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 23:00 in Cardrona (GMT+13).

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

Next 24 hours on the upper mountain

No snow in the next 24 hours.

No snow expected in the next 7 days.

High confidence, all three forecast models agree

No snow is forecast for Cardrona at the top lift (1,894 m / 6,200 ft) in the next 7 days, and all three weather models we compare agree. Expect temperatures from −2 to 11 °C (28 to 52 °F) and the freezing level near 2,450 m (8,000 ft) over the next day. A bluebird day is likely on Thursday, with clear skies and no snow forecast.

Temperature now
1 °C (34 °F)
Freezing level
2,450 m (8,000 ft)
Wind
3 km/h (2 mph), gusts 12 km/h (7 mph)
Sky now
Clear, 10% cloud

Cardrona hour by hour, on the upper mountain

Hourly snowfall

No rain or snow on the upper mountain in Cardrona in the next 24 hours.

Cardrona 7-day snow forecast, on the upper mountain

Best day to ski in Cardrona this week: Thursday. No fresh snow, bluebird, light wind, mild enough for slush. How we grade a ski day.

DayWeatherSnowfall
TonightDry1 °C (34 °F) · freezing level 2,450 m (8,000 ft)No snow
SatSome sunPoor ski day−2 to 11 °C (28 to 52 °F) · freezing level 2,650 m (8,700 ft)No snow
SunCloudyPoor ski day1 to 9 °C (34 to 48 °F) · gusts 48 km/h (30 mph) · freezing level 2,850 m (9,400 ft)No snow
MonSome sunPoor ski day−3 to 7 °C (27 to 45 °F) · gusts 49 km/h (30 mph) · freezing level 2,150 m (7,100 ft)No snow
TueSome sunPoor ski day−6 to 6 °C (21 to 43 °F) · gusts 44 km/h (27 mph) · freezing level 1,700 m (5,600 ft)No snow
WedSunnyFair ski day−4 to 4 °C (25 to 39 °F) · gusts 56 km/h (35 mph) · freezing level 1,750 m (5,700 ft)No snow
ThuBluebirdBest day−6 to 7 °C (21 to 45 °F) · freezing level 1,750 m (5,700 ft)No snow

Sky is graded over the ski day, 9am to 4pm. Bluebird means at least two of the three models show clear skies all day, none shows overcast, and no snow or rain is forecast. Models are weaker on cloud than on snow, and none of them can see valley fog, so treat it as a good sign rather than a promise.

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
Fri 20 NovSunny−3 to 9 °C (27 to 48 °F)No snow
Sat 21 NovCloudy−1 to 5 °C (30 to 41 °F)No snow
Sun 22 NovSome sun0 to 9 °C (32 to 48 °F)No snow
Mon 23 NovSunny−1 to 12 °C (30 to 54 °F)No snow
Tue 24 NovSome sun2 to 10 °C (36 to 50 °F)No snow
Wed 25 NovSome sun−1 to 9 °C (30 to 48 °F)No snow
Thu 26 NovCloudy−1 to 6 °C (30 to 43 °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. A sunny day has sunshine for at least 70% of the daylight hours.

Average snow days, share of annual snowfall, temperature and sunny days by month in Cardrona, 2016 to 2025
MonthSnow daysShare of the year's snowLow to highSunny days
January<11%3 to 12 °C (37 to 54 °F)20
February<12%2 to 11 °C (36 to 52 °F)21
March12%1 to 9 °C (34 to 48 °F)21
April24%−2 to 6 °C (28 to 43 °F)20
May47%−4 to 2 °C (25 to 36 °F)17
June510%−6 to −1 °C (21 to 30 °F)15
July818%−8 to −3 °C (18 to 27 °F)14
August714%−7 to −2 °C (19 to 28 °F)17
September818%−6 to 0 °C (21 to 32 °F)19
October616%−4 to 4 °C (25 to 39 °F)20
November36%−1 to 8 °C (30 to 46 °F)19
December22%1 to 10 °C (34 to 50 °F)21

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). About 17 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.

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). About 15 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.

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). About 14 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.

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). About 17 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.

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). About 19 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.

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). About 20 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.

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). About 19 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.

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 many bluebird days does Cardrona get in winter?

From June to September, Cardrona averages about 16 days a month with sunshine for at least 70% of the daylight hours at mid-mountain, and about 6.8 hours of sunshine a day. September is the sunniest of those months. The figures are from ERA5 reanalysis for 2016 to 2025, which sees cloud over a region well but cannot see valley fog.

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, no snow this week; Queenstown, about 30 km away, no snow this week.50 km100 km150 kmNCoronet Peak: No snow 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 awayNo snow this weekQueenstownCity, about 30 km awayNo snow this weekMt HuttSki resort, about 260 km awayNo snow this week

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