CARDRONA
Ski & Snowboard Resort Review
Cardrona Alpine Resort, NEW ZEALAND, has an excellent snow record, a fast and efficient lift system and beautiful sweeping views across the neighbouring mountains and into the South Lake Valley below.
Cardrona Ski and Snowboard Terrain
All the skiing and snowboarding terrain at Cardona is above the tree line. It has big open wide basins, wide long groomed trails and steep challenging chutes and cliff drops. It is renowned for having one of the best terrain parks and superpipes in the Southern Hemisphere.
Advanced Skiing and Snowboarding
The most advanced ski and snowboard terrain at Cardrona is in the Arcadia Chutes area, the chutes are very steep and littered with big rocks. After a good snowfall deep stashes of powder snow can be found on the far right hand side of the resort in the Tulips run area. The steep Last Shot Bowl on the right hand side of the Whitestar Express Chairlift has decent sized moguls.
Intermediate Skiing and Snowboarding
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders can happily access the entire mountain at Cardrona on long groomed wide trails.
Start the morning off with a few fast runs down Scum Valley and the Swaggerman trail before accessing the intermediate trails on the right hand side of the Captain's Chairlift. Some of the longest and most challenging runs are found under the Whitestar Express Chairlift where intermediates can access off piste powder on not too steep terrain.
Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding
Beginners learn to ski or snowboard in the base area on the flat wide gentle terrain serviced by three magic carpets and a short beginner Chairlift. Once confidence grows catch the MacDougall's Chairlift up to access the long corduroy groomed Skyline trail leading back down to the base area.
For a fun long beginner run turn left at the top of the MacDougall's Chairlift onto Shaun's Way trail and follow it down all the way past the base of the Captain's Chairlift to the Comeback trail eventually leading to the Whitestar Express Chairlift.
Beginners are not limited to just one area at Cardrona; each lift accesses at least one beginner trail.
The Cardrona Ski and Snowboard School have lessons and clinics available for first time skiers of all ages.
Cardrona Terrain Park and Halfpipe
The freestyle skiing and snowboarding is excellent at Cardona with international events held throughout the season. Cardrona has one of the largest terrain parks in the Southern Hemisphere with three terrain parks, four halfpipes and a bordercross course.
The advanced Heavy Metal Terrain Park located on the right hand side of the Whitestar Express Chairlift has big jumps, kickers, tabletops and rails; while the smaller beginner Playzone Terrain Park located above the Heavy Metal Park has smaller features.
The Pipe Park is home to two well maintained halfpipes and two superpipes.
The winding and challenging Gravity Cross boardercross course, located on the right hand side of the MacDougall’s Chairlift is 800 meters long.
Cardrona Shopping
Cardrona has a ski and snowboard equipment shop stocking all the latest equipment, clothing and accessories and a large rental ski and snowboard shop that also has a full repair workshop.
Overnight ski and snowboard lockers are available for rent.
Cardrona Restaurants
Cardrona has five on mountain restaurants
The Base Café, located on ground level in the main base building, seats 480 guests and serves cafeteria style hot food and sandwiches.
The fully licensed Mezz Café, located above the Base Café has beautiful mountain views and is open for sit down lunches every day.
For a quick drink the Juice and Java Bar, in the base area, serves freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices and good coffee.
The Noodle Bar, on the edge of the slopes in the base area cooks fresh healthy vegetable and noodle dishes to order.
The ever popular Captain’s Pizzeria, at the base of the Captain’s Chairlift makes gourmet pizzas for lunch.
New for 2008 at Cardrona
A new high speed quad chairlift has replaced the old Captain's Chairlift in Captain’s Basin. The new Captain's Express Chairlift takes only 3 ½ minutes from top to bottom cutting 5 ½ minutes off the old trip giving skiers and snowboarders more time on the slopes.
The advanced Heavy Metal Terrain Park has had 3 new table jumps installed; they are 11 meters, 14 meters and 17 meters in length and are the first of their kind in New Zealand ensuring Cardrona stays on the map as a terrain park rider’s favourite resort.
Additional snowmaking guns have been added to the fleet in the Main Basin to ensure a great snow base for the 2008 winter season.
More About Cardrona
Your Cardrona Ski & Snowboard Resort Reviews
Kaye Barton, Australia, Aug 2006 My initial reaction to Cardrona was it was smaller than I expected. However that said I had a couple of really good days and I will go back again. There were hardly any people around, my son and I practically had the entire Captain's area to ourselves. New Zealand is a good option and value for Australians and the scenery is amazing and as beautiful as anywhere in the world.
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