
How To Travel The Road To Cardrona Alpine Resort
New Zealand, oceania
12.3 km
1,660 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, thrill-seekers, buckle up for the Cardrona Skifield Road, your gateway to alpine bliss in New Zealand's South Island! Nestled in the Otago region, this unpaved beauty winds its way up to the Cardrona Alpine Resort, clocking in at a cool 1,660m (5,446ft) above sea level.
While it's generally wide enough, be prepared for some serious corrugations and potentially slippery conditions β it keeps things interesting! You'll find some safety barriers mid-way, and guardrails near the top. This rugged road was carved out back in 1980 and is still bringing the goods.
Most vehicles can tackle it, even your trusty 2WD. However, if you've got 4WD or AWD, now's the time to use it. And listen up, winter warriors: chains are an absolute must-have!
From the paved Cardrona Valley Road, get ready for a leg-burning 12.3km (7.64 miles) climb, gaining a whopping 1,148 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of 9.33%, with some ramps hitting a max of 14%! Once you reach the resort, a chairlift service road climbs even higher to 1,876m (6,154ft). Get ready for some views!
Where is it?
How To Travel The Road To Cardrona Alpine Resort is located in New Zealand (oceania). Coordinates: -44.8571, 168.9450
Road Details
- Country
- New Zealand
- Continent
- oceania
- Length
- 12.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,660 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -44.8571, 168.9450
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