Cardrona Alpine Resort family guide

Cardrona Alpine Resort is New Zealand’s most popular ski area, where everyone’s a VIP – from beginners and families to Olympic and X Games athletes. With a fun-filled, family atmosphere coupled with wide, open runs and an abundance of intermediate terrain, Cardrona is welcoming and enjoyable to ride.

Cardrona is nestled high in the Crown Range between Queenstown and Wanaka. Take a short drive from Queenstown airport over the stunningly beautiful mountains (and past the iconic Cardrona Hotel) to be welcomed by genuine Kiwi hospitality at a truly world-class resort.

Wide, open trails offer some of NZ’s best snow conditions, groomed to perfection by a modern and innovative snow management system. Cardrona is a natural choice for families with a wide range of progressive terrain, catering for all levels of skiers and snowboarders.

2021 ski school

Cardrona’s multi-day programs are the ultimate on-snow experience for your kids. They run Monday to Thursday every week of the winter season – meaning four days of fun, learning and adventure from just $499!

Cardrona Alpine Resort stats

Skiable area
345 hectares

Lifts
6

Terrain parks
4

Runs
38

Minimum age for ski lessons
3

Minimum age for snowboard lessons
7

Child minding
Yes

Grading of runs
Beginner: 25%
Intermediate: 25%
Advanced: 30%
Expert: 20%

Summit height
6,102 metres

New Zealand Ski Season
June to October

Average snowfall
2.9 metres

Ski-in, ski-out

Play at Cardrona Alpine Resort

Cardrona is also the home of the NZ Park and Pipe Team, with world-class freestyle facilities including a World Cup Slopestyle Course and Australasia’s only 22-foot World Cup Halfpipe. The resort hosts many events throughout the winter season, attracting the world’s best skiers and snowboarders.

With three wide basins offering beginner, freestyle and freeride terrain, and incredible 360-degree vistas of Queenstown, Wanaka and the Southern Alps, Cardrona really is NZ’s ultimate winter playground!

On-mountain family activities

Skiing and snowboarding

Gondola rides

Eight different cafés and restaurants

Ski and snowboard lessons for all ages

Tubing in spring

Off-mountain family activities

TSS Earnslaw Cruise

Thunder Jet

Puzzling World

Cinema Paradiso

Summer activities

Mountain biking

Sightseeing

Gondola rides

Hiking

NZ’s only mountain carting

Kids’ ski school

Cardrona leads the way in childcare facilities. In 2017, they extended their existing childcare centre, and moved the Kids’ Snow Sports School into the same building, providing parents with one central location for education on the mountain. From three months to 14 years, your kids are covered at Cardrona.

Keep reading:

• Cardrona Alpine Resort’s family-friendly history
• Luxury guide to Queenstown

Cardrona’s on-mountain accommodation

There are 15 on-mountain apartments at Cardrona of three configurations – perfect for your summer or winter holiday. Bookings are essential.

Cardrona Alpine Apartments

Cardrona’s Alpine Apartments are self-catering with kitchen facilities in each accommodation option. The apartments have the capability to change in configuration, with beds that unzip and fold-out couches, etc.

On-mountain dining

At the Alpine Café & Bar enjoy quick and easy cafeteria-style food, barista-made coffee and fresh juice for a quick and yummy bite on the run. Or head upstairs for fresh-baked cakes and pastries, delicious cooked breakfasts and an amazing lunch menu.

Getting to Cardrona Alpine Resort

Cardrona has a bus service from both Queenstown and Wanaka and charges $35 for adults and $30 for children. Drivers, please note that Cardrona is located at the top of a 14km long unsealed road. For those not wanting to drive the whole way, the resort offers a free mountain shuttle from the Pine Trees car park.

Queenstown to Cardrona Alpine Resort – 58 km

Depending on snow conditions, Cardrona Alpine Resort is a 1 hour and 10 minute drive from Queenstown.

The Queenstown to Cardrona one morning bus with eight pickup points in Queenstown. It runs from opening day to October 10 2021.

Wanaka to Cardrona Alpine Resort – 34 km

Depending on snow conditions, Cardrona Alpine Resort is a 40 minute drive from Queenstown.

The Wanaka to Cardrona bus has four pickup points. It runs from opening day to October 10 2021.