Parks, beaches and swimming pools were packed as sunseekers made the most of balmy temperatures across the North Island yesterday.
The forecast is mostly fine for today too, with the mercury tipped to hit the mid 20s again - but sunlovers should make the most of it as clouds hang over the Christmas forecast.
Phillip Duncan, from WeatherWatch, said Christmas was likely to bring unsettled weather.
He said farmers might find Christmas most enjoyable, as rain was expected over most of the North Island and the South Island's West Coast.
"It's a forecast which won't please everybody."
The best weather for Christmas will be in the northeast, with areas such as eastern Coromandel, Hawkes Bay and Gisborne likely to be the hottest and sunniest regions.