Walking & Hiking

Walking and hiking at Cardrona is truly stunning, with 360 views at every turn! Take the lift and explore our walking trails for a true alpine adventure.

Sightseeing and walking at Cardrona lets you immerse yourself in a beautiful alpine environment at over 1800m above sea level! Breathe the fresh alpine air and take in the stunning 360-degree views of the Southern Alps, Lake Whakatipu and Lake Hawea. You can choose between a gentle chairlift-assisted stroll from the top of McDougall's Chondola up to our viewing platform or back to Base, or more adventurous hikes into Captain's Basin or even the summit of Mt Cardrona!

Please note: Many of our walking trails are now closed for the remainder of the 2024 Summer Season. The remaining walking trails still open are:

• From Base to Ridgeline.
• From top of McDougall's to the viewpoint and resort summit weather station.

Cardrona is another great spot for a New Zealand day walk and unlike other famous walks in the region, you can catch a lift to the top leaving more time to explore! Make sure you bring plenty of water, sunscreen, sturdy footwear and clothing layers, as mountain conditions can change quickly. It's not uncommon to find a few spots of snow around the ridges so you may have the opportunity to build a snowman... in summer!

Our main walking trails at Cardrona are:

• Mt Cardrona – Head to the highest point in the resort and experience the full grandeur of the Southern Alps. The out and back trail splits off the start of the Captain’s Circuit. The track is unformed so sturdy footwear and experience is required (around 2hrs)
• Summit loop - Take this trail from the top of McDougall's Chondola to our summit lookout (around 30 mins) 
• Captain’s Circuit - Begin from the top of the McDougall's Chondola and head out to Captain’s Basin and back (around 2–2.5hrs)
• Ridgeline - This trail begins at the top of the McDougall's Chondola and heads back down to the Base area, or you can start at the Base area and walk your way up! It follows the ridgeline of our Main Basin. (around 30 mins)

Make sure you check out our interpretive panels on your way around the mountain – they’re a great source of information about Southern Lakes and Central Otago history!

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