Cardrona Ski Resort

Nestled in the heart of the Southern Alps in New Zealand's South Island, between Wanaka and Queenstown, Cardrona Alpine Resort is filled with 852 skiable acres - a favorite for ski bums from all over the world. Its accessibility, park features and family-friendly atmosphere make for a great stay, attracting all kinds of snow enthusiasts. Eight cafés and restaurants will satisfy your taste bud and keep you warm and comfy - we highly recommend a visit to the mountain-top champagne bar. 

Terrain & Lifts

Boasting three wide, open basins with excellent progressive terrain, Cardrona attracts both first-timers and expert skiers and boarders. The ski resort's altitude makes for great snow conditions, so every now and then the resort opens early for a weekend preview to celebrate. Plus, beginners will love Cardrona: A dedicated beginners' area with conveyor lifts, a see-through gallery tunnel, private and group lessons for all ages (and levels), and wide, open green trails provide plenty of room to learn how to speed down the slopes.

Featuring 345 ha of skiable terrain with 25% suited to beginner skiers, another 25% for intermediates, 30% dedicated to advanced skiers and boarders, and 20% suitable for experts, Cardrona has an abundance of varied terrain for every level of skier and snowboarder and a vertical drop of over 600m. A gondola and another five chairlifts plus the herein before mentioned conveyor lifts, three in number, will help you get the most out of your time at Cardrona. Its parks and pipes represent the most extensive terrain park and pipe facilities with options for all levels. 

Activities

First of all: There is a childcare centre called Cardrona Ski Kindy catering for kids aged 3 months up until 5 years, so you will not have to worry about your kids having a great time - they will have the time of their lives! Moreover. you may want to make use of the season pass benefits; whether it is a tandem flight, heliskiing, tubing, or plain sightseeing - there is plenty of stuff to do here. McDougall's Express Chondola (the gondola) is where to see the mountain by foot. If this is too far away from all the snow and winter sports' feeling, tubing is your thing to do without having to be a skier or snowboarder to give it a go. 

The drive from Wanaka to Cardrona ski resort is very easy via the meandering Cardrona Valley Road. As the ski resort is located at the top of a 14 m long access road from Cardrona Valley, make sure to take care, carry snow chains at all times, and keep to the left to maintain 2-way traffic all the way up.