Sun shining on Antarctica's Scott Base

The end of winter is always exciting but for those living at Antarctica's Scott Base, seeing the sun for the first time in months takes some beating.

Scott Base winter manager Kevin Rigarlsford told NZPA the first sunrise in four months appeared yesterday but was followed by a stormy day.

"... we should be able to get to stand in it today so that'll be a bit exciting -- we haven't done that since April," he said.

Perhaps even more exciting will be the arrival of the first flight of the season, bearing everything from mail to tomatoes to newspapers.

The flight today heralds the start of the annual winter flight programme, known as Winfly. Four United States C17 strategic military transport aircraft flights are planned over the next six days to supply the New Zealand and US bases with science equipment, fresh fruit and vegetables, mail and key personnel for the summer.

"We're looking forward to some nice, fresh tomatoes. This year we haven't had our hydroponics unit going, so the fresh greens will be much appreciated," Mr Rigarlsford said.

"The chef has done extremely well keeping our cabbages rolling -- we've still got a couple of cabbages left, believe it or not.

"And I hear there's some oysters, salmon and prawns coming down, so we're looking forward to some nice, fresh seafood."

Mail was the most eagerly anticipated item, and newspapers would be in high demand tonight, he said.

Today's flight left Christchurch at 7am and was due at 12.02pm -- the first landing on the ice since February 26.

Nineteen people had wintered over at Scott Base and by the last flight on Friday there would be 18 left, "a mix of old and new".

"There'll be different faces, new faces, it'll be good," Mr Rigarlsford said.

He would be one of those leaving, heading home to Waikuku Beach, 30km northeast of Christchurch, before returning on October 4 for a further six weeks.

"A short trip home to catch some whitebait and see the family," he said.

- NZPA