Thick cloud and strong winds are hampering a search for a plane which went missing in Antarctica with three Canadians on board.

A Twin-Otter plane went missing on a flight from the South Pole to the Italian base in Terra Nova Bay.

The plane's emergency locator beacon was activated late on Wednesday night.

It is transmitting from the northern end of the Queen Alexandra Range, which lies in New Zealand's rescue zone.

The New Zealand Search and Rescue Coordination Centre says a spotter plane has been flying over the mountainous area where the beacon was activated.

Thick cloud up to 22,000 feet, however, means the ground is not visible.

Steve Rendle from New Zealand's rescue centre says there is hope the three men, whose names have not been released, are still alive.

"If the beacon is operating, which it is, that's a good sign as a heavy landing can tend to prevent the beacon working, so that's a positive sign at this stage," he told Radio New Zealand.

Another plane and two helicopters are on standby to take in field teams for a ground search if there is a break in the weather.

The rescue centre says there are snow flurries in the area and wind gusts of up to 160 kilometres per hour.

New Zealand is coordinating the rescue with US authorities at the McMurdo Station in Antarctica.

A US Hercules flew over the search area last night but did not find any sign of the plane, which was carrying emergency equipment and supplies for five days.