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A Family Holiday at Cardrona

Spend 5 days with the family in the beautiful alpine resort town of Wanaka. Enjoy 2 days skiing at Cardrona Alpine Resort with lift passes and lessons included, and experience some of the many exciting activities on offer on your days off the hill.

Tour summary and feature

South Island Ski including Car Hire

This suggested tour costs from NZD$2,090 per person (twin share, low season)

Starts in Queenstown, finishes in Queenstown

5 days/4 nights

Motels

 Rental car included

 Viewed 27 times in the last 7 days

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Tour at a glance

Day 1: Arrive into Queenstown, collect your car and enjoy the scenic drive to Wanaka. Accommodation: Bella Vista Wanaka

Day 2: Head to Cardrona Ski Resort for your first lessons. Accommodation: Bella Vista Wanaka

Day 3: Now that you have the basics down, time for your next lesson, exciting. Accommodation: Bella Vista Wanaka

Day 4: Today is free to explore Wanaka and visit the fun Puzzle World. Accommodation: Bella Vista Wanaka

Day 5: Today you'll depart for Queenstown, then head for home.

Tour full itinerary
Itinerary
A Family Holiday at Cardrona - Day 1
Collect Rental Car

Ski New Zealand have a superb range of cars suitable for winter driving in New Zealand. With a range of inclusions like ski racks, and snow chains that will suit your winter holiday perfectly. First time driving in New Zealand winter? Check out our helpful tips!

Take the short drive from Queenstown to Wanaka

Head out of Queenstown and over New Zealand's highest sealed road, Crown Range Road before dropping into Wanaka. Take it easy as this road can be a little 'interesting' in winter. There are plenty of signs advising the road conditions and there is a slightly longer but lower altitude route via Cromwell. If you do take the Crown Range route then you should time your trip to stop at the Cardrona Hotel for 'sustenance'. This 'world famous in New Zealand' landmark will have some great food and a welcoming log fire.

Arrive into Wanaka and collect your lift pass

Welcome to Wanaka for your winter ski or snowboarding holiday.  It’s not just the skiing that makes Wanaka a fantastic winter destination, there’s also the spectacular scenery, amazing adventures, and endless activities to keep you entertained when you’re not on the slopes.  After each action-packed day, you’ll also find a superb variety of cafes and restaurants to relax and refuel at. Today we recommend you visit the Cardrona x Treble Cone Wanaka Office (located at 50 Cardrona Valley Road, Wanaka) and collect your lift pass.  This will save you heaps of time tomorrow as you’ll avoid the morning queues and can head straight to the mountain with more time to ski and ride. 

Your accommodation: Bella Vista Wanaka

Bella Vista Wanaka is located in the heart of Wanaka, with shopping and dining right on your doorstep. These affordable motel rooms offer clean and modern self-catering accommodation with secure storage for skis and easy off street parking.

Driving distance and time (approximate) for this leg: 60 kms / 37 miles : 0.9 hours

A Family Holiday at Cardrona - Day 2
Cardrona - First Timer Day Package

Cardrona is perfect for first timers with easy learner lifts and wide open beginner trails with beautiful views. This package includes rental equipment, a learner's area ski lift pass, and two group lessons with a professional instructor.  Your 2-hour morning lesson teaches the basics, including how to master sliding, stopping, and turning safely and effectively on gentle slopes.  The 2-hour afternoon lesson is to further develop your skills and to support you as you explore more terrain.

Cardrona Rental Clothing & Accessories

Make life simpler and hire your clothing for Cardrona ski field up the mountain. Cardrona has a huge range of the latest ski and snowboard gear for a great day out. Hire up the mountain and have the option of dropping off in Wanaka or Queenstown at the end of your ski holiday.

Cinema Paradiso - Suggested Activity

Feel like a relaxing night, take yourself to the movies, Cinema Paradiso is not your average cinema. A classic movie theatre with comfy old sofas, an old Morris Minor car, and a cafe & bar serving delicious meals before, during, or after the movie. A great option for days when the weather is not so great up the ski field, especially for families! Paradiso provides a novel experience - they even have a half-time intermission where you can get homemade ice cream, a hot chocolate, or a freshly baked cookie! Tickets can be purchased at your own expense at the cinema prior to the session or up to a few days before the movie you wish to see. The seating is unallocated, so if you arrive early you get the pick of the couches, chairs, and cinema seating.

Your accommodation: Bella Vista Wanaka

Bella Vista Wanaka is located in the heart of Wanaka, with shopping and dining right on your doorstep. These affordable motel rooms offer clean and modern self-catering accommodation with secure storage for skis and easy off street parking.
A Family Holiday at Cardrona - Day 3
Cardrona Full Day Lift, 2 Group Lessons and Rental Package

If you have skied or snowboarded for more than one day, can 'stop and change direction' and enjoy the support of lessons or want to improve as quickly as possible then this is the package is for you. You'll have access to the entire mountain with an all mountain lift pass, rental equipment included and the benefit of 2 x two hour group lessons. This package is coordinated to build a solid foundation so that you can make progress quickly. And rest assured you'll soon remember the movements even if you only ever skied once, many years ago.

Your accommodation: Bella Vista Wanaka

Bella Vista Wanaka is located in the heart of Wanaka, with shopping and dining right on your doorstep. These affordable motel rooms offer clean and modern self-catering accommodation with secure storage for skis and easy off street parking.
A Family Holiday at Cardrona - Day 4
Explore the winter wonderland of Wanaka

Explore what else Wanaka has to offer, including a range of cafes, bars, and restaurants to enjoy, miles of scenic walking and biking tracks, vineyards and distilleries to visit, and if you are looking for something indoors experience Puzzling World, Transport and Toy Museum or the Base Indoor Climbing Wall. If you still want to be skiing and your legs can handle it then book heli-skiing as it's one of the most breathtaking places to do it in the world.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling world

Stuart Landsborough’s remarkable Puzzling World is home to the original Great Maze as well as numerous illusion rooms which will leave you scratc...

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Stuart Landsborough’s remarkable Puzzling World is home to the original Great Maze as well as numerous illusion rooms which will leave you scratching your head in wonder.  This is a great destination for those days when the weather doesn’t play ball or you need to rest the legs and still keep the kids entertained.  Great for all ages this is a must for your winter holiday in Wanaka.

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SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Stevenson Island Cruise & Nature Walk

Take a leisurely 45 minute cruise out to Stevensons Peninsula and then into Stevensons Arm, home to Mount Burke high country sheep station. Rolling gr...

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Take a leisurely 45 minute cruise out to Stevensons Peninsula and then into Stevensons Arm, home to Mount Burke high country sheep station. Rolling green pastures precede Mount Gold and Mount Burke which rise majestically into the Eastern skyline. Relax in comfort as you cruise up the arm to Stevensons Island where Dual Image will make a beach landing. Your guide will take you ashore via the front loading ramp for a short hike to the summit of the Island and some excellent photo opportunities. Stevensons Island is an inspiration for photographers - shaped by winds that funnel down the arm, rock and twisted trunks meld into nature's finest backdrop. Your experience is complete with afternoon tea on return to Dual Image and another 40 minute scenic cruise back to the Wanaka waterfront.

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Your accommodation: Bella Vista Wanaka

Bella Vista Wanaka is located in the heart of Wanaka, with shopping and dining right on your doorstep. These affordable motel rooms offer clean and modern self-catering accommodation with secure storage for skis and easy off street parking.
A Family Holiday at Cardrona - Day 5
Wanaka to Queenstown

Leaving Wanaka you head over New Zealand's highest sealed road, Crown Range Road before dropping into Queenstown.

Take one last spin around Queenstown before returning your car to the airport.

If time allows sneak in a few more Queenstown sights or maybe take an early morning ride on the Skyline gondola before returning your rental car to the airport and catching your flight home.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Queenstown Skyline Gondola Ride

Hop aboard the Skyline Gondola - the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere! From which you can take in the awe-inspiring views of this sp...

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Hop aboard the Skyline Gondola - the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere! From which you can take in the awe-inspiring views of this spectacular landscape. Sit back and relax as you enjoy panoramic views of The Remarkables, Walter Peak, Cecil Peak, Coronet Peak and the magnificent Lake Wakatipu.

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Driving distance and time (approximate) for this leg: 65 kms / 41 miles : 1.1 hours

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