Visitors and locals reap the long weekend sunshine

There was little room left at Tauranga's beaches and boat ramps over the long weekend, as people made the most of the long-awaited sunshine and warm temperatures.

Metservice recorded a high temperature of 19.2C with little wind after weeks of wet weather. Today is expected to be cloudy with a chance of showers. Rain is expected tomorrow.

Wayne and Raewyn Myhill travelled from Napier to enjoy the Bay's good weather. They were among the many users making the most of the Whareroa boat ramp, near the Tauranga Harbour Bridge.

''We came from Hawkes Bay where it has been raining for the past three days,'' Mr Myhill said.

''We've come to sunny Tauranga to make the most of the time with our mates and on the jet ski.''

The couple were preparing to spend the hot day riding around Matakana Island yesterday . It was their first time in the ocean with the ski but Mr Myhill confessed he was hoping not to fall off into to the water, which he was less confident would be as warm.

Tauranga mum Jess Richardson spent yesterday fishing with her family off the wharf at the boat ramp, near the Tauranga Harbour bridge.

She, husband Andrew and their two boys Ronan, 11, and Karlyn, 5, were enjoying sitting in the sun

''It's normally something we do with the boys in summer. They love fishing.''

Metservice meterologist Tom Adams said while the Bay had been reaping the rewards of a calm, sunny day, much of the east coast of the North Island had experienced rain due to a southerly front.

However, a northerly wind was expected to bring wet weather to the Tauranga area today.

''For the most part of the day when the sun is up, you shouldn't see any rain. The increasing chance of rain happens when it gets dark. But when you get to Tuesday a band of rain comes from the west. Tuesday looks like it could be quite wet.''

The week ahead

Today: Cloud increasing, showers. 19C high.

Tuesday: Rain, possibly heavy. 18C high.

Wednesday: Rain. 19C high.

Thursday: Becoming fine. 21C high.

Friday: Partly cloudy. 21C high.