Despite 2m-high snowdrifts and their camper van being almost engulfed in the white stuff, Lesley and John Ecksmann were very happy campers yesterday.
The Queensland visitors were thrilled to be marooned at St Bathans which was blanketed in its heaviest snowfall for decades.
''We've seen snow before but this was our first real experience of it falling out of the sky ... and keeping on falling. It's magical and it certainly hasn't lost its gloss for us,'' Mrs Ecksmann said.
''We were thinking about heading to Queenstown but decided we'd stay in St Bathans again, and we're so pleased we did.''
Her husband John agreed.
''The snow? We just love it. I can see it's hard on the locals but we're certainly loving it. We're from Cairns, so you could say it's a big change for us.''
The couple have been travelling around the country for about a year on holiday. St Bathans was one of their favourite spots. They swapped their camper van for the warmth of the Vulcan Hotel, where publican and co-owner Jude Kavanagh was less enthused by the wintry blast.
''It's terrible weather - I reckon it's four or five-foot deep out there and it's still snowing. It's so deep, even the grader driver got stuck,'' she said. St Bathans was cut off yesterday with continuing snowfalls blocking attempts to clear the access road.
''We didn't have anyone staying ... and obviously we can't take bookings when there's no way in,'' Mrs Kavanagh said.
''One carload of people arrived yesterday [Thursday] but there was nowhere to park, so they went off again. On a positive note though, at least we've still got the power on.''
St Bathans resident Keith Hinds said the snow was up to the top of stock fences.
''It's the heaviest snowfall I've seen in the 29 years I've been here.''
Despite the heavy blanketing, the power had remained on, except for a short time on Thursday.
''I take my hat off to the linemen - you've got to admire what they do.''
