Matariki is right around the corner and if you are gearing up to wake up early tomorrow to catch a glimpse of the star cluster hopefully clouds won't get in the way.
Meteorologists have revealed where the best places to see the Matariki star cluster this year.
Right before sunrise, Matariki can be seen as a small cluster of stars just above the northeastern horizon.
However, in some areas, clouds may put a damper on the viewing experience.
"The best views will be about the inland and northern South Island. Some clear pockets in the northern and eastern North Island too," NIWA said.
Matariki is found low on the horizon in the northeast of the sky. The best time to view it is in the early morning, just before dawn.
"To find Matariki, look to the left of Tautoru (the pot), find the bright orange star, Taumata-kuku (Alderbaran). Follow an imaginary line from Tautoru, across to Taumata-kuku and keep going until you hit a cluster of stars. That cluster is Matariki. If you have good eyes you should be able to pick out individual stars. If it looks fuzzy, look just above or just below and the stars will be clearer," Te Ara said.
For those who plan on heading out early Friday morning, the clearest skies are forecast to be on the east coast MetService said.
"Some of the best weather around this eastern coast of the North Island, places like Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, round towards the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, for that national celebration first thing on Friday looks to be a pretty decent start to the day." MetService meteorologist John Law said.
Up north, Law said there will be bits of cloud on Friday for Northland and Auckland but there will be some good breaks in between them.
Further south for Wairarapa, Wellington, Nelson and Marlborough, there may be some patchy high cloud, but chances are still good for some views, Metservice meteorologist Amy Loots said.
Cloud is forecast in Southland and West Coast, Law said, but in northern Otago and Canterbury, there will be some nice clear skies.
For those who miss their chance to see Matariki on Friday, they may be able to on Saturday before cloud moves in on Sunday.
