Mixed weather on the way

Holidaymakers cool off at Lake Okareka yesterday. Photo / Stephen Parker

Make the most of the hot sunny weather because the recent run of stunning sunny days will pass - at least for the time being.

Water activities and spending time at Rotorua's lakes were the theme yesterday and Boxing Day as the thermometer hit the mid-twenties.

Among those enjoying the sunshine at Lake Okareka yesterday were Tasha Williams and her son Xanda Marsters, 9.

"It was massive. It's one of our favourite spots. If you get out there early you can get a good possie and stay there for the day.

"We were going out for the our littlest's third birthday, so we took pizzas out there with chilly bins and that was us," Miss Williams said.

"We will be sticking around Rotorua for the summer. We'll be at the lakes as much as we can. And work starts again soon so we can't go too far away."

It may have felt like it was one of the hottest December days on record in Rotorua, but yesterday's temperature registered 25C at 3pm at the airport, three degrees off the highest recorded December temperature of 28.1C in 1995.

Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams said it was within the normal range for this time of year.

"It's not unusual for inland areas to get to 26C at this time," he said.

"If it continued for weeks on end it would be unusual, but that's not going to happen."

As a slow-moving front moves up the country the weather is expected to become more unsettled during the middle of the week, which could see more cloud and a few patchy rogue showers on Wednesday, he said.

As a ridge of high pressure pushes in from the southwest for New Year's Eve, the central North Island is expected to be settled, although the Rotorua region may experience the odd shower. Temperatures will drop off early in the week, although they are expected to pick up again on Friday.

Weather outlook:

* Today - Long fine spells, chance evening shower. High 26C.

* Tuesday - Fine, morning and evening cloud. High 27C.

* Wednesday - A few showers and northwesterlies developing. High 23C.

* Thursday - A few showers. Easterlies developing. High 21C.