As the school holidays come to a close this weekend, the fine autumn weather across the Bay of Plenty is providing ample opportunity to head outdoors and enjoy the beaches, parks and playgrounds.

For those who took Friday off work to make the most of a four-day weekend, it's a choice of rest, recreation, or taking on some of the home 'tradie' jobs like landscaping, concreting and framing.

MetService reports that the weather for much of the country in the week ahead should stay settled, thanks to an area of high pressure on Monday.

A front preceded by a strong moist northwesterly flow is expected to move northeast over the southern and central South Island on Tuesday.

Rain is expected in Fiordland and the Westland District, and there may be northwesterly gales for a time in Fiordland, Southland, Otago and the Canterbury high country.

On Wednesday a cold southwesterly flow is forecast to spread north over the South Island but MetService says severe weather is unlikely.

By Thursday a cold southwesterly flow is expected to bring rain or showers to many areas but again, severe weather is unlikely.