Essential Travel Ski Guides

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Travel to Cardrona with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Located midway between Wanaka and Queenstown, Cardrona ski resort is perched a lofty 5,480 feet above sea level and it features an extravaganza of exciting ski trails, terrain parks, pipes and a thrilling gravity cross course. It is one of New Zealand’s finest family-style resorts, with a comprehensive selection of beginners’ courses, tuition programs and childcare facilities.

The Southern Lakes district, of which Cardona is one small area, is one of New Zealand’s most awe-inspiring holiday destinations and the nation’s premier ski regions. Visitors to Cardona ski resort will be treated to stunning views of the Southern New Zealand Alps and gorgeous Lake Wanaka, while also having access to some of the country’s most challenging snow rides.

Cardrona’s ski facilities are nothing short of world class, with a great variety of trails spread over an area of 790 acres. Of these, 25 per cent are suitable for beginners, 55 per cent for intermediates and 20 per cent for advanced riders. Seven state-of-the-art ski lifts at Cardrona ski resort provide transport to the ski runs, with a cumulative uplift capacity of 7,800 people per hour. There are two terrain parks at Cardrona, as well as a resort race course that will appeal to freestyle ski enthusiasts.

Cardrona is one of the few ski resorts in New Zealand that offers overnight accommodation and there are various slopeside lodging options available, ranging from three-bedroom units to studio apartments. The ski resort also offers four different dining options: a noodle bar, mezze café, the Cardrona Café and Captain’s Pizzeria.

Cardrona is situated between Wanaka and Queenstown, where visitors can enjoy an enormous selection of activities and après-ski options. One of the region’s most enticing sightseeing options, Mount Aspiring National Park is within easy driving distance of Wanaka.

The winter season at Cardrona runs approximately from the end of June to early October, with good slope conditions generally prevailing throughout. The ski resort can be accessed by means of self-drive from Wanaka or Queenstown, or alternatively chartered transport can be arranged.

Skiing at Cardrona

Nestled in the exquisitely scenic Southern Lakes region, Cardrona is without a doubt one of New Zealand’s most spectacular winter resorts, offering skiing for novices, intermediates and advanced riders on 790 acres of terrain. The resort is known for its dry, plentiful snow, wide-open runs and excellent facilities for kids, making it an ideal getaway for family groups.

In addition to a fabulous variety of skiing trails, which are broken down into 25 per cent novice runs, 55 per cent intermediate runs and 20 per cent advanced runs, Cardrona is also home to the Heavy Metal and Playzone trails, two sizeable terrain parks crammed with jibs and jumps. The pipe park features four first-class pipes, while the gravity cross course is sure to get your adrenalin flowing with its multitude of jumps, banked corners and rollers on its 2,624 feet race track. A system of seven ski lifts include two quad fixed chairs, a single quad express chair, three magic learner lifts that are ideal for kids and one platter lift.

Cardrona Alpine Resort focuses almost exclusively on skiing, although mountain biking on various trails during the summer months is popular. For alternative activities and nightlife, visitors should head to nearby Wanaka (30 miles) or Queenstown (36 miles), where leisure and entertainment options abound.

There is a good selection of skiing accommodation at Cardrona, with family and studio apartments located next to the slopes and offering superb views and maximum convenience. Four different dining options are available including a noodle bar, meze café, pizzeria and the Cardrona Café, offering fast food for snacks or quick stops. Children’s facilities are excellent and include day care, skiing tuition and a fun, social environment where children can play and interact.

Skiing is offered at Cardrona between July and early October, and conditions during these months tend to be impressive due to the resort’s high altitude and abundant snowfall.

Transportation to Cardrona

Cardrona Alpine Ski Resort is located 20 miles from Wanaka and 36 miles from Queenstown. Both Wanaka and Queenstown are now accessible via air and Cardrona can be reached from either destination by hire car, bus or shuttle bus.

An alternative to public or chartered transportation is to hire a car and drive to the snowfields from Wanaka, Queenstown or Christchurch. Most international flights arrive at Christchurch International Airport and some visitors opt to hire a car from there and take a scenic road route to Cardrona. This is an excellent way to see the country and the drive from Christchurch only takes 5 or 6 hours, spanning roughly 280 miles. Another option is to take a connecting flight to either Wanaka or Queenstown and self-drive from either of these towns; both are located less than an hour’s drive from Cardrona.

Most international flights touch down at Christchurch International Airport, but there are a number of daily connecting flights to Queenstown, with flying time taking around 45 minutes. There is now also one daily flight connecting Wanaka with Christchurch.

It is easy to access Cardrona ski resort from either Wanaka or Queenstown. There are a number of daily buses and minibuses that provide transportation to the resort. Taxis are available from Queenstown Airport and several tour companies offer shuttle bus transfers to the resort.

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