About Cardrona
Cardrona Alpine Resort has undergone significant enhancements, making the 2025 season one of its most exciting yet. With the addition of the Soho Basin, the resort has expanded its skiable terrain by 150 hectares, bringing the total to 615 hectares — making it New Zealand’s largest ski area. This new terrain offers a mix of intermediate and advanced runs, serviced by the newly installed Soho Express, a high-speed six-seater chairlift.
Cardrona continues to cater to all ability levels. Beginners can enjoy the expansive learner’s area with gentle slopes and dedicated lifts, while intermediate and advanced skiers can sink their teeth into more challenging terrain. The resort also boasts the most extensive park and pipe facilities in the Southern Hemisphere, and is a training base for many of New Zealand’s top freestyle athletes as well as visiting pros from the Northern Hemisphere.
The resort is located in the Crown Range between Wānaka and Queenstown, with a breathtaking scenic drive — just 35 minutes from Wānaka and a little over an hour from Queenstown. For those wanting to stay close to the action, on-mountain accommodation is available.
Season Dates*
| Season Start | Season End |
|---|---|
| 14 Jun 2025 | 05 Oct 2025 |
* Targeted dates subject to snow, weather and operating conditions.
Drive Times
| From | To | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wanaka | Cardrona | 35 min |
| Queenstown | Cardrona | 1 hr 10 min |
| Queenstown | Wanaka | 1 hr 10 min |
| Queenstown | Christchurch | 6 hr 00 min |
Why We Love Cardrona
More time – One of the longest snow seasons in New Zealand.
Less queues – Lift capacity 11,000 people per hour.
Base facilities – Snow shop, full rental services including workshop, lockers, medical centre, and general store.
Quality cafès – Base Café, Mezz, Little Meg, Captain’s Café, The Lounge, and Hideaway Bar.
Cheap lockers – Lockers are available in rental for a small fee of approx NZ$23 per day.
Daily transfers – Daily shuttle transfers available from Queenstown, Arrowtown and Wanaka.
Bonus – Children five years and under receive a FREE lift pass.
Terrain
| Terrain Type | % |
|---|---|
| Beginner | 25% |
| Intermediate | 25% |
| Advanced | 30% |
| Expert | 20% |
Stats
| Skiable Area | 615 ha |
| Elevation | 1,860 m |
| Vertical | 600 m |
| Longest Run | 4.5 km |
| Average Snowfall | 2.9 m p/a |
| Terrain Parks | 4 |
| Pipes | 2 |
| Lifts | 7 |
| Lift Hours | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Trail Map
