Find adventure with a holiday in Cardrona Ski Resort
The incredible Cardrona Ski Resort is the area’s top ski resort and the ideal place for a winter retreat. From skiing and snowboarding to freestyle rides to après-ski, you’ll have it all at Cardrona Ski Resort. If you’re planning a family trip, Cardrona Ski Resort also offers beginner-friendly slopes, snow tubing, dog sledding, childcare and other activities and amenities perfectly suited for families. Whether you want the adrenaline rush of heli-skiing in the backcountry or a fun-filled day of snow tubing with the kids, find out all about Cardrona Ski Resort to see what it has in store for your winter holiday.
About Cardrona Ski Resort
Located near Wanaka, Cardrona Ski Resort is the premier resort for residents of Queenstown, Christchurch and Wanaka. With multiple diverse runs, on-mountain accommodation, thrilling terrain parks, family activities and endless amenities, a visit to Cardrona Ski Resort ensures you’ll have the time of your life this winter. Find out what you can expect from a visit to Cardrona Ski Resort.
Skiable terrain
Cardrona Ski Resort boasts 345 hectares of skiable terrain with a 600-metre vertical and slopes divided between beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert areas. The resort is known for its well-groomed, beginner-friendly slopes for skiers and boarders just starting out and young children, but you’ll have a lot of options for more challenging experiences for serious enthusiasts and adventurous teens. The off-piste playground is perfect for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders.
Terrain parks
Freestylers can rejoice in the 2 half pipes and 4 terrain parks at Cardrona Ski Resort. The parks offer progressive jibs that allow you to advance your skills and gain a strong foundation. There’s also a high-performance centre that offers instruction for advanced skiers and snowboarders on both the slopes and the terrain park.
Heli-skiing
The region is renowned for its heli-skiing, and you’ll have plenty of tour operators to choose from in Wanaka and Queenstown. When you book a heli-skiing tour, a helicopter with an experienced guide takes you to the most remote areas of the mountain to leave your mark on untracked backcountry trails.
Resort amenities and activities
Cardrona Ski Resort is a well-equipped resort with a lot of helpful amenities. The Cardrona Nursery and Ski Kindy offers childcare facilities for infants and young children, so you can have some adult time on the slopes or enjoy après-ski facilities. The snow school offers instruction for young children as well. You’ll also find eateries, an equipment rental and ski shop, mountain cafes, a snow-tubing park and stargazing events on the mountain. You could also book family activities like snowshoeing tours, dog sled tours and snowkiting, an activity that allows you to ski or snowboard on the mountain with a kite.
Accommodation for Cardrona Ski Resort
Whether you want to be right on the mountain or you prefer the privacy of a villa in town, you’ll have an array of options for where to stay in Cardrona Ski Resort. From on-mountain apartments for large groups to village hotels to villas in town, check out the available accommodation options to plan your trip.
On-mountain apartments
Located within minutes of the lifts, Cardrona Ski Resort’s on-mountain apartments give you direct access to the slopes. The apartments are versatile and come in a variety of configurations, including multiple-bedroom units, lofts and units with fold-out couches and additional features to accommodate more guests or multiple families. On-mountain apartment rentals also offer the Mezz Cafe, a charming cafe with dinner service and gourmet meals.
Cardrona Village
Cardrona Village is a charming village at the base of the mountain that’s reminiscent of an old gold-rush town. The village is home to the historic Cardrona Hotel, which has rooms and a vibrant après-ski pub with open fires and craft cocktails. There’s also an onsite restaurant. If you prefer, Cardrona Village has villas for a little more privacy while staying close to the amenities and the mountain.
Wanaka accommodation
Wanaka is close to the Cardrona Ski Resort and offers a variety of accommodation options, cafes, nightlife and shopping. You’ll choose from resort hotels, affordable motels, bed and breakfasts, lodges and more. Wanaka has plenty of family-friendly accommodation with children’s features like toys and games. When you stay in Wanaka, you’re just a short drive from the Cardrona Village and other attractions in Wanaka, such as Lake Wanaka.