Downpour set to drench North Island

Auckland's golden summer is set to come to a grinding halt. Photo / Greg Bowker

New Zealand's golden summer is about to come to an abrupt halt with a low pressure system set to hit much of the North Island in coming days.

The MetService says a cold, humid front will be moving across Wellington and the Hutt Valley tomorrow bringing 50 to 60mm of rain over six hours.

Auckland and the east coast can also expect plenty of wet weather.

But Metservice weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said it's not the end of the golden holiday weather.

"It's just washing the cars, watering the garden and filling up the water tanks," Mr McDavitt said.

He said a high will follow on the heels of the wet weather bringing fine spells to much of the country by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, temperatures are soaring into the high twenties in parts of the east coast of both islands.

Napier, Gisborne, Masterton and Christchurch can all expect highs of 29 today, while Hastings could get as hot as 31.

Mr McDavitt said campers in the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne areas may see some rain in the next couple of weeks but fine weather should settle in over the weekend.

He said some of the clouds bringing rain, set to hit the Southern Alps are the same ones that have flooded northern New South Wales.

But Mr McDavitt said last week's high pressure system saved New Zealand from much of the rain that lashed Australia.