Jan 21, 2026 Cardrona
On our way between Wanaka and Queenstown, we took the ‘shortcut’ over the Crown range, passing through the tiny hamlet of Cardrona. A lonely area of relatively high elevation, populated by more sheep than people, it has a rich history of sheep and cattle herding, gold rush boom and bust, and development into one of the largest ski areas of NZ! We stopped at the only commercial center along the road, the remnants of the town of Cardrona consisting mostly of the Cardrona Hotel. Sheep and cattle were driven into the area in 1860, but the town was established in 1863 after gold was discovered in the area in 1862.
It’s amazing how advanced this gas station was! It had an electric car charger back in the day!
By 1867 most of the miners had left for more prosperous strikes elsewhere, but Chinese miners moved in and some lucrative strikes were found. In 1878 a flood of the Cardrona river filled most mining claims, leading to most residents moving elsewhere. It took almost 100 years of modest sheep-herding before Cardrona recovered, and due to the work of a local farmer/rancher couple who saw the potential of the snowy winter slopes as a ski area, developed their holdings into an alpine and cross-country ski mecca, the Cardrona Ski Resort.
We decided NOT to zoom down the slopes in tricycles!
Continuing along the Crown range pass, we were mesmerized by the lupines blooming along the roadside!
Another wonderful fragrant experience in New Zealand!