A plane full of pleased southern punters were due to return to Invercargill early today.
A chartered Air New Zealand A320 Airbus, with 150 southerners aboard, flew from Invercargill yesterday morning for a much-anticipated day trip to the Melbourne Cup.
Trip organiser Tony Laker, of House of Travel Lakers, talking to the Otago Daily Times from Flemington racecourse after the cup, said the trip had been ''awesome''.
''The weather's been great. The area we had reserved was fantastic and everyone is having a blast.''
The Melbourne Cup was a ''big thrill'' because the group had witnessed history with jockey Michelle Payne being the first female winner.
''A lot of the punters had money on it [Prince of Penzance], as well.''
The fun on the three-hour flight to Melbourne included a fashion parade, a race-calling competition and a sing-a-long.
''We are looking forward to the way home.''
After the final race, the passengers were due to board buses to make an 8.25pm flight from Melbourne, arriving in Invercargill at 1.15am today.
Invercargill Airport's runway was extended in 1995 to take international aircraft but yesterday's international flight was the first.
Yesterday morning, there was happy chatter as passengers passed through check-in, civil aviation security and Customs stations at a pop-up international departure lounge, set up in the Southern Wings Aero Club building at the airport.
On the tarmac it was a chilly 10degC with a stiff southerly wind - goose-bump conditions for many of the women dressed in their Flemington finery.
At 7.15am they took off, with a promise from Mr Laker of a fine and balmy 20degC in Melbourne.
John McDougall, of Winton, had spent more than $16,000 on tickets for himself, his wife Margaret, and their five children.
Anne and Robert Shaw, of Queenstown, had booked a night in an Invercargill hotel either side of their trip.
Pam Woodrow, of Wyndham, was up at 3.45am to make it to the airport on time.
It was an even earlier start for the charter plane and its crew, who had to be at Auckland airport at 4am for their departure to Invercargill.
House of Travel co-owner Tracey Laker was carrying gifts for the winners of the on-board fashion parade, as well as 45 Paracetemol and 150 vitamin tablets for tired passengers with sore heads on the way home.
''How am I going to explain all these pills to Customs?'' she joked.
Mr McDougall (75) was on board to be part of Invercargill's first international flight.
On November 6, 1944, aged 4, he travelled to Dunedin with his parents on the first domestic passenger flight from Invercargill and still has the tickets.
''I've always looked forward to the first international flight out of Invercargill and said I would be on it if I could.
''It didn't matter where I would be going.''
