OtagoCoronet Peak
Queenstown, Otago
Queenstown's closest ski area, 16 km from town on a fully sealed road, with 280 ha of terrain and night skiing on selected evenings.
Beginner-friendlyIntermediateExperienced only
South IslandSkiing & Snowboarding · Otago
Cardrona Alpine Resort Ski Guide: Soho Basin, Terrain Parks and Learners
Photo: “Cardrona Alpine Resort” by RoLam007, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Activity
- Skiing & Snowboarding
- Region
- Otago
- Suits
- Beginner-friendly, Intermediate, Experienced only
- When to go
- The season usually runs from late June into October. Check Cardrona's website for 2027 dates.
- Getting there
- 35 km (about 45 minutes) from Wānaka and 54 km (about an hour) from Queenstown Airport, via the Cardrona Valley Road. Snow chains must be carried on the mountain road at all times. Free mountain-road shuttles leave from The Pines car park.
Official sources
Overview
Cardrona sits in the Cardrona Valley between Wānaka and Queenstown. With 615 ha of terrain since the Soho Basin expansion opened in 2025, Cardrona says it is now New Zealand's largest ski resort. It's also known for its terrain parks. Cardrona describes them as the most extensive in the southern hemisphere.
Cardrona and nearby Treble Cone share a website, passes and an app.
The mountain
| Cardrona | |
|---|---|
| Skiable terrain | 615 ha, including 150 ha in Soho Basin |
| Base elevation | 1,670 m |
| Highest lifted point | 1,860 m |
| Vertical rise | 600 m |
| Average annual snowfall | 2.9 m, topped up by snowmaking |
| Terrain | 20% beginner, 35% intermediate, 25% advanced, 20% expert |
Who it suits
- Beginners: a specialised beginners' area with conveyor lifts and gentle learner runs, plus a dedicated kids' conveyor.
- Intermediates: over a third of the terrain is graded intermediate.
- Advanced: Soho Basin's new terrain, reached by a high-speed six-seater chairlift, and 20% expert terrain overall.
- Park riders: terrain parks and a halfpipe, which Cardrona promotes as the home of park and pipe.
Season
The season usually runs from late June into October. Check Cardrona's website for 2027 dates and lift hours.
Getting there
- Distance: about 45 minutes (35 km) from Wānaka and about an hour (54 km) from Queenstown Airport, via the Cardrona Valley Road.
- Snow chains: you must carry snow chains on the mountain road at all times, even on days they aren't needed, and know how to fit them.
- Free shuttle: park at The Pines car park at the bottom of the mountain road and catch the free shuttle up. No booking is needed.
- Buses: bookable buses run from Queenstown and Wānaka. Cardrona also has off-mountain stores at 50 Cardrona Valley Road in Wānaka and 37 Camp Street in Queenstown.
Nearby
Treble Cone is about 30 minutes from Wānaka on the other side of town. From Queenstown, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are closer.
Where is Cardrona Alpine Resort?
The pin marks: Cardrona Alpine Resort (-44.8659, 168.9468). It shows the general area, not a specific car park, lift or access point, so follow the operator's directions. Plan a route on OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab).
Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0).
Lift passes, lessons and rentals
We list operators to help you plan. We're not paid to include them and don't earn commission from these links.
- Cardrona Alpine Resort
Lift passes, first-timer lessons, rentals and bookable buses from Queenstown and Wānaka
Sources
Related on NZ Holidays
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Skiing & Snowboarding tips & guides
Driving to the ski areas
Which roads are sealed, where you must carry chains, and the buses and free shuttles that save you the drive.
Read the guideLearning to ski or snowboard in New Zealand
The best ski areas for first-timers, what's in a first-timer package, and what to rent and wear.
Read the guideWhen to ski in New Zealand
Published 2027 season dates, how the season usually runs, and when the slopes are busiest.
Read the guide