Stripping off and jumping into freezing waters is not for everyone, but for some Antarctic expeditioners it is the event of the year.

Staff at Australia's Davis research station have cut a hole in the ice and plunged in to celebrate the winter solstice.

Cold climate countries in the northern hemisphere have long held the tradition of midwinter plunges to mark the shortest day of the year.

But as well as celebrating the solstice, Antarctic research staff use the annual tradition to remember hardy expeditioners of the past like Mawson, Shackleton and Scott.

They took the plunge on Thursday when the temperature was minus 32 degrees Celsius, and the water a balmy minus 2.

Station leader Narelle Campbell said it took an entire day for staff to drill the 1.5 metre square hole for the freezing dip.

The winter solstice The shortest day of the year occurs in June in the southern hemisphere and December in the northern hemisphere

The shortest day of the year occurs in June in the southern hemisphere and December in the northern hemisphere The winter solstice marks the time when the sun's highest point is the furthest away from the equator

The winter solstice marks the time when the sun's highest point is the furthest away from the equator The precise time of the winter solstice on Australia's east coast this year is Saturday June 21, 8:51pm (AEST)

"The sea ice here at the moment is one metre deep, so it did take a while to get those chunks of ice out," she said.

Australia has two other research stations at Mawson and Casey.

"We did extend an invitation out to many people to attend our party tonight but lots of excuses why they can't get here," she said.

Staff also created an outdoor spa as a reward for the brave swimmers.

Ms Campbell said the 20 expeditioners at Davis Station expected to see the sun return in the middle of next month.

"We will see the sun around about mid-July which we are all looking forward to even though it will only pop its head up briefly for a while until it hangs around a bit longer as the year goes on," she said.

The next supply ship visit is not expected until November.

In Hobart, the solstice will be marked with a nude swim on Sunday morning as part of the Dark Mofo festival of music and art.

The inaugural event last year attracted hundreds of locals who enjoyed 12C waters, much warmer than those on the icy continent.