Cardrona Alpine Resort

Cardrona Alpine Resort is a ski area located in the Cardrona Valley, which is between Queenstown and Wanaka on New Zealand's South Island. The ski resort is situated in the Southern Alps and is known for its varied terrain, modern facilities, and stunning views. Cardrona Alpine Resort has 400 hectares of skiable terrain, with runs suitable for all abilities, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers and snowboarders. The resort has a total of 20 lifts, including a high-speed gondola, and its terrain park is renowned as one of the best in the Southern Hemisphere. Cardrona ski resort also boasts some of the most reliable snow in the region thanks to its high elevation and south-facing aspect which means the snow remains for longer into the spring season. 

Cardrona Alpine Resort is also known for its family-friendly atmosphere, with a range of programs and activities for kids, including ski lessons, a kids' club, and a snow play area. The resort also has a range of on-mountain services, including restaurants, cafes, and bars. Resorts in New Zealand are not known for villages on the mountains but who would want to stay on the mountain when you have the pumping action-packed city of Queenstown only a short drive away. Queenstown offers everything and more for all kinds of ski holidays. Overall, Cardrona Alpine Resort is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts of all levels, and offers a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors to New Zealand's South Island.

Cardrona Web Cam & Live Snow Cam

Stay up to date with the snow conditions from every corner of Cardrona ski field. We have collected all the best views from the Cardrona web cam so you can see what the conditions are like from all around the resort. 

If you want to check out the snow depth from the latest storm, see if the sun is going to be shining or check out the weather before your next visit - check out the Cardrona web cam below.

Cardrona Lift System

Cardona’s lift system is one of the newest in the South Island resorts and also is the only resort to offer Gondola cars. The Chondola (named by kiwi’s) is a mix chair of six pack chairlift and gondola cars. The gondola cars are perfect for families with little ones or for those wanting some reprieve from the winter conditions. The other three quad chairs are situated perfectly around the mountain to ensure everyone is spread out with easy access from a range of different runs.  

Cardrona Alpine Resort Stats

Cardrona Terrain Parks

Cardrona is a terrain park paradise, the team here are some of the world’s best terrain park builders and come down to Cardrona for their southern winter season. Cardrona takes progression very seriously and has terrain parks from the smallest grom park all the way up to expert and X Games style of features. Cardrona plays host to a number of International competition events for freestyle riders and has a world class big air jump, an international size half pipe and Olympic graded pipe. Yes its HUGE!

In the lead up to many winter Olympics Cardona has hosted countries wanting to train during their northern summer, this just shows how serious Cardrona is about their parks offering.

Cardrona’s terrain parks are built right between the McDougalls Chondola and Whitestar Express Quad so if you aren’t a rider of the parks you can certainly sit back and watch the show.

Cardrona Snow

The whole region surrounding Cardrona in the southern alps gets hammered with snow from the start of winter till the end. With an elevation just shy of 1900m the snow base at the summit is normally well over 2m deep. On average Cardrona will see about 2.5m of natural snowfall each season and great snowmaking system helps fill in all the gaps. The snow grooming team which is normally globally recognised does an incredible job to keep all the snow spread wide and far around the resort.

Cardrona has a southerly facing aspect which allows the snow to stick around for longer and gives Cardrona a good stretch into October for great spring riding.

Where is Cardrona?

Sitting to the north of Queenstown and to the south of Wanaka, Cardona Alpine Resort resort sits high in the centre of the crown range. Being right in the middle this means holidaymakers can choose either location for their accommodation with a number of bus companies making the trek up to the resort daily. For those confident driving in the winter mountain conditions its best to get a rental car.

The resort can be found up a winding mountain road about 1 hour from either Queenstown or Wanaka. Those looking for a lively party town should look to stay in Queenstown and those looking for a more subdued and chill vibe should look to stay in Wanaka. Both locations have plenty of accommodation options from luxury homes, chalets to family friendly resorts, hotels and also budget accommodation.

Riders who are also visiting Treble Cone will mostly likely want to base themselves in Wanaka as its half way between and those checking our Coronet Peak and The Remarkables would find Queenstown the most central location for those resorts.

Cardrona Snow News