# Snow Farm

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This article is about a ski area. For the synonym for snow dump, see **Snow farm**.

**Snow Farm** is a [ski area](/source/Ski_resort) near [Wānaka](/source/W%C4%81naka), New Zealand, dedicated to [cross-country skiing](/source/Cross-country_skiing).

## Description

The Snow Farm NZ is owned and operated by the Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust (PACT) and is operated on Queenstown Lakes District Council land. The resort is the only non-profit ski area in the Southern Lakes region.

Founded in 1986 by [Mary](/source/Mary_Lee_(cross-country_skiing)) and [John Lee](/source/John_Lee_(businessman)) on Waiorau Farm, the Snow Farm was the first cross-country ski area in New Zealand. Originally called the Waiorau Nordic Ski Area, Waiorau was the Maori name that Ngai Tahu gave to the area, that translates to ‘the place of over one hundred waters’. The name was later changed to reflect its farming heritage. It features 55 km of trails for beginners and advanced skiers, offering four alpine huts for overnight stay. New base building with Café opened in 2024.

It is located on the [Criffel Range](/source/Criffel_Range) close to [Cardrona](/source/Cardrona,_New_Zealand), at an altitude of approx 1,600 m. The area is used for cross country skiing in the winter and during the summer months for altitude training with trails climbing out to 2000m. The proximity of Wānaka (37km) and Queenstown (60km) and the training options around these two towns makes the Snow Farm one of the best locations in the Southern Hemisphere for a live high, train low training regime.

In winter Snow Farm offers tubing hill and snow play area for kids and adults as well as ski and snowshoe rentals. Team of ski instructors is available for ski lessons of all levels. Dogs are welcome too.

During the summer months, mountain biking, hiking, orienteering, rock climbing and adventure racing are available.

It is also the location of the [Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds](/source/Southern_Hemisphere_Proving_Grounds). The series of twelve vehicle test facilities are used by car manufacturers from around the world for ice and snow testing during the northern-hemisphere summer.

## Alpine huts

Four serviced alpine huts are spread along the trails. Each hut is supplied with solar lights, fireplace, firewood, water, gas, cookers, cooking utensils and mattresses. Bag transfer is also available.

Meadow hut is located 3.5 km from base has open plan bunk room with mezzanine and 20 beds. Is located in the valley by Roaring meg river and surrounded by amazing rock formations.

Musterer's hut is 4.5 km from base. Has 6 bunk rooms with dividing door separating 12 and 24 bunk side. 2 kitchens, 2 fireplaces. Commonly booked for schools and big groups.

Bob Lee hut & Daisy Lee hut are located 6.5 km from the base. Bob sleeps 7 and Daisy 6 people. Dogs are allowed to stay there.

## Access

Snow Farm is around 55 km from Queenstown and 35 km from Wānaka.[3] The 13 km[4] gravel access road used to be used for the internationally known [Race to the Sky](/source/Silverstone_Race_to_the_Sky) [hillclimb](/source/Hillclimbing).

## Merino Muster

An annual cross country skiing event called the **Merino Muster** is held in late August or start of September and covers distances of 42 km/21 km/7 km and 1 km for children.[5]

## References

1. ["Merino Muster Trail Map"](http://www.merinomuster.com/42km-profile). *merinomuster.com*. Retrieved 16 August 2016.

1. ["Wanaka Ski Field Information"](http://rentals.basenz.com/skifields.html). *basenz.com*. Retrieved 16 August 2016.

1. ["Snowfarm"](http://snow.co.nz/wanaka/snowfarm/info). Copyright nzXsports 2012 all rights reserved. Retrieved 16 August 2016.

1. ["Snow Farm"](https://www.destination-nz.com/snow-farm/). *destination-nz.com*. What's Hot New Zealand. Retrieved 16 August 2016.

1. ["THE MERINO MUSTER"](http://www.merinomuster.com/). *merinomuster.com*. Retrieved 16 August 2016.

## External links

- [Official website](https://snowfarm.nz/)
- [Merino Muster website](http://www.merinomuster.com/)
- [Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds New Zealand](https://www.shpg.co.nz/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Snow Farm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Farm) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Farm?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.