Good weekend weather but rain coming on Tuesday

Students in Sydney look through a telescope to watch the transit of Venus. Photo / AP

Get out and about this Queen's Birthday weekend while the clear weather lasts, forecasters advise.

The clear skies are expected to continue until tomorrow across much of the North Island, with mild temperatures.

"There will be more cloud over the next couple of days but at least it will be dry," said MetService forecaster John Law. "Fingers crossed it will remain fine for most people."

Rain clouds are likely to hit the lower North Island tonight, with drizzly conditions continuing throughout tomorrow.

But it will be a case of back-to-work blues on Tuesday, with heavy rain set to hit Northland and Auckland.

And skygazers hoping to catch a glimpse of the Transit of Venus on Wednesday may be disappointed. "The only place that people are likely to be able to see the Transit of Venus is the far south," said Law.

Kiwis already dreading the winter blues can take some heart from Niwa's latest long-term climate outlook.

Principal scientist James Renwick says winter should be drier than usual above average sea temperatures around the country.