Cardrona Alpine Resort

Great snow, friendly staff, and a well-run resort! I visited Cardrona Ski Resort twice this season—first from June 21–23 and then again from June 27–29. I’ll admit I was a bit unsure about the snow conditions at first, especially being early in the season, but I was pleasantly surprised! The snow was actually great when I got there, and the resort was in really good shape. Not all slopes were open yet in June, which is understandable, and unfortunately the resort had to close on June 26th due to rain. But the good news is that powdery snow followed right after—and Cardrona handled it all really well. They offer refunds or rescheduling for rentals, lift passes, and even childcare if conditions force a closure, which I really appreciated. One of the highlights was how well they take care of families(with a little extra charge). The childcare staff were amazing and professional—I felt completely comfortable leaving my little one there while I hit the slopes. The staff overall were super friendly and helpful, and the vibe of the place is warm and welcoming. I had a really good time and would definitely come back again! BTW Check out the snow condition each day in the following photos. Follow “JC snowboard“ on YouTube for more videos and watch as I improve!

Fantastic ski resort with amazing views and well-groomed slopes! Great for beginners and experienced skiers alike. Friendly staff, good facilities, and a fun atmosphere. One of the best places to ski in New Zealand! 🎿🏔️❄️

Was a wonderful ski field. Had a lot of runs to do and was great with all the lifts and covered escalator for the learners.some staff had no ideas about colours of runs so maybe something for staff to learn up on but we managed to find a ski instructor and they were really knowledgeable about the different coloured runs etc. A lot to do here and a lot of runs. Spent a good day here. Have to get here early if you want a park otherwise you won’t see your car for the day so come prepared. Cafe is on the expensive side, tourist prices of course but still a great day of skiing had. Would definitely come back for more.

Probably the best ski resort for a general good day out for everyone in New Zealand. If you love terrain parks and pipes then this is the place to be in Australasia. Great facilities and well groomed trails. Off piste has certainly got better with the opening of Soho.

Great place for beginners to expert, but over crowded place for first timers. Should probably go to Remarkables if it’s your first time. Rentals are good quality. And the stuff is friendly and helpful. A lot of easy runs for beginners at different levels. I found it great to instruct people at different levels from beginner to intermediate. Great place for both snowboarding or skiing. Plenty of runs open and the jumps are well groomed.

Very positive and friendly Team running the resort. Private ski lessons are high quality, recommended. Moderate busy. Accommodation is very hard to book, but worth it. Rooms are clean and confortable. Several food options and coffeshop. Not your 5star level meals, but very good considering how remote the location is and supply challenges. Equipment appear to be very well maintained, including lifts, no visual signs of significant wear.

We came in the first week of September. Spring just started. It treat us well with a sunny sky in the early morning then massive snow in mid day. The field is well maintained and lots experiences for different ski level. We had fun!

Great place with great snow in 2025. Hope to get back there soon. If your car is two wheel drive, best to just catch the free shuttle from the base of the mountain to the top.

I've never skied (if you can call what I do skiing) in the southern hemisphere before. So we booked this summer vacation (we're from Hawaii) for us, not only because it was something new, but because I was hoping that my 7 year old twins would give ski lessons a go . . . NOPE!!! So it looks like it would be just me. Oh well. This resort is quite far from most other accommodations either in Wanaka or Queenstown. But since we stayed in the Cordrona valley, it wasn't too bad. However, if it were just me and I wanted to ski/board exclusively, I would have booked a condo on the mountain to avoid the terrifying daily trek up the mountain. Thank God we had decent weather, I can only imagine what the drive would look like during a storm. YIKES. When I visited, most of the school kids were still on holiday so the resort was wicked crowded - at least at the bottom. On the slopes, I didn't notice the crowds near as much. Maybe this was because I was too focused on NOT dying, since the visibility was horrible at times. The slopes were wide and the snow was fantastic. It did seem quite cold, but that might have been because the wind was whipping around stirring up old man winter. Yes, I know it's supposed to be cold, but believe me when I say this place isn't near as cold as Brecken"fridge" Colorado. The lift lines moved efficiently, although at times I had a difficult time getting the scanner to acknowledge my ski pass . . . probably just me though. Great option if you're in the Wanaka area. Rent a 4 wheel drive and carry chains with you.

Great place to come ski or snowboard. I've been coming here since 2016 and I finally am working for them this winter season. The first thing I think about when I think of Cardrona is the epic parks they've got set up. They good for all skill levels from little bumps, boxes, rails, to crazy swirly rails! Stop in and do their stargazing as well. They have pick up from Queenstown and Wanaka

I haven't skied before, but my first time here was outstanding (after falling and tumbling a number of times). They have complete facilities and amenities to ensure your experience would be great, from shuttles, to perfect sizing of boots and skis, to food. If you have a car not built for unsealed roads, do consider taking the shuttle, keeps the car cleaner too :)

Very nice ski resorts. Not as packed with people and the slopes are wide with long runs. Down side is there arent a full bar, only beers. Overall i would definitely come here to ride again.

Great ski area with varied runs and wide open bowls, a half pipe and full pipe. Not a tree in sight. Four chairlifts plus platters and a magic carpet. Not as steep as Treble Cone. Open til October, the longest in NZ. The road up is a bit scary.

Yes FOOD!!! The upstairs Cafe rocked! Bacon butty add egg - yum. The mountain chili with hot sauce - delicious. excellent food and excellent service with my highest recommendation.