Wellington Sunrise & Sunset: May 2026
Day-by-day sunrise and sunset times with golden hour data
In Wellington in May, sunrise averages 07:23 and sunset averages 17:13. Days are getting shorter through May at Wellington's latitude of -41.3°. Golden hour lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes after sunrise and before sunset. Times are accurate to within 1 minute.
Avg Sunrise
07:23
Avg Sunset
17:13
Avg Daylight
9h 51m
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Monthly Sunrise & Sunset Table: Wellington
| Date | Day | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/01 | Fri | 07:08 | 17:30 | 10h 21m |
| 05/02 | Sat | 07:09 | 17:28 | 10h 19m |
| 05/03 | Sun | 07:10 | 17:27 | 10h 17m |
| 05/04 | Mon | 07:11 | 17:26 | 10h 15m |
| 05/05 | Tue | 07:12 | 17:25 | 10h 12m |
| 05/06 | Wed | 07:13 | 17:23 | 10h 10m |
| 05/07 | Thu | 07:14 | 17:22 | 10h 08m |
| 05/08 | Fri | 07:15 | 17:21 | 10h 06m |
| 05/09 | Sat | 07:16 | 17:20 | 10h 04m |
| 05/10 | Sun | 07:17 | 17:19 | 10h 01m |
| 05/11 | Mon | 07:18 | 17:18 | 9h 59m |
| 05/12 | Tue | 07:19 | 17:17 | 9h 57m |
| 05/13 | Wed | 07:20 | 17:16 | 9h 55m |
| 05/14 | Thu | 07:21 | 17:15 | 9h 53m |
| 05/15 | Fri | 07:22 | 17:14 | 9h 51m |
| 05/16 | Sat | 07:23 | 17:13 | 9h 49m |
| 05/17 | Sun | 07:24 | 17:12 | 9h 48m |
| 05/18 | Mon | 07:25 | 17:11 | 9h 46m |
| 05/19 | Tue | 07:26 | 17:10 | 9h 44m |
| 05/20 | Wed | 07:27 | 17:09 | 9h 42m |
| 05/21 | Thu | 07:28 | 17:09 | 9h 40m |
| 05/22 | Fri | 07:29 | 17:08 | 9h 39m |
| 05/23 | Sat | 07:30 | 17:07 | 9h 37m |
| 05/24 | Sun | 07:31 | 17:06 | 9h 35m |
| 05/25 | Mon | 07:32 | 17:06 | 9h 34m |
| 05/26 | Tue | 07:33 | 17:05 | 9h 32m |
| 05/27 | Wed | 07:33 | 17:04 | 9h 31m |
| 05/28 | Thu | 07:34 | 17:04 | 9h 29m |
| 05/29 | Fri | 07:35 | 17:03 | 9h 28m |
| 05/30 | Sat | 07:36 | 17:03 | 9h 27m |
| 05/31 | Sun | 07:37 | 17:02 | 9h 25m |
Daylight Hours Throughout the Year
May Sunrise & Sunset in Wellington: Complete Monthly Guide
In May 2026, Wellington has an average of 9h 51m of daylight per day. Sunrise times range from 07:08 at the start of the month to 07:37 at the end, while sunset shifts from 17:30 to 17:02.
May in Wellington brings shortening autumn days in the southern hemisphere. Average sunrise in May is 07:23 and average sunset is 17:13. The daily table above shows the exact sunrise and sunset time for each day of the month.
Day Length Variation in May
Day length in Wellington in May changes throughout the month. Near the solstices (June 21 for the northern hemisphere, December 21 for the southern hemisphere), day length changes very slowly, less than 1 minute per day. Near the equinoxes (March 20 and September 22), day length changes rapidly, gaining or losing 2 to 4 minutes per day depending on latitude.
At Wellington's latitude of -41.3°, the rate of day length change in May is approximately 2 to 3 minutes per day during the weeks furthest from the solstices. This means that sunrise in Wellington shifts by approximately 40 to 60 minutes over the course of May.
Golden Hour in Wellington in May
Golden hour in Wellington in May occurs twice each day: in the morning shortly after sunrise, and in the evening before sunset. The duration depends on the sun's angle of elevation above the horizon, which varies with latitude and month. In Mayat Wellington's latitude of -41.3°, golden hour lasts approximately 40 to 65 minutes.
For photographers planning shoots in Wellington in May: plan to arrive at your location 30 to 40 minutes before the listed sunrise time to capture blue hour before golden hour begins. The transition from blue hour to golden hour creates the most dramatic color sequences. Evening golden hour in May begins about 45 to 60 minutes before sunset and produces warmer, more orange tones than the morning session.
Blue Hour and Twilight in Wellington in May
Civil twilight in Wellington in May begins before sunrise and ends after sunset, creating windows of usable natural light even outside the official sunrise-to-sunset window. Civil twilight occurs when the sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon. Nautical twilight spans 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon. Astronomical twilight spans 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon.
The total twilight window in Wellington in May extends the usable light day by approximately 60 to 90 minutes beyond the sunrise-to-sunset window. This extended twilight is valuable for photographers who want to shoot in soft, diffused light without harsh shadows.
Photography Tips for May in Wellington
Shooting in Wellington in May requires adapting to the season's specific light quality and timing. Camera settings for sunrise photography in May:
- Blue hour: ISO 800 to 1,600; aperture f/8; shutter speed 10 to 30 seconds on tripod.
- Golden hour: ISO 100 to 400; aperture f/8 to f/16 for landscapes, or f/1.8 to f/2.8 for portraits; shutter speed 1/250 to 1/1,000s handheld.
- Post-sunrise (30 minutes after): ISO 100; aperture f/11; shutter speed 1/500 to 1/2,000s.
In May, Wellington's weather patterns affect photography conditions. Check cloud cover forecasts the evening before a planned shoot: a thin layer of clouds above the horizon creates more dramatic golden and orange tones than a clear sky. Fully overcast conditions produce flat, diffused light that is good for portraits but lacks the dramatic quality of golden hour. Partly cloudy skies create the most dramatic conditions.
About This Monthly Sunrise Data
All sunrise and sunset times in this May table for Wellington are calculated using Jean Meeus astronomical algorithms, implemented via the SunCalc library. Calculations use the coordinates of Wellington (-41.2866°, 174.7756°) and the local timezone (Pacific/Auckland). Times are accurate to within 1 minute and account for atmospheric refraction.
The times shown are for the center of the sun crossing the horizon. Sunrise is defined as the moment when the upper limb of the sun first appears above the mathematical horizon. Sunset is when the upper limb disappears below the horizon. Both definitions account for atmospheric refraction, which lifts the apparent position of the sun by approximately 0.5 to 1 degree near the horizon.
Frequently Asked Questions: May Sunrise & Sunset in Wellington
What is the average sunrise time in Wellington in May?
The average sunrise time in Wellington in May 2026 is approximately 07:23. This is based on the mid-month calculation for Wellington at latitude -41.29° and longitude 174.78°. Actual daily sunrise times vary from 07:08 on the first of the month to 07:37 on the last day. See the full daily table above for exact times.
How many hours of daylight does Wellington get in May?
Wellington receives an average of 9h 51m of daylight per day in May 2026. This is calculated as the difference between sunrise and sunset and does not include twilight periods. Day length varies from 10h 21m on the first of the month to 9h 25m on the last day.
What is the earliest sunrise in Wellington in May?
The earliest sunrise in Wellington in May 2026 occurs on 2026-05-01 at 07:08. The latest sunrise in the month occurs on 2026-05-31 at 07:37.
What time is golden hour in Wellington in May?
Golden hour in Wellington in May occurs twice daily. Morning golden hour begins at sunrise (07:23 at mid-month) and lasts approximately 40 to 65 minutes. Evening golden hour begins approximately 45 to 60 minutes before sunset (17:13 at mid-month). The precise start of golden hour is when the sun's altitude drops below 6 degrees above the horizon.
Is May a good time to photograph sunrise in Wellington?
May is autumn in Wellington's southern hemisphere location. Sunrise at 07:23 provides a reasonable start time for photography.
When does civil twilight start in Wellington in May?
Civil twilight in Wellington in May begins approximately 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. At Wellington's latitude of -41.3°, civil twilight in May starts around 06:58 in the morning. Civil twilight provides enough light for outdoor activities without artificial lighting and is considered the beginning of the usable photography window each day.