Weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Drew Casper-Richardson said the hot, dry conditions that had settled into the region were set to linger for a few more days before the heat eased about Thursday.

He said a series of low pressure troughs in the north had dragged the hot weather south, causing a "stagnant weather pattern" of warm, dry days.

The mercury had soared to nearly 37 degrees about 2pm Sunday.

Adelaide was the next warmest at 34 degrees, while Sydney was about 26 degrees in the early afternoon.

Similar conditions were predicted for the capital on Monday, with a predicted top of about 37 degrees.

There was a chance of a shower or storm on Tuesday, as mid-week temperatures were expected to hover around 35 degrees. A weak change could cause temperatures to drop briefly to the low-30s on Thursday.

As many tried to beat the baking heat at crowded public pools and waterways, workers toiled away under the sun beside crops of corn and sunflowers at Canberra City Farm Education Centre on Sunday.

Centre vice president Jodie Pipkorn said they made sure plants had enough mulch, switched on dripper systems, did weeding and mowed grass at the centre at Dairy Road in Fyshwick.

It acts as a community hub to promote sustainable living and food production.

"Most of us were doing work that was in a bit more shade, we were looking for bits of shade," Ms Pipkorn said.

"Everyone didn't look too bad, we were in the shade and there was a tiny breeze that flowed through."

Residents who fled to the coast to beat the heat were greeted with cooler temperatures, with a forecast top of 32 degrees, and light winds at Batemans Bay.

The bushfire burning north of Braidwood was expected to continue burning for several days.

Firefighters in NSW worked through the night to contain several bushfires burning across the state, including a large blaze in Royal National Park south of Sydney.

Weatherzone.com.au is owned by Fairfax Media.