By Jeff Hampton
Snow and bad weather disrupted the travel plans of hundreds in the South Island, forcing some tourists to miss flights back overseas.
A widely forecast southerly blast hit the South Island soon after the All Black test last night, causing slips and blocking roads with up to half a metre of snow.
Australian tourists due back at work tomorrow desperately tried to find alternative ways north as snow closed parts of the central South Island highway system.
“I've got a plane to catch out of Christchurch, it was supposed to be out of Queenstown yesterday now it's out of Christchurch, and I’ll be lucky to get it,” said one traveller.
A South-East weather pattern brought a half metre of snow to much of the South Island high country - closing State Highway 8 through the Lindis Pass.
Forecasters had given plenty of warning but some motorists didn't have chains.
Snow and icy conditions meant they were essential on the Crown Range road between Queenstown and Wanaka.
It made for some beautiful scenery and provided fresh ammunition for those keen to frolic.
They also had cold hands further north at Lake Tekapo where it snowed steadily all day.
The roads remained open but the conditions forced traffic to slow down.
Authorities are urging motorists to take care, warning of further bad conditions and black ice in some parts of the South Island.
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