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Travel to Waiorau Nordic Ski Area with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Waiorau Nordic Ski Area is the first all-mountain terrain park in Australia and New Zealand, and its 34 miles of well-maintained, high quality cross-country ski trails within a 12,355-acre ski farm are a mecca for cross-country skiing enthusiasts throughout the southern hemisphere. Waiorau Nordic Ski Area lies at an elevation of 4,920 to 6,496 feet and is situated across the valley from Cardrona ski resort, close to Wanaka (20 miles away) and Queenstown (36 miles away) in the Southern Alps, in the south of New Zealand’s South Island.

Accommodation at Waiorau Nordic Ski Area can be found at The Alpine Lodge, which is located at the start/finish of all trails. The lodge offers spectacular, panoramic views of the Southern Alps and can accommodate up to 70 guests in a variety of rooms. There is a restaurant serving good quality food and you can have a drink at the fully licensed Snow Bar.

Waiorau Nordic Ski Area resort offers all the cross-country terrain a skier could want, with 34 miles of groomed, fenced trails and plenty of opportunity to set off along untracked routes. There are handy rest huts dotted around the skiing area and it is quite possible to stay away from the lodge out on the trails for the whole day. There is also a well-equipped board park.

Apart from The Alpine Lodge, the closest accommodation to Waiorau Nordic Ski Area is at Wanaka, 22 miles to the north. There is a variety of accommodation here and plenty of restaurants and bars where you can unwind.

As an alternative to cross-country skiing, you can go piste skiing at Cardrona ski resort across the valley. There are plenty of alternative outdoor activities available at Wanaka and Queenstown such as fishing, trekking and bungee jumping.

The ski season at Waiorau Nordic Ski Area runs from the beginning of July to the end of September. The easiest way to get here is to fly to either Wanaka or Queenstown, from where you can catch a connecting bus to the resort.

Skiing in Waiorau Nordic Ski Area

The skiing in Waiorau Nordic Ski Area is probably some of the best cross-country skiing to be had in New Zealand. Located in the Southern Alps, at the south of South Island, Waiorau Nordic Ski Area is situated 22 miles south of Wanaka and 34 miles north of Queenstown. It consists of 34 miles of groomed trails, set in a stunning 12,355-acre ski farm.

Waiorau Nordic Ski Area is dedicated to cross-country skiing and does not have any ski lifts or pistes; instead it has a huge variety of trails that cover more than 34 miles. These trails are well maintained, groomed and lined by fencing that is designed to keep the snow on the tracks. The trails vary in difficulty, from beginner to very difficult. The longest trail loops are about 15 miles and there is even a sprint track. There are rest huts dotted around the skiing terrain and it is quite possible to pack a rucksack and head out for a whole day’s skiing in the wilderness, away from the resort. Waiorau Nordic Ski Area is also ideal for ski skating and cross-country snowboarding. There is also a well-equipped board park with a rope tow that includes half-pipes, tabletops and spines.

The only accommodation at Waiorau Nordic Ski Area is The Alpine Lodge. There are 12 bathroom ensuite rooms (twin or double) and nine rooms with shared bathroom and toilet that can sleep up to four people. There is a restaurant that serves good food and you can have a drink at the Snow Bar. The Lodge also boasts a sun deck that offers spectacular 360 degree panoramic views of the Southern Alps. As an alternative to cross-country skiing, you can visit the pistes and ski lifts of Cardrona ski resort, located across the valley, or try your hand at snow tubing.

The best time for skiing in Waiorau Nordic Ski Area is from the beginning of July to the end of September. The easiest way to get here is by air; Wanaka and Queenstown have the nearest airports, with bus connections to the resort.

Transportation to Waiorau Nordic Ski Area

Waiorau Nordic Ski Area is located in the Southern Alps, in the south of New Zealand’s South Island. The closest towns to the resort are Wanaka, 22 miles to the north, and Queenstown, 34 miles to the south. It is possible to drive or catch a bus from most places in New Zealand to Waiorau Nordic Ski Area, but the easiest way to get here is to fly into either Queenstown or Wanaka and then catch a bus to the resort.

Waiorau Nordic Ski Area lies on highway 6 between Wanaka to the north (22 miles away) and Queenstown to the south (34 miles away). It is possible to drive to Waiorau Nordic Ski Area from these towns or to catch a shuttle bus. To drive from Christchurch (250 miles away), take highway 8 south out of town then take highway 6 to Waiorau Nordic Ski Area, a journey of approximately 6 hours. To drive to Waiorau Nordic Ski Area from the North Island, catch a ferry from Wellington to Picton on the South Island, from where you can take highway 1 south. Christchurch is 210 miles from Picton, a journey of approximately 5 hours by car.

Unfortunately, there is no train station at Waiorau Nordic Ski Area due to New Zealand’s relatively limited rail system. The closest railway station is at Christchurch.

The easiest way to reach Waiorau Nordic Ski Area is by air. The two closest airports are the new airport at Wanaka, which is served by internal flights, and the airport at Queenstown, which has flights from Sydney as well as from Brisbane and Melbourne during the winter. There are two international airports in New Zealand: one at Wellington in the North Island and the other at Christchurch in the South Island. Wellington has a larger selection of international flights, but Christchurch is located closer to Waiorau Nordic Ski Area.

Regular bus shuttles run from Wanaka and Queenstown to Waiorau Nordic Ski Area. Both towns are served by national bus and coach services, which operate nationwide services. If you are travelling to Waiorau Nordic Ski Area by bus, the extensive networks of regional buses are recommended as they tend to be cheaper and provide a friendlier service than the national buses.

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