Supermoon lights up the sky

The supermoon rises over Auckland's North Shore tonight. Photo / Michael Craig

The largest, brightest supermoon in 70 years lit up New Zealand's skies last night.

The moon was at its closest to Earth during its elliptical orbit, and appeared 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than normal.

Clear skies across most of the country made for great viewing conditions, with many would-be astronomers climbing Auckland's volcanos to get the perfect shot as the moon rose over the horizon just before 9pm.

SEND US YOUR PICS

The supermoon rises over Auckland's North Shore tonight. Photo / Michael Craig

Photo / Michael Craig

Photo / Zelna Brinton

Wellington resident Zelna Brinton took a snap from her home in Kandallah looking over toward Petone.

"It was absolutely beautiful," she said. "It's the first time I've seen a supermoon - it was so thrilling.

"It is a bit cloudy but in between the clouds you can see it - it's still very bright."

The supermoon rising at Tolaga Bay. Photo / Dexter Waru

The supermoon rising in Waimate. Photo / Viv Hansen

If you didn't get to see the moon last night, don't fret - there will be two more supermoons early next year, on January 2 and 31.

The third supermoon has skygazers excited - as the second full moon in a calendar month it will become a "blue moon", and it will coincide with a lunar eclipse, making it a "blood moon". Nasa has named the event the "Supermoon trilogy".

"Bernie had to wait up way past his usual bedtime to see this!" Photo / Kath McCahill

The pull of the full moon mean tides will be both higher and lower than normal this week, leading to some Auckland ferry services being cancelled because water levels will be too low.

Buses will replace ferries between the CBD and Half Moon Bay on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.