A Saudi Arabian family more used to sand than snow spent a cold and miserable Sunday night trapped in their campervan, stuck in snow on the Crown Range road.
They were not freed until about 1pm yesterday.
The road has been described as "life-and-death stuff" because of the snowstorm that began on Friday.
More snow is forecast and road workers are advising motorists to avoid the road.
Busy workers were unable to help the snowbound Saudis any earlier.
Wanaka-based Downer EDI Works crew member Clive James said: "It is life-and-death stuff. We literally could not stop ploughing to help people put chains on, or if they were getting stuck." Wanaka police said yesterday they decided not to rescue the family because it was not an accident and it was up to them to sort themselves out.
The Alsuhaibani family set out in their rented campervan from Wanaka to Queenstown about 7.30pm on Sunday.
They became stuck about 2km from the 1067m summit, in a place without mobile-phone coverage. A snowdrift formed around the large campervan overnight and was made higher as snowploughs went past early in the morning.
Dr Ali Omar Alsuhaibani hitched to Queenstown for chains about 8.30am, leaving his cold and concerned wife, Aisha, five children and a family friend. He caught a taxi back.
Mrs Alsuhaibani said because of language issues and unfamiliarity with snow, the family did not know about road conditions, the need for chains or where to obtain information.
The snow experience would be long remembered, she said.
"In my country, we have sand, not snow. I told my husband, holidays in winter are no good. Holidays in New Zealand in the summer are very nice."
The family has lived in Auckland for a year and planned to stay for two more. Dr Alsuhaibani is the cultural affairs director for the Saudi Arabian consulate-general.
Their second attempt to cross to Queenstown, late yesterday, was successful.
Safety concerns prompted the Queenstown Lakes District Council to close the Crown Range road last night and tonight, between 10pm and 7am.
Motorists not heeding warnings, unfamiliar with driving in snow and not fitting chains properly are also causing headaches for NZSki staff.
Chief executive James Coddington said last night the "very healthy" snow over five days on the mountains and access road had produced hazardous conditions.
