KEY POINTS:
West isn't necessarily best for sunseekers this month. MetService forecaster Bob Lake saying holidaymakers should hit the east coast - but be prepared for the odd day of rain.
"It looks like some of the best places to be will be around the middle of the country, the
east of the South Island and the east of the North Island," he said.
"Much of the North Island will get a dose of rain around Tuesday and Wednesday, but it should improve on Thursday and Friday."
After that a high should move in, meaning next weekend looks settled, particularly for the North Island.
Lake expects a series of highs in late January to keep most of the country warm and dry, apart from occasional rain on one or two days.
That's great news for holiday- makers in Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and the Coromandel Peninsula, which should all get sunshine and little rain.
"The only place where it might be a bit dodgy is in the Far North, where there will be quite a lot of easterly winds, which could bring showers through that region, " Lake said.
The rest of the month would probably be "reasonably warm", with most places falling in the mid-20s.
Canterbury and Marlborough have been experiencing the highest temperatures this summer, up to 32C, and they would continue to be hot throughout January.
But whatever the weather, there could be problems finding somewhere to enjoy it. Campsites and holiday parks around the country are full, so workers planning weekend getaways are advised to book ahead.
Some space may come free over the coming weeks, but many holiday parks are booked until the end of January as families make the most of school holidays.
Baches are scarce until the end of January, while Top 10 Holiday Parks Group operations manager Keri Gibson said most of its sites were full for at least the next fortnight.
While camping spots traditionally became free from mid-January, Gibson said units and caravan sites tended to stay booked until school begins at the start of February.
Even then space can be tight, as international tourists start arriving.
But Gibson said there might be the occasional opening, and advised holiday-seekers to ring their preferred park to check for gaps.
"If someone is wanting to stay at a certain place, there may be a couple of dates available."
Things aren't much different in Auckland, said manager of the city's i-site centre Chanthara Sinclair. "Hotels, motels [and] campsites are all nearly fully booked. People should book before they arrive."
TOP 10 DAY OUTS
The Herald on Sunday asked tourist information i-sites around the country for their most popular day trips and compiled a list of 10 top summer visits.
* Kings Day in the Bay, Paihia; adult $99/child $55; (09) 402-8288.
This action-packed trip visits the Hole in the Rock at Cape Brett and offers a swim with dolphins, whale watching and an island stopover for lunch.
Drive time: 2hrs 40mins from Auckland city centre.
* The Perfect Day, Tutukaka; adult $129/child $65; (09) 434-3867.
Visit the Poor Knights Islands, a world-class diving spot. There are kayaks and snorkel gear onboard the boat, plus screens offering views of marine life.
Drive time: 2hrs 10mins from Auckland city centre.
* 360 Harbour Discovery Cruise, Waitemata Harbour; adult $39/child $19; (09) 307-8005.
A cruise past Devonport Naval Base, Bean Rock lighthouse, under the harbour bridge, and into Westhaven Marina.
Drive time: 5mins from central Auckland.
* Hobbiton Tour, Matamata; adult $50/child $25; (07) 888-9913.
Visit the location of The Shire, home of the Hobbits in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Guides explain where key scenes were filmed and share plenty of on-set gossip.
Drive time: 45mins from Hamilton city centre.
* Lake Waikaremoana Day Tour, Aniwaniwa, near Gisborne; adult $150; (06) 863-9815.
Spend the day at Aniwaniwa and enjoy views of Lake Waikaremoana before going for a short bush walk, enjoying a picnic lunch and seeing the Papakorito waterfall.
Drive time: Pick-up from Gisborne city centre.
* Fuller's Rangitoto Volcanic Explorer Tour, Waitemata Harbour; adult $50/child $26; (09) 367-9111.
Take a ferry to Rangitoto, enjoy a four-wheel drive tour of the island before climbing to the summit. A guide will point out the features of the island and explain its history.
Drive time: 5mins from Auckland city centre.
* Huka Falls River Cruise, near Taupo; adult $30/child $15; 0800-278-336.
Cruise up the Waikato River to get amazing views of the Huka Falls, New Zealand's most powerful waterfall, and see natural hot streams and geothermal activity along the way.
Drive time: 1hr 40mins from Hamilton city centre.
* Wellington Zoo, Newtown, Wellington; adult $15/child $7.50; (04) 381-6750.
Check out the creatures that make their home at Wellington Zoo - including lions, red pandas, kangaroos, zebras and kiwi. A well-priced day out.
Drive time: 5mins from Wellington city centre.
* Puhoi River Canoe Trip, Puhoi; adult/child $40 (single kayak); (09) 422-0891.
A scenic paddle along 8km of the Puhoi River to Wenderholm Regional Park. The journey takes about two hours at a leisurely pace, or you can make a day of it by paddling towards Puhoi and back again.
Drive time: 45mins from Auckland city centre.
* Waitomo Glowworm Caves; adult $35/child $15; (07) 878-8227.
The glowworm caves are a great day out for the whole family. Check out the limestone formations and thousands of glowworms on a short boat trip through the caverns, and find out how caves are made.
Drive time: 2hrs 10mins from Auckland city centre.
