How To Travel The Road To Cardrona Alpine Resort

Cardrona Alpine Resort is a ski resort at an elevation of 1,660m (5,446ft) above sea level, located in the South Island of New Zealand. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Cardrona Alpine Resort

Where is Cardrona Alpine Resort?

The resort is located in the Otago region, in the heart of the South Island, within the Cardrona Valley.

Can you drive up to Cardrona?

The road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called Cardrona Skifield Road. The road is reasonably wide but often has corrugations and can be rather slippery. There are some safety barriers halfway up and guard rails towards the top. The road was built in 1980.

Do I need 4WD for Cardrona?

Set high in the Crown Range, the road is suitable for most vehicles, including 2WD cars. However, 4WD or AWD vehicles are recommended. In wintertime, it is essential that chains are carried and ready to be used if needed.

Is the road to Cardrona steep?

The road to the resort is very steep, hitting a 14% maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at the paved Cardrona Valley Road, the ascent is 12.3km (7.64 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1,148 meters. The average gradient is 9.33%. A chairlift service road (-44.857101, 168.944966) at the resort climbs up to 1,876m (6,154ft) above sea level.

 

 

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