Finally - a respite from the icy blasts (+photos)

Parts of the North Island have turned into winter postcards this weekend, such as this scene from Mamaku near Rotorua. Photo supplied.

Snow and severe gale warnings have now been lifted throughout the country although many major roads, including the Desert Road, remain closed and others only accessible with chains.

Cook Strait ferries have now also resumed normal service after a couple of crossings were cancelled or delayed because of strong winds.

The MetService said this afternoon no further heavy snow falls were expected although temperatures were low and icy conditions likely to persist in some areas.

The respite is a far cry from the type of conditions which beset the country in the previous 24 hours.

Hail stones as big as marbles, sleet, snow, gale-force winds and rain fell in a polar blast yesterday which had the country in an icy grip.

The winter storm closed state highways in the central North Island as police warned motorists to stay off the snow-covered roads, while snow fell to sea-level at a Christchurch beach.

In the coldest spell this year, temperatures in Auckland fell to just 6 degrees at lunchtime, 10 degrees in Wellington, and Dunedin had a high of 4 degrees.

Gale force winds in the Cook Strait led to the cancellation of interisland ferry services this morning.

More than 3000 lightning strikes hit the country but the wild weather is expected to clear in the next two days for much of the North Island.

"The storm is moving away to the east so things will probably clear quite nicely by today," said MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt.

Weather analyst Philip Duncan warned that winter was far from over.

"There is another system expected at the end of the week for the South Island, bringing westerlies and gale-force winds."

McDavitt agreed but expected the coming storm to be slightly warmer.

"I think this is the crux of winter. Mid-July is the coldest period and soon we'll be heading towards the warmth again."

Police warned motorists against all non-essential travel through the central North Island because of hazardous driving conditions. Despite warnings, 12 cars got stuck in snow on the Rimutaka Hill Rd last night.

Even in Auckland, ice on the motorways caused havoc for motorists, prompting police to warn drivers to take care. At least three minor crashes on Auckland's roads were weather related.

Rugby fans in Wellington were told to wrap up as the MetService issued a thunderstorm warning expected to hit late last night with wind gusts of up to 130 km/h.

That didn't bother Aucklander Tyron Elf who hit the road early yesterday to arrive in Wellington with time to spare before the All Blacks and Springboks kicked off.

"It was good weather through to Hamilton but there was a bit of snow from then on," Elf said.

Inspector Paul Jermy said there were a number of crashes, including one on SH4 involving nine cars. No one was injured.

"The driving conditions are not pleasant as the snow turns to ice."

Wellington resident Eleisha Balmer said rain had been pouring into the capital until midday. "It's been freezing," Balmer said.

"I've had to wrap up warm. My electric blanket and heater has been on full blast for the last week."

The Lewis and Lindis Passes were closed as was the road between Te Anau and Milford Sound in the South Island and snow was falling in Queenstown, Dunedin, Ashburton, Christchurch and Taupo.

Strong winds in Christchurch also blew down several power poles.

Christchurch resident Liz Collins said she huddled up indoors for most of the day.

"I only went out and about once and that was to the supermarket, but it was so windy it felt like the car was going to take off," Collins said.

"There's no way I'm venturing outside again this weekend, I'm going to ride it out inside."

The middle to top of the North Island didn't fare any better, with heavy rain, sleet, ice and hail. The Kaimai Ranges in the Waikato experienced a wintry blast and snow dump at about 800 metres, closing the road.

- additional reporting from NZPA