Levi Skinner, 6, and Freya Skinner, 4, enjoying an ice cream in Christchurch's Cashmere today. Photo: RNZ/ Jean Edwards
Summer is here and the hot weather means perfect beach days for Kiwis across the country.
NIWA's summer outlook is predicting above-average temperatures during the festive period for most of the country, though it will be wet at times.
Fun in the sun
Countless amazing beaches line the coasts of New Zealand, with plenty of choices within an hour's drive of the major cities.
Aucklanders are making the most of the warm weather today.
At Mission Bay in Auckland, Zara Foster said it was a great time to be at beach.
"It's so brilliant just being out here in the sun, doing a paddle every day, getting some fitness in.
"I'm looking so forward to New Year's [Eve], a nice warm January."
Sun lovers enjoying the sand and sun at Mission Bay in Auckland today. Photo: RNZ/ Mohammad Alafeshat
Cantabrians are cooling off in the scorching heat by heading for the beach or the pools, and tucking into ice creams.
Tahlia Whiting, who runs an ice cream truck parked by the Heathcote River in the suburb of Cashmere, said she expected hundreds of people to come by for a treat.
"We've got lots of ice packs trying to keep the ice cream frozen today, within the freezer, we're churning through it," she said.
She said she loved looking at everybody sitting on the riverbank enjoying time off with family and friends.
"When I look out of the ice cream truck and see people sprawled along the river, sitting on the bank enjoying our ice cream and enjoying each other's company - it's what we're here for."
Soaring temperatures across the motu
The latest forecast by MetService shows Christchurch is forecast to reach a high of 32C by about 4pm, and Blenheim 31C.
Meteorologist John Law said the warmest places should be on the eastern side of the South Island, through the Canterbury Plains and up into Marlborough.
"It is looking like a very warm and dry day pretty much across the entirety of New Zealand.
"Temperatures are set to reach highs above 30C at places ... very warm, very dry, and very clear as well. Plenty of sunshine across much of the country."
The lowest temperature forecast is still a balmy 19C, for Milford Sound.
Holidaymakers enjoy Northland's west coast sunset yesterday evening at Baylys Beach, 13km west of Dargaville, after temperatures reached 25C during the day. Photo: RNZ/Michael Hall
Laws said tomorrow was expected to be cooler.
Tarras Airfield in Central Otago was the warmest place recorded on Wednesday, reaching 31C.
Alexandra and Roxburgh were a close second on 30C.