Visiting the Snow Farm with Kids - A Daytrip from Queenstown
My daughter making her first snow angel on our first trip to the snow!
If you are near Cardrona, Wanaka or Queenstown, and you have toddlers up to primary school aged kids, the trip to the Snow Farm is an absolute must. We visited with a 1, 3, 4 and 7 year old, and it was one of the best experiences of our trip.
After the enormous, fun, and tiring days at Coronet Peak and the Luge with the kids, a scenic drive for some free play in the snow was the perfect thing. At Coronet Peak the snow was fairly icy and compact, there were people everywhere and it just wasn’t easy to play. Plus we had lessons to get to! The kids were desperate to just mess around in the snow, and so the Snow Farm’s play area for young kids sounded perfect. The thing that convinced us was that the Snow Farm specifically states it is a gentle play area for young kids, and thrill seekers should not come.
We drove from Queenstown to Cardrona via the Crown Range Rd, through the mountains, which has the best views and scenery, and a few lookouts where you can stop and take photos. (It closes regularly in bad weather, so take snow chains and check the roads beforehand.) It’s a great winding road for lulling smaller children to sleep, and as for the parents – it’s one of those spots where you’ll really feel like you’re in the land of Lord of the Rings.
What’s so great about the Snow Farm for kids?
Fresh, powdery snow!! Go and play, however you want, for as long as you want.
The snow is clean and fresh and the kids can eat as much as they want. Guaranteed they will. My kids couldn’t stop munching and licking that snow, and it was a relief to just be able to let them (compared to at the ski fields).
You can make snow angels or a snow man, or a snow anything you like! Someone had made a snow cubby house for the kids when we were there.
There are shovels to help build stuff.
And of course, snow tubes! There is a big long ice slide where the kids can go on the tubes (parents too, safely). It is so much fun! They are light enough that the kids can pull them back up the hill, though dads tend to do it anyway. We raced and bumped and squealed. We all felt safe, and the tubes were big, soft and stable.
The drive there is incredible and definitely worth seeing the views.
Things to be aware of:
Plan for no toilets. There were drop toilets but they were so gross that no one used them. (That may have just been our bad luck on the day, but still…)
There is no café, take your own food.
There was only a little office with heating, where my 1 year old nephew and his mum/dad retreated. I don’t know if this is open all the time.
(The 1 year old was too young to do much, including keeping warm gear on, so spent most of the time inside with a parent while the others played. If you just have babies, it’s probably worth waiting till they’re a tiny bit older.)
It is next level freezing up here, way colder than anything we experienced on the top of Coronet Peak. The wind made it worse. Wear more layers than you would ever think necessary.
Check the Snow Report to see if the Snow Farm is open and accessible. You’ll need to carry snow chains in the car, and there are signs to let you know if you have to put them on.
There are often big sporting events on too, so be mindful of that - you’ll definitely want to avoid event days.
You’ll need a confident driver (and know how to put snow chains on your tyres) and kids who don’t get car sick, because the winding mountain road to get there is epic.
If you go in the afternoon session, like we did, there were leftover snowmen and ice sculptures from the morning session.
At some point the kids will get too cold and need to leave. Try to get them towards the car before they reach freezing point.
Cardrona township, which you’ll pass through, is only 14km away, but it’s still a 25min drive (depending on how slow you take the winding turns). There are a couple places in town to stop for coffee or lunch and to warm up.
It’s $20 per person aged 3+. This has got to be one of the cheaper activities you can do if you’re based in Queenstown!
The Snow Farm was the place my kids could finally experience playing in the snow the way they’d always imagined. (And to be honest, it was pretty fun for us adults too!) It was a quintessential snow holiday experience and we made memories that will last a lifetime. If you’re in Queenstown, and you’ve got little kids who have never been to the snow before, this daytrip has got to be on your list!
Related Articles:
Kids Ski Lessons and Skiwiland, Coronet Peak, Queenstown NZ - all the details you NEED to know for your first family ski trip.
A Week in Queenstown, NZ with Kids - tips for your next winter family holiday!
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