Cardrona To Become New Zealand’s Largest Ski Area From 2025

New Zealand’s Cardrona Alpine Resort has announced that it will be expanding its terrain to include  Soho Basin in their ski area boundary from the winter after next. With about 150 hectares of skiable terrain, equivalent to 150 rugby fields, it will increase Cardrona’s lift-accessed skiable terrain by 24%, taking the resort from 465ha to 615ha – which will make it the biggest commercial ski area in New Zealand.

Cardrona’s newest offering will open up an area similar in size to, and directly behind, Captain’s Basin. Soho Basin is the massive area directly below the resort’s existing “Queenstown Return” trail. It will have a mix of playful intermediate terrain alongside more technical, advanced lines – plenty for confident skiers and snowboarders to explore.

Work is due to commence on a six-seater high-speed chairlift to connect the area to Cardrona’s network this coming summer. Foundations for the Soho Basin Express, will be started in February, with the towers and stations installed the following summer 24-25 between with the lift is due to be completed in time for the 2025 winter season.

“New skiable terrain in New Zealand is incredibly rare, and we’re so stoked to finally be able to give people the news they want – Soho Basin is officially happening,” commented Laura Hedley GM of Cardrona and Treble Cone Experiences, who added, “Soho Basin opens up a whole new world and experience for skiers and snowboarders at Cardrona. We can’t wait to ride Soho and share it with all of you – it’s just so good!”

To support the additional guest capacity the Soho Basin Express will attract, Cardrona is upgrading other facilities over the next couple of years. This summer, the Valley View carpark will be extended, and the on-mountain Rentals department will be upgraded.

“It doesn’t stop there – we’ll be upgrading our snowmaking, food and beverage, retail, and other carparking offerings to make sure we continue to deliver a great experience at Cardrona with the addition of Soho Basin,” says Hedley.

The Soho Basin Express installation is the latest part of a multi-year redevelopment of Cardrona that has already included a total redesign of the resort’s base buildings using existing infrastructure, the McDougall’s Chondola, and the first steps into Soho in 2021 with the Willow’s Quad chairlift.

“After a challenging few years, it’s so exciting to continue along our vision for Cardrona to be a truly world-class ski and snowboard destination, right here in New Zealand,” says Hedley.