Christmas 2018: All the best Santa trackers to hunt down St Nick

  • Feature
  • 24/12/2018
Santa.
Santa. Photo credit: Getty

Santa has officially left the building, heading out in the sleigh to deliver presents to all well-behaved children.

A few years ago there wasn't much way to see where Santa was, but now technology means you can follow the sleigh's progress in real time on a myriad of internet-based trackers.

Here are some of the best options:

Weather Watch.co.nz

 

A home-grown radar will keep an eye on where Santa's sleigh is from 1pm on Christmas Eve. If you're on mobile you can find it on the forecaster's app too.

The forecaster has included some clues about the weather, like whether Santa needs to be decked out in summer clothing or winter gear.

Google

 

You'll also be able to follow Santa in real time via Google Maps.

You can take advantage of the activities on the page, including reading all about Christmas traditions, trying to spot Santa in a Where's Wally-style puzzle or even learning how to code.

NORAD

 

Usually super serious, the North American Aerospace Defense Command watches the airspace of the United States and Canada.

Over Christmas it switches into Santa tracking mode for any children who want to keep an eye out.

NORAD began tracking Santa began with an advertising misprint way back in 1955. Instead of being put through to Santa children were calling the NORAD's predecessor's commander-in-chief operations hotline.

Instead of correcting the children the director of operations at the time got his staff to check the radars for Santa, and handed that information back.

Seems like they haven't stopped checking the radars for Santa in the 63 years since.

Pasquale Murena's I Spot Santa

The tracker is providing live updates on the sleigh's progress around the globe, as well as a huge history of Santa spottings.

It boasts over 100 pictures and videos from the search for Santa from all across big continents. There's even one from New Zealand, a 2014 sighting above Lake Tekapo.

Newshub.