snowingplaces

Ski resort in Otago, New Zealand

Cardrona

A ski field near Wānaka, run alongside Treble Cone, with 615 hectares of terrain.

Forecast updated , when it was 01:00 in Cardrona (GMT+12).

Cardrona snow forecast at 1,894 m (top lift)

Next 24 hours on the upper mountain

Rain or snow tonight.

Starting around 8pm, easing by 9pm. Under 1 cm in the next 24 hours. Temperatures are close to 0°C, so some of it may fall as rain.

Possible, forecast models disagree

No snow is forecast for Cardrona at the top lift (1,894 m / 6,200 ft) in the next 7 days, though one weather model shows a little. Expect temperatures from −7 to 3 °C (19 to 37 °F), the freezing level near 1,800 m (5,900 ft) and gusts up to 67 km/h (42 mph) over the next day.

Temperature now
−2 °C (28 °F)
Freezing level
1,800 m (5,900 ft)
Wind
9 km/h (6 mph), gusts 27 km/h (17 mph)

Cardrona hour by hour, on the upper mountain

Hourly snowfall
Show the hours as a table
Hourly forecast for Cardrona on the upper mountain, local time (GMT+12)
TimeWeatherSnowfall
4amRainNone
5amRainNone
6amRainNone
4pmRainNone
6pmRainNone
7pmRainNone
8pmRain or snowUnder 0.1 cm

Hours not listed are dry. Times are local (GMT+12).

Cardrona 7-day snow forecast, on the upper mountain

DayWeatherSnowfall
TodayRain−6 to 3 °C (21 to 37 °F) · gusts 67 km/h (42 mph) · freezing level 1,700 m (5,600 ft)No snow
SunFlurries−7 to 0 °C (19 to 32 °F) · gusts 56 km/h (35 mph) · freezing level 1,300 m (4,300 ft)Under 1 cm (under 1 in)
MonRain−6 to 3 °C (21 to 37 °F) · gusts 52 km/h (32 mph) · freezing level 2,200 m (7,200 ft)No snow
TueLight snow−8 to −1 °C (18 to 30 °F) · gusts 65 km/h (40 mph) · freezing level 1,300 m (4,300 ft)0–2 cm (under 1 in)
WedDry−10 to −2 °C (14 to 28 °F) · gusts 40 km/h (25 mph) · freezing level 950 m (3,100 ft)No snow
ThuDry−8 to 2 °C (18 to 36 °F) · freezing level 1,300 m (4,300 ft)No snow
FriDry−6 to 1 °C (21 to 34 °F) · freezing level 1,450 m (4,800 ft)No snow

Cardrona 14-day snow outlook, on the upper mountain

Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.

DayWeatherSnowfall
Sat 26 SepChance of snow−5 to 1 °C (23 to 34 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow0–5 cm (0–2 in)
Sun 27 SepDry−7 to −1 °C (19 to 30 °F)No snow
Mon 28 SepDry−7 to 2 °C (19 to 36 °F)No snow
Tue 29 SepDry−7 to 2 °C (19 to 36 °F)No snow
Wed 30 SepRain−6 to 2 °C (21 to 36 °F)No snow
Thu 1 OctDry−3 to 2 °C (27 to 36 °F)No snow
Fri 2 OctDry−6 to 4 °C (21 to 39 °F)No snow

How much snow is there in Cardrona on the upper mountain?

No snow on the ground

This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes. Check the official snow report before you travel.

Where is Cardrona?

Region
Otago
Village
1,670 m
Top lift
1,894 m
Vertical
224 m
Season
Mid-June to Early October
Airports
Queenstown (ZQN)

About Cardrona

Cardrona Alpine Resort was founded by Cardrona Valley locals John and Mary Lee and opened for its first winter in 1980. It is owned by RealNZ and operated alongside Treble Cone near Wānaka.

The resort reports 615 hectares of skiable terrain. A new six-person chairlift into Soho Basin, added in 2025, extended the terrain by about 150 hectares.

When does it snow in Cardrona?

In Cardrona, snow falls on about 8 days in July in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from May to November.

Average days per month with at least 1 cm of snowfall in Cardrona at mid-mountain, 2016–2025
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
<1 days<1 days1 days2 days4 days5 days8 days7 days8 days6 days3 days2 days

Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall at mid-mountain, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Snow in Cardrona month by month

Averages for 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain, from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Average snow days, share of annual snowfall and temperature by month in Cardrona, 2016 to 2025
MonthSnow daysShare of the year's snowLow to high
January<11%3 to 12 °C (37 to 54 °F)
February<12%2 to 11 °C (36 to 52 °F)
March12%1 to 9 °C (34 to 48 °F)
April24%−2 to 6 °C (28 to 43 °F)
May47%−4 to 2 °C (25 to 36 °F)
June510%−6 to −1 °C (21 to 30 °F)
July818%−8 to −3 °C (18 to 27 °F)
August714%−7 to −2 °C (19 to 28 °F)
September818%−6 to 0 °C (21 to 32 °F)
October616%−4 to 4 °C (25 to 39 °F)
November36%−1 to 8 °C (30 to 46 °F)
December22%1 to 10 °C (34 to 50 °F)

Snow in Cardrona in May

In May, Cardrona gets snow on about 4 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 7% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −4 to 2 °C (25 to 36 °F).

Snow in Cardrona in June

In June, Cardrona gets snow on about 5 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 10% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −6 to −1 °C (21 to 30 °F).

Snow in Cardrona in July

In July, Cardrona gets snow on about 8 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 18% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −8 to −3 °C (18 to 27 °F).

Snow in Cardrona in August

In August, Cardrona gets snow on about 7 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 14% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −7 to −2 °C (19 to 28 °F).

Snow in Cardrona in September

In September, Cardrona gets snow on about 8 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 18% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −6 to 0 °C (21 to 32 °F).

Snow in Cardrona in October

In October, Cardrona gets snow on about 6 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 16% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −4 to 4 °C (25 to 39 °F).

Snow in Cardrona in November

In November, Cardrona gets snow on about 3 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 6% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −1 to 8 °C (30 to 46 °F).

Which winters were snowiest in Cardrona?

Of the last ten winters in Cardrona, 2024 was the snowiest, about 60% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2016, about 36% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 7 November 2017.

Snowfall in Cardrona for each of the last ten winters, as a percentage of the ten-year average
WinterCompared with average
201664% of average
201776% of average
2018145% of average
201978% of average
202068% of average
202188% of average
202294% of average
202396% of average
2024160% of average
2025131% of average

Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.

Questions about snow in Cardrona

Does Cardrona have snow in mid-July?

Cardrona had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 12 July in 8 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 5 to 18 July in 9 of those years.

How many days a year does it snow in Cardrona?

It snows on about 46 days a year in Cardrona at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. July has the most, about 8 days.

What is the snowiest month in Cardrona?

July is the snowiest month in Cardrona, bringing about 18% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025.

Which recent winter was the snowiest in Cardrona?

Of the last ten winters in Cardrona, 2024 was the snowiest, about 60% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2016, about 36% below average.

How cold does Cardrona get in winter?

July is the coldest month in Cardrona at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −8 °C (18 °F) and highs of −3 °C (27 °F).

How high is Cardrona?

The village or lowest lift at Cardrona is at 1,670 m (5,500 ft) and the top lift is at 1,894 m (6,200 ft), a vertical drop of 224 m (700 ft).

When does the ski season start in Cardrona?

The lifts at Cardrona usually open in mid-June and close in early October. Exact dates change each year with the snow, so check the resort's own website before you book.

Snow forecasts near Cardrona

Map of ski resorts and cities within 150 km of CardronaCoronet Peak, about 20 km away, 0–3 cm this week; Queenstown, about 30 km away, no snow this week.50 km100 km150 kmNCoronet Peak: 0–3 cm this weekQueenstown: No snow this weekCoronet PeakQueenstownCardrona
Blue dots expect snow in the next 7 days. Distances are straight lines, not driving distances.
Coronet PeakSki resort, about 20 km away0–3 cm this weekQueenstownCity, about 30 km awayNo snow this weekMt HuttSki resort, about 260 km away2–15 cm this week

Sources: Cardrona Alpine Resort, Air New Zealand (Cardrona), Wikipedia, Ski New Zealand ski field opening dates