A fun family day out in Wanaka, whatever the season!
Looking for an affordable day of fun in the snow with your kids? And maybe even an overnight adventure in a warm hut where the kids can discover snow caves and play under the stars? Look no further!
I recently discovered Snow Farm in Wanaka, the only Nordic snow experience in Aotearoa, and an ideal place to take your kids on an adventure they’ll never forget – in any season. You can stay for the day, or if you plan ahead of time, overnight too. And the best news is that it’s affordable, unlike most ski resorts!
I was looking for an adventure with my son, and I knew it would have to be packed with physical adventure. We flew into Queenstown with Jetstar (see 10 tricks to make flying with kids easier), which we love because we can tailor our meals, baggage and seat choice, so we only pay for what we want (which saved precious dollars for our holiday). We drove over to Wanaka, and tried our hand at cross-country skiing at Snow Farm. We skied out to the Musterers’ Hut that afternoon, stayed in a warm and cosy hut during a peaceful snowy night, and skied back mid-morning the next day (after a big cooked breakfast) for some tubing in the Snow Fun Zone. It was a hit!
Here’s everything you need to know..
Is there a space for kids to play in the snow?
The Snow Fun Zone has tubing, space to have snowball fights, create snow angels and build snowmen. The slope for tubing is tailored to younger kids who haven’t had the chance to see or experience snow before, although there’s no set age limit, just as long as everyone realises there are tiny tots there to watch out for. Set at $20, this is really affordable and exactly what so many families are looking for. Take a picnic, buy a good coffee onsite, or combine it with a day on the trails.
What about day visits or overnights in the huts?
Once you’re on the trails, you are welcome to visit all of the huts and pop inside to make yourself a hot drink (take your own food), or stop for lunch. There are four huts at Snow Farm, and they are all a bit different. The huts are a cross between a ski lodge and a DOC hut. Simple, but very warm and well kitted out with kitchen equipment.
We stayed overnight in the recently built Musterers’ Hut. With walls 15cm thick, robust wooden furniture, and two fireplaces, it stays toastie all night and all day. This hut has two identical sides that can open up into one space, or can be closed off with a sliding door to create two separate spaces with rooms. We were there with two other families, including the family dog (who slept outside in a tent with his owner!). The experience was like winter camping. Kids raced around outside together all evening, free and safe. They cooked marshmallows over the fire, explored the snow caves, played hide-and-seek with torches and then settled in for cards and board games.
There are no power points and no Wi-Fi, just a radio for communication. Seriously, what adventurous Kiwi kids wouldn’t find this to be heaven? It was so cool!
Bags are transported up to the huts for you (winter only), and bookings for an overnight in the huts open in November the year before (or try your luck with a cancellation). The cost is approximately $60pp, including bag transfer.
How hard is cross-country skiing?
We chose to go with the classic skis, and we picked this up really quickly. We did have a few hilarious wobbly moments as the skis are super-skinny, but after 30 minutes on the track, we had it sorted, and I think we would have been fine on the skate skis which are slightly harder, but a bit faster.
For newbies to the snow, I think this is a much easier learning experience than alpine skiing. Kids can have a go from as young as two years old, and if you go on a Saturday, your kids can join the Sliders and Striders lesson, where the littlies sing songs and play games on their skis to get confident in the snow, and the four- to five-year-olds get into some downhill skiing. As another alternative, you can choose snow shoeing (think tennis racquets on your feet), which is a fun way to hike through the snow without wrecking the tracks.
What about over summer?
Well, you won’t have snow of course, but the trails turn into mountain bike and hiking trails, and you can book the huts for an overnight stay. This would be great fun with a group of families.
What about the ski gear?
You can rent all of your gear, including skis, poles and clothing, if you need it. The equipment at Snow Farm is new and in great condition, including the boots, which are also lightweight and comfortable – a bonus with kids, believe me! There is equipment for children as young as two years old, so everyone can join in.
Clothing-wise, you don’t exactly need ski gear, but you definitely need to be warm for the snow, and wear one layer of long seamless socks for boot comfort. My advice would be to layer up, as you can get hot and sweaty pretty quickly. Take a day pack to stuff any excess gear into, and wear a hat, gloves and sunnies. You won’t need a helmet, as cross country is more like ski-hiking than a risky run down the mountain.
Are the trails easy to follow?
Snow Farm is veined with trails, all creating big loops that brush past their huts. If you decide to see every hut, then plan for about four hours, plus any time you spend in the huts or having a picnic. The trails are wide and clearly signposted, and there are pre-grooved classic tracks made to fit your skis. If you ski in the tracks, you have a smooth, consistent surface at all times to zoom along on.
What about the drive up there?
If you hit a really snowy winter, you will need chains. But as ski resort roads go, this was definitely good.
Where is Snow Farm?
It is easily accessed from the Cardrona Valley Road, which connects Wanaka and Queenstown. Drive time will be 40 minutes from Wanaka, 60 minutes from Queenstown and 1 hour 20 minutes from Cromwell.
Where to stay in Wanaka
We always stay in the Wanaka Hotel. It’s in the centre of town and has a laundry and massive kitchen facility to prep food for whatever adventure you have going on. The rooms are really comfortable, with great bathrooms, and there are adjoining room options for bigger families. Both Amigos (Mexican) and Scroggin restaurants are accessed from the hotel, and these are two of our favourite go-to places to eat.
Flying into Queenstown
Jetstar flies to Queenstown from Auckland and Wellington. For up-to-date pricing and to book, visit jetstar.com.
Mountain hut s’mores
- Sturdy, slightly sweet biscuit
- Marshmallows (preferably large)
- Chocolate bars (dark or milk chocolate, depending on your preference), or if you prefer, Peanut butter or Nutella (or everything)
Place a piece of chocolate on one biscuit, or spread with peanut butter or Nutella. Roast the marshmallows, rotating slowly until golden brown and gooey on the inside. Place it on top of the chocolate. Top with another biscuit, pressing down slightly to melt the chocolate. Eat and enjoy.
By Maria Honey
