Cardrona
Ski Resort

© Matthew Scott / Alamy Stock Photo
Snuggled into the mountains between Queenstown and Wanakais Cardrona. This is probably one of the most (if not the most) popular places to ski and snowboard in the country. It’s the perfect place to bring the family and is super child-friendly. The slopes are above the tree-line, wide and open. There isn’t too much snow here, so if you’re a more experienced and accomplished rider, you may want to look elsewhere for some thigh-deep powder. Although there is only a little over 2.5m (8ft) of annual snowfall on average, the slopes retain the snow quite well. There are places for advanced riders to play about – the Tulips and Captain’s Basin, for example – but mostly the three bowls are great for beginners and intermediates.