Summer is here: 29C expected this week

Daniel Pritchard, 7, takes on the giant water slide that has just opened at the Silverdale Adventure Park. Picture / Dean Purcell

Summer will be well and truly here this week with temperatures expected to soar to 29C in some parts.

While Monday and Tuesday are looking mild for the North Island, with temperatures hitting the early 20s, Wednesday could be a scorcher.

Hastings and Napier could climb up to 29C, as the area avoids the winds from the west.

Gisborne is set to hit 27C and Christchurch 26C.

At the beginning of the week, WeatherWatch predicts, a high pressure will continue to hold over the country, although it will start slowly sliding eastwards, which could see some downpours popping up in both islands.

Sweltering hot nights areyet to make their appearance in the North Island, with temperatures remaining about 10C to 15C.

The South Island's cooler nights are also continuing, with a few single figures overnight; Invercargill will be sitting at 4C.

"But there isn't too much room for frost," said MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn.

She said these figures were "sitting around average for this time of year", but most of New Zealand was starting to warm up.

Valentino's Gelato on the Auckland Viaduct was gearing up for a successful summer.

Manager Mia Jeon said the ice-cream store was getting busier with the warmer weather.

"Yesterday and today we had a huge number of people, especially with people coming in from Waiheke who all came in for ice creams."

Jeon said their most popular flavour was the Kiwi classic, hokey pokey.

Customers had also been keen to try out their new Christmas cake-flavoured gelato.

People were yesterday basking in the sunshine across most of New Zealand as the first weekend of summer did not disappoint.

Several kids tried out Silverdale Adventure Park's new attraction, the Big Slip, which opened on Friday.

The water slide spans 100m.

The hottest place to be was Kawerau in the Bay of Plenty, at 23.3C.

Gisborne and Hawke's Bay's Wairoa was also feeling the heat, with temperatures sitting around the 23C mark.

Aucklanders enjoyed temperatures up to 21C and cloud clearing in the afternoon.

Main centres outlook:

Whangarei: Long fine spells are expected today, with a chance of an afternoon shower. Tomorrow is a warm 25C with cloudy periods and northerlies.

Auckland: Long fine spells are predicted for Auckland, with light winds and a chance of afternoon showers today and tomorrow.

Tauranga: Today and tomorrow are looking mostly fine, with cloudy periods, the possibility of showers and light winds.

Hamilton: Fine spells are expected today, with the chance of the odd shower. Tomorrow is looking mainly fine with light winds and a possible shower.

Wellington: Early drizzle is predicted for today, then fine spells. Tomorrow is looking cloudy with a few showers and strengthening northerlies.

Christchurch: Morning cloud that clears for fine weather today. High cloud and a few spots of rain with northerlies are predicted for tomorrow.

Dunedin: This morning cloud will clear for fine weather. High cloud with a few spots of rain and northerly breezes are expected tomorrow.