warmer. Flight time is a distance-based estimate from London Heathrow.
Planning Sydney in May?
Save the restaurants, beaches and views you find on TikTok and Instagram for Sydney straight to a map, then let Dream Trip turn them into a day-by-day plan.
