Cardrona Alpine Resort, Wanaka & Queenstown

Date: February 1, 2025

Cardrona Resort’s ski terrain manager (in the video) reported that work started right after winter from the top of the Soho lift. At Cardrona, crews quickly cleared the snow to build a new lift system. A key part of the upgrade is a new top station. The Earthworks crew at Cardrona is busy connecting parts. Once that is done, the team will return to finish the rest of the work, clean up the area, plant tussocks, and put up new signs at the bottom station. The team from Doppelmayr is working on the bottom station foundations.

Cardrona is also improving its buildings along the ridge and plateau, marking the start of the stage one trail. While the upgrade is in progress, Cardrona stays open for summer activities like mountain biking and sightseeing. Stay tuned to See New Zealand for more updates as Cardrona Alpine Resort continues to improve.

Date: January 29, 2025

Cardrona Alpine Resort is gearing up for a major upgrade, with a brand-new noodle bar and retail store set to open soon, offering more space, better flow, and unbeatable views.

The two-story, 1,000-square-metre building replaces the old retail space and will provide a much-improved experience for visitors. The ground floor will feature a modern retail store, designed for better flow and accessibility, making it easier for skiers and snowboarders to gear up.

Upstairs, the Noodle Bar is getting a massive upgrade. The new space will be three times the size of the old one, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Cardrona Valley. A spacious balcony will allow guests to enjoy their meal outdoors while taking in the alpine views.

“The new noodle bar is all about creating a better experience—more space, more seating, and an unbeatable location to relax and refuel,”

To improve access, a covered walkway is being built to connect the new building with existing facilities, ensuring smooth movement from the drop-off zone and car parks to the slopes.

Despite ongoing construction, Cardrona remains open for summer activities, including mountain biking and sightseeing.

Date: January 23, 2025

It’s an exciting time for Cardrona in 2025. They are making several significant developments to the Cardrona Skifield—new buildings and a new T-bar—and installing a new chairlift into Soho Basin. The new Soho Basin chairlift will increase total lift-accessed skiable terrain by 24%. That would increase the resort from 465ha to 615ha, making Cardrona the largest skifield in New Zealand. The new chairlift will open up a massive amount of skiable terrain at Cardrona, and we can’t wait to ski it.

New Soho Runs, when finished in 2025

The new terrain the 6-seater will open up on Soho Basin

Date: January 14, 2025

Exciting news from Cardrona Alpine Resort in Wanaka – a brand-new T-bar is coming for the 2025 season! This upgrade means faster access to Big Bucks, Little Bucks, Antlers Alley racecourse, and the Border Cross.

With the new lift in action, the White Star lift will have less traffic, allowing you to enjoy quicker laps and more time carving it up on the slopes.