Vitamin D in New Zealand in May: sun, UV and what to expect
Too cold Too cold here in May: afternoon highs average only 16.2°C, which is too chilly for sunbathing in light clothing. Try another month or a warmer destination.
3.4 hsun window (UV 2.5+)
3.5peak UV Index
15 minto a full dose
16°Cafternoon high
14/30rainy days
28/30sunny days
Open New Zealand for May on the map Find stays in New Zealand
How long in the sun in May?
- If you travel anyway, plan your sun session around midday (roughly 11:00 to 15:00), when the UV Index peaks at about 3.5. With about a quarter of your skin bare, a full dose takes around 15 minutes for skin type III at age 30, and about 29 minutes at age 65.
- Stop well before your skin turns pink. At this UV level skin type III can start to burn after about 57 minutes of midday sun, so cover up, find shade and use SPF 30+ on skin that stays out.
- Water, sand and light surfaces reflect UV, so at the beach you get a little more sun than the number suggests, for the good and the bad.
| Skin type | Full dose, age 30 | Full dose, age 65 | Time to burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I | 10 min | 19 min | 38 min |
| Type II | 13 min | 24 min | 48 min |
| Type III | 15 min | 29 min | 57 min |
| Type IV | 23 min | 43 min | 86 min |
| Type V | 30 min | 57 min | 1.9 h |
| Type VI | 51 min | 95 min | 3.2 h |
Minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, at Auckland, the median coastal place. Time to burn is the time to reach one minimal erythemal dose and does not depend on age. A rough planning guide, not medical advice.
Places in New Zealand in May
| Place | Rating | Sun window | Full dose | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paihia | Too cold | 3.8 h | 14 min | 18°C | 7/30 |
| Mount Maunganui | Too cold | 3.4 h | 16 min | 16°C | 7/30 |
| Coromandel Peninsula | Too cold | 3.4 h | 15 min | 17°C | 11/30 |
| Auckland | Too cold | 3.4 h | 15 min | 16°C | 14/30 |
| Abel Tasman National Park | Too cold | 2.1 h | 20 min | 14°C | 7/30 |
| Wellington | Too cold | 1.7 h | 20 min | 13°C | 10/30 |
| Kaikōura | Too cold | 1.6 h | 21 min | 13°C | 15/30 |
| Queenstown | Too cold | 0.9 h | – | 10°C | 7/30 |
Other months in New Zealand
- Jan Excellent
- Feb Excellent
- Mar Too cold
- Apr Too cold
- May Too cold
- Jun Too cold
- Jul Too cold
- Aug Too cold
- Sep Too cold
- Oct Too cold
- Nov Too cold
- Dec Excellent
Best months: December to February. Full New Zealand guide