Flight and weather apps are tracking Santa's progress this Christmas Eve as he leaves the Northern Hemisphere steadily making his way to New Zealand, with estimated arrival time after 11pm.

Anyone wanting to dash out for cookies and milk - there's still time to do so, while also being able to keep an eye on how much time is left before Santa lands on the roof.

Santa's elves put the finishing touches on the toys earlier today, and the ground crew readied the sleigh. Rudolph's anti-collision beacon red nose has received a polish as well. With the work complete, Santa's all set for being tracked on Flightradar24.com or on WeatherWatch.

The 2022 WeatherWatch Santa Tracker now has Santa showing up on their tracker.

Using the very latest Radar Navigation System WeatherWatch could get hold of – plus the latest satellite maps – the WeatherWatch team will be able to track Santa's progress up until 11pm tonight – live with hourly updates!

The WeatherWatch Santa tracker. Image: WeatherWatch.

"At 11pm we have to switch the radar off – for security reasons," says a WeatherWatch spokesperson.

WeatherWatch are also inviting children and adults to send in messages to Santa which will be published to their website.

"Due to the huge volume of messages sent in to Santa, there may be a delay between sending your message and us publishing it here – but we're doing our best to keep up and publish them as quickly as possible!"

Santa Claus, on a direct flight to New Zealand. Image: Flightradar24

On Flightradar24, Santa's progress can be seen, with his sleigh on a direct route to New Zealand. He's due to pass over Fiji shortly on his way south.

"Our Santa tracker returns this year to follow the big man and his reindeer around the world," says a Flightradar24 spokesperson.

"We've received word from the elves in flight dispatch that Santa will be powering on his sleigh."

It appears from the Flightradar24 tracker that a Melbourne to USA flight was able to safely skirt the path of Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. Image: Flightradar24.

To track Santa on Flightradar24, use the tracking link or search SANTA, HOHOHO, or R3DNO53.

"This year we're once again using tracking Santa with a mix of terrestrial and satellite-based ADS-B coverage,' says a Flightradar24 spokesperson.

"Fortunately, Santa was able to extend the reach of his transponder by using the reindeer antlers as additional antenna."

It's possible to also track Santa in 3D by pressing the 3D button in the bottom left corner of flight info panel on the web or in the app. Based on filed flight plans, Santa was scheduled to depart the North Pole around 0400 UTC on December 24 to make his way to the first houses in New Zealand.