Ski Field - Cardrona
About
Description
The 3rd closest Ski field from Queenstown. Only 1 hour 15 minutes drive by car (you may need chains) or take the bus. The road is sealed from town to the mountain turn off, then its an unsealed mountain road (13 km). Located between Wanaka and Queenstown in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. A high ski resort renowned among skiers and snowboarders for dry snow and wide slopes. Setting the highest standards and leading the way forward among New Zealand ski resorts.
Miles of wide open slopes inspire, steep chutes surprise. Voted New Zealand's rider choice for the past three years. Known for its dry, natural snow and wide, open slopes.
Cardrona Ski Field Opening Dates
Due to open on the 25th June (provided there is sufficent snow). Due to close 3rd October (If snow conditions are still good the mountain may stay open later).
Lift Prices
Adult - $89
Child - $44
Distances from
Queenstown: 57km (1hr 10mins)
Wanaka: 34km (40mins)
The Mountain Road
13km unsealed mountain road
Getting there
You can drive to Cardrona but the roads around Queenstown are often icy and quite dangerous so forget about hiring a car and catch the bus instead. It will end up being cheaper anyway! Check out the Cardrona transport options and ski packs available.
Chains
If you are driving yourself, chains are often required, these are available to hire or buy from several petrol stations and ski shops in central Queenstown.
Mountain Stats
Height: 1860m (highest lift point)
Base building: 1670m
Vertical rise: 600m
Ski-able area: 345 hectares
Lift potential: 7800 people per hour
Opening Hours
9am - 4pm 7 days a week
Terrain
Beginner: 25%
Intermediate: 50%
Experienced: 25%
Ages
Adult: 18 years and over
Child: 6 - 16 years (17years if still attending school - must have ID)
Student: Only NZ or Australian Full time tertiary (Must have ID)
Children: 6 years and under are FREE
Kids and family facilities
New Zealand’s best facilities for kids
Nursery & Kindy (3 months – 3 years)
Ski Kindy (3 –4 years)
Kids Ski & Snowboard School (5 – 14 years) with indoor facilities in the Archway Building (Eastside & Westside)
The Cardrona Kindys are licensed early childhood centres, audited bi-annually by the NZ Ministry of Education
Cafés
We have five cafés on the mountain.
Downstairs in the main base building you will find the Base Café which serves a huge range of fast food and beverages, great for those on the run and plenty of sweet things to keep the energy levels up. Seating 300 people inside and another 180 in the courtyard outside.
Upstairs you will find the Mezz Café with a restaurant-style lunch. It has great views of the mountain where the coffee is excellent and a wide selection of wines and spirits are available. Seating 120 people.
Beside the Base Café is the Juice and Java Bar which serves freshly made juices, smoothies and espresso type coffees.
Dining slope-side is even better with a Noodle Bar including wide decks overlooking the slopes. Ski right in from skyline ridge to select fresh vegetables along with your choice of noodles and meats cooked on the spot for hot nutritious dining. Seating 80 inside and 40 outside.
On the other side of the mountain is the Captain’s Pizzeria where the food is delicious and the sheltered outdoor dining makes you feel on top of the world. Seating 240 inside and 80 outside on wide sunny decks.
Everything Queenstown Comments
Cardrona is a wide open, feel good ski field and regarded by many as having the driest and nicest snow in New Zealand. A fantastic place to learn how to ski or snowboard with plenty of room and open spaces and nowhere near as many crowds compared with Coronet Peak or The Remarkables. It has an awesome terrain park and 2 massive half pipes for the jibbers but also miles of easy to medium level terrain that makes boarding and skiing fun!
It's a bit further away than Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, taking about an hour door to door, but if the conditions are good and there has been a fresh dump of snow then there's no better place to ride!
Check out the great ski and snowboard packages available at Cardrona that will save you plenty of $$. If you don't need a lift pass or mountain transport then check out the Skis, Boards & Clothing Rental
Don't worry about hiring a car to drive up the mountain. The roads are icy and quite treacherous. Catch the ski shuttle instead.