Cardrona Ski Resort Guide
Cardrona, New Zealand
Rated: 4/5 (from 6 ratings)
| Recommended For | Expert Skiers, Intermediates, Beginners, Snowboarders, Snowfall and Apres-Ski! |
|---|---|
| Highest Lift | 1,894m |
| Resort Height | 1,504m |
| Nearest Airports | Wanaka and Queenstown |
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Cardrona
A youngish resort, established in 1981 but with alot of new building in 1995, locally famous for friendly staff, dry southern snow and terrain suited for all abilities. The slopes are South East facing to retain the snow well, important as there's little snow making.
Cardrona offers terrain suited to all ability levels and is famed for its wide open, undulating terrain that is perfect for beginners and intermediates, whilst the Arcadia and Tulips chutes offer extra challenge for more advanced riders. Trails are up to 1.5km (just under a mile) in length, the toughest being the Arcadia chutes. Uplift includes quads and magic carpets for beginners.
Cardrona is located in the Crown Range between Queenstown (57kms/60mins) and Wanaka (34kms/35mins) in the South Island of New Zealand.
Summary
The New Zealand ski resort of Cardrona is at an altitude of 1,504m.
Cardrona has direct access to 23 marked pistes, served by a total of 7 ski lifts.
The ski resort itself is at 1,504m, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible.
Skiing
There are a variety of pistes to suit all levels of skier ability, from Beginner to Expert.
Snow and Weather
When will it snow in Cardrona?
The next notable snow forecast is 2cm, expected on 26 June.
See our long-range Snow Forecast for the latest update, or Join our Snow Mail Here
Snow this week
| Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ski Area Stats
Cardrona Ski Area
| Black Pistes Expert Trails | 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Red Pistes Intermediate Runs | 8 | |
| Blue Pistes Easy Trails | 4 | |
| Green Pistes Beginner Runs | 3 | |
| Ski Lifts Number of Lifts | 7 | |
Altitudes
Cardrona Ski Area Heights
| Highest Lift | 1,894m |
|---|---|
| Lowest Piste | 1,669m |
| Resort Altitude (Cardrona) | 1,504m |
| Max Vertical | 390m |
Ratings & Suitability
| Expert Skiers | |
|---|---|
| Intermediate Skiers | |
| Beginners | |
| Snowboarding | |
| Snow | |
| Apres-Ski |
Cardrona Overview
Notable Ski Runs
The most difficult run is the 'Arcadia Chutes'.
Snowboarding
Cardrona is home to New Zealand’s premier terrain parks, with up to four half pipes, a gravity cross and a range of beginner freestyle features.
Location and Map
Where is Cardrona?
This ski resort is in Queenstown Lakes, Otago, New Zealand.
Map
Tap 
for Full-Screen, or see J2Ski's Resort map, showing Hotels and Ski Shops.
How to get there
By Air
The nearest airport to Cardrona is Wanaka, 28 minutes drive away.
Queenstown and Invercargill airports are all within three hours drive.
Queenstown and Wanaka are just one hours drive away, in good driving conditions, so you can be on the piste quickly.
Infrastructure
Ski Lift Capacity
The seven ski lifts are able to uplift 7,000 skiers and snowboarders every hour.
Snow Making
Snow-making is available, with 1 snow cannons.
Season Dates
When is Cardrona open?
We don't currently have confirmed season dates, but hope to soon.
Usual opening is Mid June, and usual closing is Early Oct.
NOTE:- Ski area, lift and piste opening is subject to Current Snow Conditions.
COVID-19 / Coronavirus
We don't yet have specific details of the COVID-19 precautions being taken in Cardrona, but they are likely to include most of the following :-
- Face masks required on lifts, and in shops.
- Social distancing in public areas.
- Reduced lift capacity.
- Extensive disinfection / sanitization.
French Ski Resort COVID-19 Measures describes further measures that may also be applied.
Visit the Cardrona Tourist Office for the latest.
Talking about Cardrona
Mentions in recent J2Ski News Items and Snow Reports from our users...
