May in Australia serves as the last month of Autumn and marks the transition into Winter, however, unlike many other countries the temperature remains relatively warm. The pleasant temperatures and low humidity both contribute to a great sightseeing month for those who aren’t too big of fans of the Australian heat.

Australia’s sheer size means that it can still be hard to narrow down the range of choices of the absolute best places to travel in Australia in May. So, to make things a little easier, here’s a breakdown of our top places to visit in Australia during May.

Cairns, QLD

Welcome to the Cairns Tourist Information Centre. All staff are Australian long term locals with decades of combined tourism industry experience. We are passionate about our region and look forward to sharing our wealth of local knowledge with you. Let us plan your next Australian – Great Barrier Reif Tour, local tours and accommodation.

Our Cairns Tourist Information Centre has been in business for over 25 years. The local government tourist office is not open to the general public. Therefore with 3 city locations we are the most trusted booking centre in the region.

View our Staff page to read about our Local Tour Consultants who have expert knowledge on all Great Barrier Reif tours, Rainforest Tours, Kuranda with the scenic railway and Skyrail, adventure activities and the surrounding areas. We offer friendly honest advice and our aim is to find the best tours and accommodation that are suitable for you and your family, or group. Whether you are visiting Cairns, Port Douglas, DaintreeNational Park, Cape Tribulation, Cook Town or the East Coast, we can assist with tour information and reservations.

We have three offices on the Cairns Esplanade in the heart of Cairns City, so we not only provide an online service, but you can visit us upon arrival.

Attraction

• Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
• Kuranda Scenic Railway
• Palm Cove
• Rainforestation Nature Park
• Barron Falls
• Fitzroy Island
• Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
• Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

Ningaloo Reef, WA

Ningaloo Marine Park is a World Heritage-listed site found half way up the West Australian coastline. The crystalline water harbours the world’s largest fringing reef, a 260-kilometre (162-mile) long coral reef swarming with turtles, tropical fish, manta rays, humpback whales and the elusive whale shark. Nowhere on Earth do these majestic creatures reliably congregate in such large numbers as here, at Ningaloo Reef.

Don’t miss

• The incomparable experience of swimming with a whale shark
• Flying above migrating whales in an Exmouth microlight flight
• Staying in a luxury campsite metres from the coral reef

How to get there

Ningaloo’s hub town of Exmouth is a 1250-kilometre (777-mile) drive north of Perth, with plenty of worthy stops along the way. Alternatively, fly to Learmonth Airport (Quantas flies daily) and hire a car or a campervan locally. Integrity Coach Lines also travels from Perth to Exmouth.

Things to do and top attractions at Ningaloo Reef

• Swimming with whale shark, Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Western Australia.
• Humpback whale, Denham, Australias Coral Coast, Western Australia.
• Aerial view of Turquoise Bay, Cape Range National Park, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.

Phillip Island, VIC

A renowned nature-rich region, Phillip Island, off the coast of Melbourne, is one of the best places to go in Australia in May for those who want to combine impressive natural scenery and wildlife. The island is known as a wildlife haven with kangaroos and emus often spotted hanging around, but the particular claim to fame is its colony of Little Penguins. These adorable, wild animals are the smallest of all penguin species in the world and are one of the major drawcards for visitors to the region.

Much of the tourism on Phillip Island is centred around caring for the environment, looking after the penguins and providing visitors with a natural and entertaining attraction. As a result, local attraction, Phillip Island Nature Parks created what is now one of the most popular activities, the Penguin Parade. An evening attraction, the parade lets visitors sit and watch as the adorable penguins make their way back to shore and into their burrows after a big day in the water.

May generally makes for a good time to visit as the school holiday crowds have not yet arrived. This usually means you won’t have a difficult time getting a spot on one of the available penguin tours. Phillip Island Nature Parks also has three more family-friendly attractions that are worth a visit. The Koala Conservation Centre lets you see these popular Australian animals in their natural habitat, the Churchill Island Heritage Farm shows you life on a traditional Australian farm, and the Antarctic Journey at the Nobbies Centre takes you on a multi-visual adventure underwater to learn about the ocean’s biggest and best animals.

Attraction

• Cowes
• Cape Woolamai
• Summerlands
• Newhaven
• Rhyll
• Smiths Beach
• Ventnor

Perth and The Pinnacles, WA

Starting at the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre, you can discover the natural and cultural heritage values this area holds before setting off through the desert to explore this spiritual landscape. Taking your car through the desert, you will come face to face with these giant stones of shapes and sizes resembling every day objects and organisms – such as The Turtle, Casper the Ghost, and a Sea Lion balancing a ball on its nose.

Not only is the Nambung National Park home to the Pinnacles, but just outside this desert are many more natural beauties to explore. The wide sandy beach of Hangover Bay is the perfect point for windsurfing and surfing, snorkeling and swimming within the Jurien Bay Marine Park, whilst Kangaroo Point is ideal for those wanting to fish from the shore. If, however, you’re looking at exploring something more historical, a trip to Lake Thetis is highly recommended. Formed by organisms too small for the human eye to see, the Stromatolites at the lake are recognised as ‘ancient living fossils’, and a remarkable sight at that.

Spending time in the town of Cervantes is also a must, but ensure you journey to the Thirsty Point Lookout that offers panoramic views of the ocean and sand dunes below. From here, if you have time to travel slightly north, head to Jurien Bay where you can get up close to wild sea lions.