So many Kiwis head away over the holiday period with thoughts of chasing some sunshine in their own little piece of paradise but where exactly is that?

As we know, Nelson and Blenheim head the stakes in terms of sunshine figures year after year with Tauranga not too far behind. Is it just the sun we’re after or is it the heat as well?

In terms of warmth, the Far North and Gisborne are top of the pack with summer averages. You might think that Central Otago would be the hottest overall, as Alexandra tends to dominate the daytime highs but cool nights and cool sou’ west winds at times, brings the overall temperature down a little for the town.

Now all of those places mentioned are popular holiday destinations and of course there are other major factors at play, such as where your family live, what type of holiday you can have on a tight budget etc etc..

If you could choose one place year after year ( and perhaps you already do this ), where would that be and is the weather that reliable? What have been the best and worst times regarding the weather? What do you look for when heading away?

I remember as a youngster that my Dad was sick of the sight of drizzle day after day in Timaru one bleak summer and declared out of the blue that we were off to Nelson that day. We arrived in the promised land of sunshine 8 hours later to overcast skies, strong winds and downpours from time to time..suddenly home didn’t seem so bad!

If you wish, feel free to post a comment and vote for your top town or region!