Forecast favours New Year revellers

Coming to a New Year's holiday spot near you: mostly fine weather with cloudy periods and some showers.

* Northland
Some showers in the morning and winds coming from the southwest.

For Russell and the Bay of Islands, where thousands of New Year's Eve party-goers are expected to gather as the year draws to a close, the weather should be mainly fine.

"It should get the least of any showers, which will be more towards Dargaville in the west," said MetService forecaster Rakesh Lal.

"You might get a bit of a sea breeze in the afternoon but it should be fine with cloudy periods by evening."

* Auckland
Showers are forecast tomorrow morning but the afternoon should be fine. Southwesterly winds should freshen towards evening.

"If you're at Piha or somewhere on the west coast, the southwester might lap around your ears a bit but it won't be too big a deal," Mr Lal said.

* Bay of Plenty
For Bay of Plenty, some showers in the morning but clearing towards evening.

"There are finer-looking skies over Tauranga with maybe a good view of the stars on New Year's Eve from Mt Maunganui," said Mr Lal.

Rotorua can expect cloudy periods and some showers but long fine spells in the evening.Waikato Showers could be a bit more frequent in Raglan tomorrow.

"Because it's right on the west coast, the on-shore southwesterly could be gusty but showers are more likely in the morning," Mr Lal said.

* Gisborne and Hawkes Bay
Should be fine with southwest winds. Showers in the ranges probably won't get as far as Gisborne.Taranaki Morning showers with cloudy periods and southwesterlies that could be gusty at times.

"You should be able to get the barbie out but you might like to make sure there are a couple of trees to shelter from the west," said Mr Lal.

* Wellington
Northerly winds will change to southwest by the afternoon. Some showers are forecast in the morning but should be brief.

* Nelson
Mainly fine weather tomorrow morning with a fine day in store and southwesterly winds.

* West Coast, South Island
Some showers with sunny periods. "It will be fine at times but they are exposed to the southwest so could get more showers," said Mr Lal.

* Christchurch
Variable winds, westerly at first then southwest later in the day.

"There'll be a change in the afternoon as the southwest flow comes through, then it should be mostly fine with light winds," Mr Lal said.

* Queenstown
Mainly fine with southwest winds, some showers possible in the morning.

"You might not want to go tramping, though. Winds could be breezy up high with west to southwest winds strong at times about the ranges."

* Dunedin
Fine with southwest winds. Any showers should clear by morning.

* Fiordland
Showers and gusty winds at times, but longer fine periods inland.