Blue skies for most of New Zealand

Skies will be set clear in many parts of New Zealand today.

The mercury will soar and the skies will be set clear in many parts of New Zealand today as many Kiwis enjoy their last day of festive holidays.

The temperature is expected to top 30C in Canterbury today - perfect weather for the annual Waikuku Beach sand sculpture competition.

The hottest parts of New Zealand where the temperature is expected to reach 33C, will be Twizel, Clyde, Alexandra - baking in central South Island - and Dargaville.

It will be sunny and around 25C in Auckland and Northland, and much the same for the central and lower North Island areas once a touch of morning cloud lifts.

Two major sporting fixtures in Wellington - the The New Zealand vs Sri Lanka cricket test match at the Basin Reserve, and the Wellington Phoenix vs Brisbane Roar A-League football match at Westpac Stadium - will be played under clear skies, 21C, and strengthening northerlies.

It will be 29C with high cloud at picturesque tourist spot Lake Wanaka in Central Otago, while ice-creams in Dunedin will melt quickly in 28C.

Invercargill, though still expected to top 27C, gets the worst of it, however, with north-west winds gusting to 50km/h this evening.

"It's a good day overall for people driving home from holidays," said MetService duty forecaster Lisa Murray.

The only potential dampener will be scattered showers around inland Bay of Plenty, and possibly Taupo, this afternoon and evening.