Hutt Valley teens, from left, Alison Johnson, Katie Hoffman, Lara Cooper, and Kayla Tofilau ride a Crocodile Bike along Wellington's waterfront.

Waterfront bike rides and 20 degree days in mid-autumn may sound like an April Fools' joke, but Wellington's weather just keeps shining on.

Niwa's Kelburn weather station has recorded 184 hours of sunshine for the month to April 27, which is already above the April average of 161hrs.

Crocodile Bikes owner Tony Christie and his son, Aston, have sent people pedalling along the harbour since 1998 and have been enjoying what the fine weather brings.

KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ Wellington's iconic Nikau palms are reflected in the sunglasses of a sightseer on a bright autumn day in the capital.

"It's the busiest April ever for us, and that's absolutely down to the weather," Aston said.

"Anything on the waterfront is weather dependent – when the wind picks up it's just a ghost town."

It's been so busy, Tony Christie actually wouldn't mind a rainy day.

"We look forward to those days after a while because it gives us a break."

Two mountains of high pressure have been guarding the city, and most of the Lower North Island, from nasty autumn weather, Niwa forecaster Chris Brandolino said.

"One is over the Tasman and there's one to the east, think of them as two mountain peaks.

"That's prevented fronts from moving in and really kept things settled.

"Hawke's Bay and Wellington have had less than half their normal rainfall and in some places they've had less than 20 per cent of their normal rainfall."

Martinborough is on track for its second driest summer since 1924, with just 9mm of rainfall so far this month.

There have been only five days in April where the city has received 1mm or more of rainfall, and only 20 of those all year, Niwa climate scientist Gregor Macara said.

This is the second lowest on record.

Wellington's waterfront was a happy place on Thursday, bustling with Crocodile Bikes and infants eating ice cream.

Rain is possible on Saturday along the region's East Coast, according to MetService, though the rest of the region should remain fine and settled over the weekend.

Brandolino said it was too early to indicate what Niwa was predicting for the next quarter, but the beginning of May also looks promising.

"Your window of opportunity for meaningful rain comes on Wednesday and Thursday – there's a 24hr-36hr window and once that ends another high moves in and provides [more] settled weather."

Despite the warm days, those who rely on winter's bite are still seeing strong business.

George Adams, owner of Wellington Firewood said people were still stocking up on firewood in anticipation of cooler months.

"It has been a lot warmer but we had such a cold winter last year and Wellington ran out of dry wood, so people are still buying ahead of time."

APRIL BY THE NUMBERS (SO FAR)

Wellington's sunshine hours: 184 (this is 114 per cent of the April average)

Wellington rainfall: 34mm (40 per cent of the average)

Wet days in April: 5

Wet days so far in 2016: 20 (second lowest on record)

Martinborough rainfall: 9mm (17 per cent of average)

Average temperature in Wellington to April 26: 15.1C

Warmest temperature at Kelburn: 21.6C

Coldest temperature: 6.5C

Warmest temperature at Wellington Airport: 23.7C