People heading out and about have been advised to slip, slop, slap and wrap this weekend. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited director of destination Annie Dundas said it would be an “absolutely phenomenal weekend”.
“I don’t see how anyone could miss anything happening this weekend.
“There will be tens of thousands of people out and about.”
Dundas said hotels are “full and happy” and tracking “well above average” compared to this time last year, with occupancy rates this weekend at 85%.
“It’s going to be mad and brilliant.”
The stellar weekend kicks off at 8pm, with the Warriors set to play Sydney’s Roosters at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium.
It’s followed tomorrow with Champions Day at Auckland’s Ellerslie Racecourse from 11am and later in the day the Blues face the Crusaders with a 7pm kick-off at Eden Park.
The weekend is capped off with Round the Bays and the Auckland FC v Perth Glory clash on Sunday, with forecasters advising people in Auckland to “slip, slop, slap and wrap”.
Smorgasbord for south
MetService head of weather news Heather Keats told Ryan Bridge TODAY the South Island is in for a smorgasbord of weather.
“There’s a return of northerlies [wind] in the south bringing higher temperatures, with Christchurch particularly shaping up to be scorching today.”
Christchurch and Dunedin will reach 27C while Timaru and Ōamaru are set to hit 28C.
“This is a far difference from the start of the week, where many areas were sitting between 12 and 13 degrees”.
The highs will be short-lived, however; with a cold snap seeing cooler temperatures return from Monday.
An orange heavy rain warning is in place for the South Island’s Fiordland and Westland until 6pm on Saturday.
A heavy rain warning is in place for the South Island’s Fiordland and Westland until 6pm Saturday. Photo / Metservice
Keats said New Zealand could be hit by the “tail end” of a tropical cyclone at the end of next week.
“The uncertainty is there with variations in the model, so people can rest assured we are keeping an eye on it and will report when there is something to say.”