Cardrona is a super cute village with a lot of history. It’s only a 20-minute drive from Wanaka and 30 minutes from Arrowtown. It’s one of the most popular ski resorts in New Zealand, with some really great trails and terrain parks. It’s open for skiing from June to October.
It’s an excellent place to go hiking, sightseeing, mountain biking, and mountain-carting during the summer. If you’re into horse trekking, this is also a fantastic spot to visit. Cardrona Distillery is another spot to visit and see how they make their award-winning whisky, gin, and vodka using pure alpine water from the Valley.
The Famous Cardrona Hotel?
The Cardrona Hotel is a historic hotel in New Zealand dating back to 1863 during the gold rush era. This hotel was popular among travelers and was an essential part of the commercial hub in Cardrona Valley.
It is now owned by two friends, Cade Thornton and James Jenneson, who fell in love with the place and became the new owners in 2013.
The hotel is famous for its stunning facade, an essential part of New Zealand’s history, and leaves a lasting impression on visitors. It is a must-visit landmark for anyone in the area.
We visited the hotel and learned about its history. Mr. Paterson was the longest-serving publican in Cardrona, owning the hotel from the 1920s until his death at 91. He had a unique policy to serve alcohol. He allowed men who took the dangerous Crown Range route to consume only one alcoholic drink, while those who chose the route to Wanaka were allowed up to two drinks. He was ahead of his time in assessing travel risks, but he didn’t sell any alcohol to women, which was a bit odd.
We had lunch in the stunning beer garden and enjoyed the delicious food. We highly recommend this iconic landmark to anyone visiting the area. We can’t wait to go back!
What is Cardrona famous for?
Cardrona Alpine Resort is one of the coolest ski spots in New Zealand, where you can hit the slopes for skiing and snowboarding from June to early October. The resort has wide open trails that are perfect for beginner and intermediate skiers and a world-class terrain park. It’s the only cross-country skiing area in New Zealand, with 55 km (34 miles) of trails to explore.
If skiing isn’t your thing, try hiking to backcountry huts on snow shoes or enjoy an exciting sled-dog ride. For a special occasion, head to Soho Basin, an exclusive ski area offering private cat-skiing.
In the summer, Cardrona Alpine Resort is the spot for hiking, sightseeing, mountain biking, and mountain carting. You can also go horse trekking in the valley. Take a tour of the Cardrona Distillery to learn about their award-winning spirits, including whisky, gin, and vodka, made using pure alpine water.
What is the history of Cardrona Valley?
It all started during the gold rush in the 1860s. At its peak, about 3000 people lived in the valley and built a town with eight hotels and six stores.
As mining advanced, they brought six dredges, significantly impacting the valley. However, nature has covered most of the scars left by mining.
When mining became too difficult, most miners had to find work elsewhere. After they left, farming and rabbiting became the main jobs in the valley. Eventually, even the rabbiters had to go, and only 21 people were left. They faced a challenging economic future.
One of the historic and famous Cardrona Hotels is still up and running. This pub is well-known in the local area and became famous through a Speight’s brewery advertising campaign in Dunedin. People love taking photos of this place.
Cardrona Kārearea Project
Simon Max Bannister collaborated with the Cardrona Kārearea Project to create a sculpture that raises awareness about the Kārearea, a bird of prey native to New Zealand that is threatened with extinction.
The Kārearea plays a vital role in the ecological balance of New Zealand’s ecosystems as a top predator. However, the bird faces challenges like habitat loss, hunting, and poisoning. The sculpture aims to highlight these challenges and encourage people to take action to protect and conserve the Kārearea.
By doing so, the sculpture educates people about the importance of preserving the Kārearea and maintaining a healthy balance in nature.
Why Are There Bras On a Fence?
The Bra Fence is such a funky and unusual thing to see. It all started in 1999 when four bras magically appeared on a fence along the Cardrona Valley Road.
As time passed, many people passing by began adding their own bras to the fence. It gradually became so popular that it had to be moved to the driveway entrance of “The Cardrona,” a horse trekking and quad biking business owned by Kelly Spaans and Sean Colbourne.
Nowadays, the fence is decorated with hundreds of colorful bras of all shapes and sizes, making it a fantastic spot to capture a photo along the scenic road.
If you’re cruising from Queenstown to Wānaka, there are many breathtaking lookout points. But make sure you don’t miss the Bra Fence, as it’s a one-of-a-kind experience that you’ll never forget.