Watch as aurora australis illuminates Antarctic research base

Plans for a long weekend by staff at the Mawson Research Centre were thrown into disarray when an unexpected blizzard hit the Antarctica station.

Staff had planned to spend their day in lieu on an expedition to see the Auster emperor penguin colony, where chicks are beginning to learn how to walk.

A calm Friday slowly evolved into wild wind, with travel conditions ruled too unsafe by Sunday when wind exceeded 110km an hour and visibility dropped below two meters.

As the weather calmed on Monday, the -30°C night sky opened to a spectacular Southern Lights display stretching above the research base.

In a post on their website, the 19 staff said they still made the most of the long weekend break by eating through leftovers and recharging their batteries by "reading, watching movies, playing darts and pool, crochet projects, or even just sleeping".