Overnight Snowshoe Adventure in the New Zealand Alps
There’s something pretty special about spending a night surrounded by snow in the New Zealand Alps. Add snowshoes, a tent, a clear winter sky and a little bit of adventure, and you have the recipe for an unforgettable overnight trip.
The original plan was to snowshoe into Lake Alta, dig snow caves and spend the night in them. Instead, changing conditions sent us somewhere else entirely—and the alternative turned out to be just as memorable.
The Trip
This was an overnight guided snowshoe adventure with Basecamp Adventures, based in Frankton, Queenstown.
The original plan was to head up to the Remarkables ski area, snowshoe into Lake Alta, dig snow caves and spend the night underground.
But mountain plans can change quickly.
Fresh snow had fallen across the Queenstown mountains the day before our trip, while the forecast for the weekend and an increased avalanche risk made the original destination less suitable.
Rather than push ahead with the original plan, Basecamp Adventures moved the trip to Snow Farm, opposite Cardrona ski area along the Crown Range Road.
I really appreciated that they had options and were prepared to change the destination to find better weather and more suitable terrain. It meant we could still have a great snowshoe adventure while reducing the risks associated with the conditions.
There was one problem, though.
There wasn’t enough snow for snow caves.
So instead, we carried tents and planned to sleep on top of the snow, building snow walls around our tents to provide shelter and additional insulation.
And honestly, I wasn’t disappointed.
Snowshoeing at Snow Farm
We started from Snow Farm and followed the wide, groomed trails before heading away from the tracks and towards the Roaring Meg.
The groomed trails are used by cross-country skiers and ski tourers, so we stayed to the side and avoided their grooves before eventually leaving the main trails behind.
Near the Roaring Meg, we crossed a small stream using a plank of wood before entering the Pisa Conservation Area.
From there, the terrain changed as we climbed a ridge and made our way towards a sheltered area below the ridgeline where we’d spend the night.
Day one was relatively short—around 2.5 kilometres and approximately two hours of snowshoeing—but the real adventure was still to come.
We had to build our campsite.
Building a Snow Camp
With seven participants plus our guide, and four tents to set up, there was plenty of work to do.
It was also one of the most fascinating parts of the trip because I was learning how to camp on snow rather than simply pitching a tent on the ground.
Our guide started by using an avalanche probe to check the snow depth and determine suitable locations for each tent.
Once the sites had been established, we worked backwards into the slope, digging out snow and piling it behind where the tents would be pitched to build walls.
The goal was to create walls on three sides of each tent, roughly the height of the tent itself. The walls would provide shelter from wind and help retain warmth.
It was good physical work, but with everyone working as a team, we made surprisingly quick progress.
Once each tent site was large enough, we packed down the snow with our snowshoes, creating a firm and level platform.
Then it was time to pitch the tents.
One thing that surprised me was that we didn’t need to dig all the way down to the tussock. A flat patch of snow was enough.
The tents were positioned close to the snow walls while still leaving enough room around them. The door faced the open side, giving us an entrance and some protection from the surrounding walls.
Getting the Tents Secure
Without normal ground to peg into, we had to get creative with tent anchors.
We used our hiking poles, which split into three sections, sections of the snow shovel handles and plastic zip-lock bags partially filled with snow.
The hiking poles were pushed into the snow at an angle at the corners of the tents. Additional pole sections and shovel handles were used where needed.
For the guy lines, we wrapped them around zip-lock bags containing snow and buried them.
It worked surprisingly well.
As the night went on, the snow hardened in the cold, making the anchor points even more secure.
It was fascinating to see how something as simple as snow could be turned into a functional campsite.
The Camp Kitchen
Once the tents were up, our attention turned to the camp kitchen.
We dug out and flattened an area where we could stand and cook. A small shelf was created for the cookers, which made melting snow for water much easier.
Beside it, we made a seating platform where we could sit and eat.
It was a simple setup, but there was something quite satisfying about creating an entire little camp from nothing but snow.
We also packed down a trail around a corner and away from the tents to create a private toilet area.
Because there was no toilet or suitable ground to dig into, we carried poo pots.
Poo Pots in the Snow
If you’re heading into the snow for an overnight adventure, toilet arrangements are something you need to think about beforehand.
You can’t simply dig a hole in the snow and bury your waste.
Instead, we used a biodegradable corn starch bag inside a reusable plastic poo pot. Any solid waste is carried out with you and disposed of appropriately when you return.
The poo pot itself can be cleaned and reused, while suitable corn-starch bags can be purchased from many outdoor stores.
It’s not glamorous, but it’s an important part of responsible backcountry travel.
And when you’re camping in a pristine snow-covered landscape, pack it in, pack it out is particularly important.
Day Two
We woke to an incredible winter morning.
Before packing up camp, we climbed behind the tents towards a group of rock tors. The higher we climbed, the better the views became, opening up across the Pisa Range and in the distance to Cardrona.
After returning to camp, we packed everything away and started the second day’s journey.
The first section took us down towards a small stream.
The stream was completely covered in snow, but the snow was soft enough to make crossing it potentially hazardous. We crossed one at a time, carefully testing each step and making sure nobody went completely through.
From there, the route climbed a steep ridge before reaching a large, relatively flat section of the range.
Then came another descent towards Meadow Hut.
An Unexpected Hut Bag
This wasn’t supposed to be a hut-bagging trip.
But when we arrived at Meadow Hut, I was absolutely thrilled to have accidentally added another hut to the list.
Meadow Hut is one of several bookable huts around Snow Farm, making the area an interesting option for longer snowshoe adventures or even summer trips.
We stopped for lunch in the sunshine before beginning the final 3.6-kilometre section back along the groomed tracks to the Snow Farm car park.
The section from our campsite to Meadow Hut was around 2.5 kilometres, making the second day considerably longer than the first.
What I Learned
The biggest lesson from the trip was just how different camping on snow is from normal tenting.
There were so many little things I hadn’t considered before—and plenty of new skills to add to my backcountry toolbox.
One of the biggest surprises was just how insulating snow can be.
I had expected everything to feel wet and miserable, but the snow wasn’t nearly as wet as I anticipated. Once the tent was properly positioned and protected by the snow walls, I was surprisingly comfortable.
The other big lesson was water. Melting snow takes a lot of time and a lot of gas.
I’d underestimated how much fuel would be required to melt enough snow for drinking and cooking. What seemed like a simple task quickly became a significant part of our camp routine.
It’s definitely something I’d plan for differently next time.
What I’d Change
There are a few things I’d do differently on my next overnight snowshoe trip.
I carried more clothing than I needed. Because the original plan involved snow caves, I had packed for the possibility of getting wet and needing a complete change.
I also didn’t carry or drink enough water.
That became particularly noticeable on day two.
I carried more than enough food, but at the same time, I didn’t eat enough. By the time we reached the final climb back towards the car park, I could definitely feel that I hadn’t fuelled properly.
It’s a good reminder that having enough food isn’t necessarily the same as eating enough food.
My Gear
The right gear made a huge difference to this trip.
Basecamp Adventures supplied the snowshoes, and there were a couple of different styles within the group. All of them had heel raisers, which were particularly useful when climbing the steeper ridges.
The guided trip also included boots, poles, tents, cooking and eating equipment, food and other equipment for people who didn’t have suitable gear of their own.
I brought:
Tent
Sleeping bag
Sleeping bag liner
Sleeping mat
Foam mat
Spare clothing
Heating pads and other warm layers
Cooker
Plate
Spork
Some food
Poo pot
Other personal gear
My pack weighed around 15 kg once I added the equipment supplied for the trip.
Supplied equipment included:
Snowshoes
Avalanche transceiver
Boots
Poles
Snow shovel
Dinner and some other food
For an overnight snow trip, it’s worth remembering that winter equipment can add up quickly.
The weight of a summer overnight pack can feel very different from one designed for snow travel.
Winter Safety
Snow travel requires a different approach to normal tramping.
The decision to move the trip away from the Remarkables was a good example of why conditions and forecasts need to be taken seriously. Fresh snow, weather and avalanche conditions can change the risk profile of a route very quickly.
For this trip, avalanche transceivers, snow shovels, appropriate clothing, snowshoes, weather forecasts and avalanche information all played a role in keeping the group safe.
Having an experienced guide was also invaluable. Rather than simply following the original itinerary regardless of conditions, the trip was adapted to suit the environment we actually had.
That’s an important lesson for winter travel: The best adventure is the one where you’re prepared to change the plan.
My Favourite Moments
Without a doubt, tenting in the snow was the highlight.
There was something incredibly cool about climbing into my tent knowing that I was sleeping directly on the snow, surrounded by snow walls that we’d built ourselves.
Then came the night.
The sky cleared completely and the stars came out. The moon rose over the snowy landscape, while the lights from the groomed trails at Snow Farm could be seen in the distance.
It was quiet, a quiet I can hardly describe and one I have never experienced before. It was also cold and absolutely beautiful.
The temperature dropped to around -7°C overnight, but I was surprisingly warm inside my tent.
The snowshoeing itself was another highlight. I loved the feeling of moving through the winter landscape and learning how different snow travel is from ordinary hiking.
It’s something I’d definitely do again.
And next time, I might even choose Snow Farm deliberately.
Would I Do It Again?
Absolutely.
While I didn’t get to dig a snow cave at Lake Alta as originally planned, the change of destination gave me something I hadn’t expected—a chance to learn how to actually camp on the snow.
I learned how to build snow walls, secure a tent without normal tent pegs, create a kitchen, melt snow for water and manage the practicalities of spending a night in a winter environment.
I also discovered just how beautiful Snow Farm and the Pisa Conservation Area can be under a blanket of fresh snow.
The trip was a reminder that an adventure doesn’t necessarily have to go according to plan to be memorable.
Sometimes the changed plan turns out to be the better adventure.
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