Cardrona Alpine Resort - Adventure Playground

Sightseeing Gondola ~ Mountain Carting & Biking ~ Stargazing ~ Alpine Walking.

Take the gondola to the mountaintop and immerse yourself in a beautiful alpine environment. Cardrona offers incredible sightseeing; both young and old can experience NZ’s most accessible mountain and New Zealand’s highest playground! Adventurous families can explore by mountain cart or bike.
Afterwards, grab a family-sized woodfired pizza from The Lounge and take in those mountain views. We have something to put a smile on the face of every member of the family at Cardrona this summer!
Transport available from Queenstown to Cardrona with every package.
Open December 7, 2019 – March 29 2020

Gondola Rides
The McDougall’s Chondola (half chairlift / half gondola) means anyone can get to the top of the mountain! Whether you’re 2 or 92, you can take a gondola cabin to the top of Cardrona and take in the mountain views, breathe in the mountain air, take amazing photos or go for a walk around the mountain.
Price: $35 Adults, $25 Child, 5 years and under FREE

Mountain Carting
Experience Cardrona’s newest gravity-fuelled activity– mountain carting!  No prior experience is needed for this fun downhill activity, just a sense of adventure & a thirst for FUN!  We've got three mountain cart trails to choose from, the longest of which is over 3km and spans all the way out to Captain's Basin and back to Whitestar Express. Ride the lift and get faster on every lap as you become more familiar with the course and our unique mountain carts!
Drivers must be at least 100cm height and 8 years+. Kids under 100cm can ride tandem on mountain carts (so everyone can go). Our stable carts are designed for comfort, performance and safety and we have four sizes available.
Price: $120 for 2 hours of action fun ($70 if you have a lift pass) 

Mountain Biking at Cardrona Bike Park
Enjoy lift-accessed downhill mountain bike trails for all abilities to enjoy! Lap the lifts daily from 10am to 4pm or Friday nights til 8pm. With beginner, intermediate and advanced trails, a FREE learner zone, flow tracks and even a bike school offering private lessons, you'll have plenty to explore all day!
Mountain bike rental, including kids' bikes, plus safety gear, all available at Cardrona Bike Park.
Prices: Half day lift pass* Adult $75, Child $42 (6- 17years), Under 5's FREE
             Day lift pass Adult $90, Child (6- 17years) $50, Under 5's FREE
            TGIF pass (Fridays 4–8pm) Adult $45, Child (6- 17years) $45, Under 5's FREE

Walking and Hiking
Walking & hiking at Cardrona lets you immerse yourself in a beautiful alpine environment above 1800m! Breathe the fresh alpine air & take in the stunning 360 degree views of the Southern Alps, Lake Wakatipu & Lake Wanaka. You can choose between a gentle chairlift-assisted stroll from the top of the McDougall’s Chondola down to the Base area, or a more adventurous hike on our Captain’s Circuit alpine trails.

The Lounge
The Lounge is open all summer long for all your sunshine alpine dining needs! Cardrona will also be open for a full dinner service every night. Whether you’re here for a rip down the trails on your mountain bike, a relaxing day exploring the mountain on foot, or a blast on our mountain carts, there’s something to keep you going up at The Lounge this summer!
On Friday nights we’re open till 8pm – make sure you check out our TGIF late night beer & pizza.

Stargazing Tours
Join us for a unique, breathtaking stargazing experience at Cardrona this summer. Nestled in the heart of the Southern Alps, the Cardrona Valley offers some of the best conditions on Earth for stargazing. Not only does it have a dark sky with minimal light pollution, but it’s far enough south to have a great vantage point to view the famous Southern Sky, & you may even see the Southern Lights! Stargazing at Cardrona runs Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays all summer (from Dec. 2, 2018 – April 2, 2019)
Price: $99, dinner options available

Summer Trail Map >>