By purchasing a Snow Farm NZ product or service, you are deemed to have accepted these Terms & Conditions as they apply to your particular activity.
In these Terms & Conditions the following words have the following meaning: “Snow Farm NZ” means Snow Farm NZ Limited.
“Resort” means all of the area which Snow Farm NZ Limited operates its business activities including the access road.
“Trails” means all of the cross-country skiing trails located within the Resort.
“Terms & Conditions” means these terms and conditions as amended from time to time.
“Pass” means any seasons pass, day pass and half day pass & the products associated with them as defined below.
“Trail Pass Definitions”
1) Full day Trail Pass – Access to all trails from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
2) Half Day Pass – Access to the trails between 9:00 am to 12:00 pm or from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
3) Overnight Pass – Trail access and rentals from 12:00 pm to 12:00 pm the following day.
1) Adult is defined as aged 18+.
2) Child is defined as aged 6-17 years or still attending secondary school.
3) Children aged 5 or under are entitled to free skiing at Snow Farm the Resort.
All ages for season pass purchases are taken as at 1 June in each year. We and we reserve the right to request proof of age or eligibility at any time.
Snow Farm NZ is a New Zealand owned company. The name that will appear on your receipt will be Snow Farm NZ .
The period of operation for Snow Farm NZ’s winter season is normally usually Mid-June – Late September in each year. The period of operation for Snow Farm NZ’s summer season is normally December – April in each year. The duration of the respective seasons will be subject to snow quantity and conditions, weather & market conditions and may vary from the above dates as a result. Snow Farm NZ offers no warranty in respect of the winter or summer seasons, operating days and/or the number of facilities operating on any day or time.
All prices quoted on this website are in New Zealand dollars and are valid at the time of printing but subject to change without notice. Rates All prices quoted include GST.
If COVID-19 travel restrictions and/or government-mandated health measures impact your ability to visit us and you’re unable to travel on another date, we will offer you a credit for the following year or a refund, if the product has been partially used we may consider a pro rata refund at the conclusion of the winter season.
Alpine huts must be booked and paid for in full before the commencement of the stay as determined by Snow Farm NZ at its sole discretion.
All refund requests must be received in writing & acknowledged and accepted by Snow Farm NZ in writing at its absolute discretion.
Hut Fees cover the hut overnight stay only. A trail pass (to access our trails) and rentals (skis, boots, poles) will be an additional charge.
To receive a full refund minus a $30 service fee, guests must cancel within 48 hours of booking, and the cancellation must occur at least 30 days before check-in. If you cancel more than 30 days before check-in, Snow Farm will refund 50% of the booking amount. If you cancel after that, there will be no refund.
Date changes can only occur more than 30 days before the booking date if available space exists and must be for the same hut and quantity of guests. Guests are responsible for using the booking calendar to find an alternative date before October 31st.
All date changes and cancellations incur a minimum $30 service fee.
If Snow Farm is closed on your chosen day or staff at Snow Farm deem it unsafe for you to travel to the huts on the date of your booking, you will receive a full refund minus the $30 service fee.
Alpine Hut bookings canceled by the management of Snow Farm NZ will be fully refunded, except during the winter season when the guest has failed to arrive and check in at Snow Farm before 12:00 pm.
We may need to cancel your booking due to snow safety and/or weather conditions, and reserve the right to cancel any such booking at any time.
Winter Operational Season
A valid Trail Pass is required during the winter operational season.
You must arrive and be checked in at Snow Farm by 12:00 pm and have departed for the huts by 1:00 pm. Management reserves to the right to cancel your booking and provide no refund if you do not meet these terms.
Guests must contact the Snow Farm via Radios provided at the Huts or by cellphone upon their arrival or before 4:00 pm. Failure to do so will invoke a search operation may incur additional costs.
If the Snow Farm is closed when a booking begins, a full refund will be provided.
When in the opinion of Snow Farm, the weather is unsuitable for young children but the Snow farm is open, e.g., cold and strong winds, we may, at our absolute discretion, refund for a booking involving young children.
In the event Snow Farm is closed or we deem it unsafe to travel to the huts, we will allow a transfer of a booking to an alternative date in that season provided that we have capacity/availability. We will not transfer a booking for the following season.
Bag transfers will leave Snow Farm Lodge at 2:00 pm unless by other arrangement and be collected from the hut at 9:00 am or soon after to be back at base at before 11:00 am
Shoulder Winter Season – In June before our official opening and September, October and November after our Official Closing
From 2024 bookings for this period will be by request only. To ensure guests understand the unique nature of the snow coverage and weather during this time. Email us if you require a booking during this time.
During this time winter conditions exist, but Snow Farm is not running its normal winter operations and no bag transfers or rentals are available. This is due to inconsistent snow coverage that damages our equipment and creates conditions that are unsafe for our over snow transport to operate.
Snow Farm will also waive any cancellation fees except for the $30 service fee, if the conditions on the day of travel to the huts are deemed by management or the guest to be unsuitable or unsafe. An example would be if there was limited snow coverage and the freeze-thaw conditions create an icy environment.
Summer Season – December to April
During summer, Snow Farm management may, at its absolute discretion, deem the conditions suitable and allow one vehicle per exclusive hut booking approval in writing of Snow Farm management and only when the trail conditions are dry. No booking should be made with the expectation of vehicle access.
All users of the Resort must at all times have a valid Pass. If a pass holder has forgotten their Pass a replacement Pass can be arranged at the mountain Ticket Office.
A lost or stolen Pass must be reported to Snow Farm NZ immediately. A replacement Pass may be issued at the discretion of Snow Farm NZ. A $10 fee may be charged for a replacement Pass.
Passes remain the property of Snow Farm NZ and are non-transferable,. non-resalable and are for the named Pass holders personal use only.
A Pass may only be used by the person whose name and photograph have been assigned to the Pass. Fraudulent use of Pass will result in will result in confiscation of the Pass and prosecution of all parties involved.
A Pass cannot be used for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Snow Farm NZ.
The pass holder uses the Resort at his/her own risk and assumes all risk of personal injury & property loss or damage
The Pass holder agrees to the rules, regulations & directions as expressed or implied by Snow Farm NZ from time to time. All Pass holders must abide by the Snow User’s Responsibility Code.
Misconduct as determined by Snow Farm NZ in its sole discretion will result in withdrawal or suspension of Pass privileges. Misconduct also covers unsocial behaviour & terms expressed or implied at the Resort.
Any breach of these Terms & Conditions by a Pass holder may result in the cancellation of the Pass & all associated privileges.
Any person who uses or attempts to use the Resort without a valid Pass & without reasonable excuse will be subject to:
- Prosecution and/or;
- Requirement to purchase a valid lift Pass for that day and/or;
- A penalty of $150 and/or a trespass notice preventing further access to the Resort & all other ski areas in the Southern Lakes region for a period of 2 year.
Snow Farm NZ passes are non-refundable. However, refunds may be considered on medical grounds only, when supported by a doctor’s certificate and in snow Farms sole discreation. Refund applications must be in writing supported documentation & sent to info@snowfarmnz.com. The basis of any refund will may be determined with regard to the usage of the Pass at that time & is at the absolute discretion of Snow Farm NZ. Snow Farm NZ reserves the right to apply any processing charges for refund applications. A fee of $30 may be charged to cover any associated costs.
Snow Farm NZ Trails are groomed for skis and snowshoes and must not be used without the appropriate equipment.
Access to the Trails outside of normal operating hours of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm is strictly prohibited unless prior approval is given by Snow Farm NZ management. All use of the resort outside operating hours must complete a safety briefing with management prior to any access being granted.
Access to Trails is controlled by Snow Farm NZ management and any failure to adhere to rules and conditions as outlined in the safety briefing will result in your privileges being revoked.
Snow Farm NZ permits dogs to be brought onto the Resort and Trails provided a dog pass has been purchased. Dog passes need to be worn on the dog at all times. Dogs must be on a leash everywhere except hanging valley. Be mindful that not everyone enjoys dogs and dogs must be kept in control at all times. Failure to keep your dog under control could result in the dog pass being removed for the day or reminder of the season along with the owner’s Pass being revoked for a day or longer period as determined by Snow Farm NZ. All dog poo must be removed from the trails. Owners must sign a Dog Policy and Waiver which Snow Farm will have a record of and any breach of these Terms & Conditions or the Dog Policy and Waiver may result in the dog pass being cancelled.
If you have booked through a third party provider, please check with your travel agent/booking site for their individual Cancellation Policy.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Snow Farm NZ is not liable for any loss, damage or injury, including direct, indirect or consequential loss suffered by any person arising out of or in connection with the use of the Pass or the Resort. Nothing in these terms and conditions limits or excludes any right or remedies that cannot be limited or excluded, including under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.
Snowsports and activities provided by Snow Farm NZ (including the use of the access road) inherently carry risk and are potentially hazardous. In recognition of the risks associated with undertaking activities with (and all access to) the Resort, you agree to use the Resort with full knowledge and appreciation of all such risks. Snow Farm NZ takes all practical steps to identify and mitigate hazards and obstacles within the Resort; however, you accept that the risk of persona injury and property loss or damage may result from your use of the Resort.
Snow Farm NZ provides free parking at the Resort but takes no responsibility for any damage caused to any vehicles parked or driven onto the Resort caused by any third party, storm or adverse weather event. You acknowledge and agree that any vehicle parked in the Resort’s car park is solely at your own risk.
You will need to provide a valid credit card for each rental agreement to secure payment of the rental fee.
All rental equipment must be returned in the same condition at the end of your rental period of the agreement.
If any rental equipment (including clothing) is not returned or is returned in a damaged condition, we will make contact with you to discuss damage & may charge your credit card for the full replacement value of any damaged or unreturned items of rental equipment. You authorise Snow Farm NZ to deduct any such costs as a result of loss or damage to Snow Farm NZ’s equipment as part of a rental agreement
A valid credit card number is required at the time of booking to secure your lesson unless pre-paid online.
A phone number that you will be contactable on during your holiday is required at time of booking.
Bookings are not confirmed until paid in full.
Bookings can be rescheduled with no charge with more than 24hrs prior notice Bookings can be rescheduled with no charge with more than 24hrs prior notice
There will be a 50% charge for lesson bookings that are cancelled between 2 & 24hrs notice prior to the lesson taking place.
There will be no refunds if the booking is cancelled less than 2hrs before the scheduled start time of the lesson, or in a “no show” situation.
Snow Farm NZ will run lessons unless Resort is on hold or closed due to weather conditions and Snow Farm NZ reserves the right to cancel any lessons at any time.
Minimum numbers are required to run a group lesson (2) and if those minimum numbers are not your lesson will be private and either an increase in the price or shortened to 30 mins, as a result of the group lesson becoming a private lesson you will be charged. Your instructor will give you the options to chose.
All group lessons and packages are open-dated & can be used on any day of the winter season purchased in and not carried forward to any subsequent winter or summer season.
Experience lessons are designed for ages 10 years and up, any youth below this age may be refused. We recocmend a priovate lesson or family private in these instances.
8.
The road toll of $20 must be paid to use the DOC access through the Snow Farm During winter operational period, outside our normal winter operations please pay at the Honesty box at the entrance to the trail network. Snow Farm reserves the right to close the access if it needs to from time to time to conduct its business.
Backcountry users overnighting must register their vehicle at the Snow Farm Office.
Acces is also provided by a legal easement through the Proving Grounds. Access to this and payment to use this access is through the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds.
Snow Farm is not in a position to provide information on snow conditions, avalanche danger or general information about the terrain.
Due to NZ Civil Aviation laws Snow Farm NZ does not permit the use of drones anywhere within the Resort. Commercial film production must apply for a consent from Snow Farm NZ Management prior to any filming or production work being undertaken. Email info@snowfarmnz.co. Snow Farm NZ may impose any conditions it thinks fit in terms of areas and times of access where any such request is granted.
Fat Bikes may be used on the Hanging Valley trail and Gorge Trail if conditions allow, and management approves, on other trails. This will be dependant on the number of people visiting, time of day and the firmness of the Snow.
Any person wishing to use a Fat Bike at Snow Farm NZ must have the express permission of the management of Snow Farm prior to purchasing any passes. Any passes bought when access is not granted will be liable to a $20 service fee irrespective of the amount purchased if a refund is given when access has been denied.
Snow Farm NZ permits dogs to be brought onto the Resort and Trails provided a dog pass has been purchased.
Dogs must be on a leash everywhere except hanging valley or off trail. Be mindful that not everyone enjoys dogs, and dogs must be kept in control at all times.
Failure to keep your dog under control could result in the dog pass being removed for the day or reminder of the season, along with the owner’s Pass being revoked for a day or more extended period as determined by Snow Farm NZ.
All dog poo must be removed from the trails. Snow Farm operates on a council reserve and QLDC fines apply if rules are not followed
Owners must sign a Dog Policy and Waiver, which Snow Farm will have a record of, and any breach of these Terms & Conditions or the Dog Policy and Waiver may result in the dog pass being cancelled.