If your feed has been flooded with mates at Cardrona Alpine Resort in New Zealand this season, you’re not alone.
They’re having a serious moment this winter, with a jaw-dropping $50 million worth of upgrades made over summer for this current winter making it the destination of choice for those skiing over the ditch.
With something for everyone from powder hounds to après enthusiasts, here’s the full rundown on the ski resort glow-up everyone’s talking about.
Soho Express, So Good
Founded in 1980, Cardrona’s been a longtime favourite. Home to six basins offering progressive terrain that caters for all skill levels, they’ve just amped it up another level with the brand new Soho Express: a six-seater chairlift that unlocks 150 hectares of dreamy new terrain in Soho Basin.
This upgrade has officially made Cardrona the largest ski resort in the country. And with a season that runs from June through to October, there’s still time to get over there this season and make the most of the new terrain.
Expect runs that are wide, cruisy and fun, with plenty of space to stretch out your turns or chase fresh stashes after a snowfall. And did we mention stunning views? Pack your camera, you’ll need it for those perfect bluebird days.
New t-bar for faster park laps
Why give you one new lift when you can have two? Over in the Main Basin, a brand-new T-bar between the existing McDougall’s and Whitestar chairlifts is ensuring you can get faster, easier access to the World Cup slopestyle course, one of five on-mountain terrain parks, the Gravity Cross course and Racecourse trails.
You’ll soon see why this mountain is home to the New Zealand Park and Pipe team, with world-class freestyle facilities and a park crew dedicated to building the very best for locals and guests. You might even catch a rail jam, banked slalom or freestyle championships while you’re there.
Fancy New Base Vibes – oodles of noodles
When it’s time to rest your legs from exploring all that new terrain, there are some serious upgrades to enjoy here too. Try the new retail and restaurant hub, including a relocated and expanded Noodle Bar with bao buns, okonomiyaki, kaarage and ramen on the menu for that perfect fix of Japanese cuisine on-mountain.
Snow: Sorted
A fresh round of snowmaking upgrades means the mountain can continuously serve up great conditions all season long, every year.
With new snow guns and better water storage at Cardrona, you can count on more coverage and a longer season, even if Ullr decides to play hard to get.
Downtown Après Worth Posting About
Hanging out in W?naka? Slide straight into Après W?naka, Cardrona’s newest off-mountain hangout at 50 Cardrona Valley Road.
It’s got cold drinks, wood-fired pizza and serious ski-lodge energy while you find some new gear or get kitted out for your rentals.
Sustainability Gets Serious
In news that’s good for the planet, Cardrona has gone landfill-free. That means no rubbish bins for landfill, with all packaging from on-site food being recyclable or compostable. If you bring your own snacks and lunch, you’re asked to pack in, pack out to keep that landfill down.
The whole team behind the Cardrona Foundation is dedicated to ensuring we can enjoy our mountains for as long as possible, and this is just one of their incredible efforts towards doing so. You can even donate to Cardrona Foundation projects at checkout when you book online.
Catch the Bus, Ditch the Car
Want to save fuel and the planet? Take the free shuttle from the bottom of the access road and get dropped off right outside the lifts. Or hop on Snowriders.nz to find a carpool crew.
If you are riding up with a carpool crew, you can let them know the lower access road is now also sealed for smoother rides and quicker access to the free shuttle from the Pines car park.
Check out the Neighbours
Cardrona’s bestie Treble Cone hasn’t been left out of the love, with some serious upgrades to their snowmaking and power too.
For those who haven’t been, Treble Cone is an intermediate and advanced skier’s dream, with the most challenging in-bounds terrain in New Zealand. Plus a killer view, overlooking Lake W?naka and the Matukituki Basin, that has to be seen firsthand to be believed.
