Malcolm Skinner and Louise Taylor, of London, were travelling from Ranfurly to Alexandra on State Highway 85 just after midday yesterday when their van slid on ice and flipped on to a bank on the other side of the road.
Mr Skinner (26), who was driving, said he had been travelling between 40kmh and 50kmh because of the treacherous conditions when he lost control of the van.
"It all happened in slow motion because we were not going very fast.
We seemed to slide sideways for quite a while, then I remember being upside down and that was about it," he said.
Neither was seriously injured, although they were checked by medical staff later in the afternoon.
Ms Taylor (25) said she had told Mr Skinner to drive carefully as they neared the top of a rise, as the south-facing road was icy.
"As soon as I said that we started sliding," she said.
Up to 20cm of snow had fallen on Central Otago the night before and motorists were urged to carry or fit chains while driving on SH85 through the Maniototo.
Ms Taylor said had she known what the road was like, she and Mr Skinner would not have tried to drive to Queenstown.
The couple bought the van three weeks ago and had spent 10 days fixing it up before travelling around the lower South Island.
They were heading to Queenstown to stay with a friend when their dream of camping around New Zealand until September was stalled.
