Campers smiling despite rain

HI-DE-HI: Tony Biesiek and Kylie White and two of their children, Keller (left) and Lachlan, wait for the rain to ease at Mowhanau campground.PHOTO/ BEVAN CONLEY

A little bit of summer rain this week didn't dampen the spirits of people holidaying at the Mowhanau Holiday Park, north of Whanganui.

Unlike campers to the north of the North Island, the rain has been a fleeting visitor to this part of the country, with campers enjoying mostly warm and sunny days at the Kai Iwi beach camping ground.

Tony Biesiek and his partner Kylie White, from New Plymouth, have been at Mowhanau since December and leave tomorrow. With them are their children Kurt, 17, Stefanie, 15, Lachlan, 13, and Keller, 12.

The family enjoys summer camping and Mr Biesiek said they liked to go to different areas each year to "explore the country".

"We'll give this place the thumbs-up - it's got a nice old-world feel to it.

"We enjoy the vibe of the place," he said.

With the rain interrupting outdoor pursuits on Sunday, the family was heading into the city for a look around.

Weather experts are predicting an improvement during the next few days but say a low pressure system approaching the country from the west will bring further rain across the country by the end of the week.

The New Year weekend was a wash-out for many holiday destinations as an area of low pressure brought wet weather down from the tropics. Whitianga recorded 65mm of rain in the 24 hours to midday Saturday.