There’s a fresh buzz wafting off the Southern Alps this week — and it’s not just the snowguns humming or early risers clicking into bindings. Cardrona Alpine Resort, long cherished by Kiwi skiers and Aussie snow-chasers alike, has thrown open the snow-laden gates to its latest and most ambitious frontier: Soho Basin.
With the official ribbon-cutting (or perhaps ribbon-carving?) set for Sunday, 29 June, Cardrona now reigns as New Zealand’s largest commercial ski area, its snowy kingdom swelling to an impressive 615 hectares. That’s not just a few extra runs — that’s a whole new mountain vibe.
And as any self-respecting skier knows, size matters.
A Decade in the Making — and Worth Every Flake
This latest alpine evolution has been a long time coming, with dreams of Soho swirling since the mullet-sporting days of the 1980s. In 2018, Cardrona’s parent company, RealNZ, locked in the ski area rights, marking the beginning of an ambitious (and snowy) love affair.
Cardrona Alpine Resort
“This is the biggest leap forward in New Zealand skiing in a generation,” said Laura Hedley, Chief Mountain Officer for Cardrona and Treble Cone, while dusting powder off her jacket. “Soho has been a dream since the 1980s, and we’re incredibly proud to finally open this terrain to the public.”
And frankly, she’s got every right to beam.
What started as a lofty vision has become a fully-fledged reality, thanks to the installation of the Soho Express, a modern high-speed 6-seater chairlift gliding straight into the new terrain. Positioned just beyond the McDougall’s Chondola and Captain’s Express, Soho Basin promises a mix of sunny, rolling runs and solid snow-holding conditions, perfect for intermediates and seasoned shredders alike.
Not Just Bigger — Better, Bolder, and Built to Last
Of course, this isn’t just about having more snow to play in. It’s about reshaping the ski experience itself.
“This development doesn’t just expand our terrain — it transforms the experience,” Hedley added. “We now have multiple basins, varying terrain and aspects, and a future-ready resort for skiers and snowboarders of every level.”
Quite right. Soho brings a whole new flavour to Cardrona, rounding out its mountain profile with diversity in runs, expanded capacity, and the one thing every good resort needs: flow. Skiers will now be able to spend longer on the slopes, less time queuing, and have more reasons to book that mid-week cheeky snow trip.
And the upgrades don’t stop at snow.
This past summer saw a flurry of developments: a brand-new T-bar servicing the slopestyle and race zones, a new retail and dining complex to feed the famished, expanded car parking (yes, finally!), and upgraded access roads for a smoother ride up the mountain.
Snowmaking also got a polish, with Cardrona ensuring consistency and seasonal reliability, even when Mother Nature’s feeling stingy with snowfall. That’s forward planning, not just frost-fuelled optimism.
A Mountain That Grows With You
Cardrona’s expansion is a vote of confidence in New Zealand’s alpine future in a world where the ski industry is battling climate uncertainty, international headwinds, and the odd rogue snowboarder with no sense of personal space.
It’s also a love letter to tradition—a resort that is not just adding acreage but doubling down on what makes skiing magical. The blend of sunshine, slope variety, reliable snow, and that ever-present Kiwi hospitality now stretches across multiple basins, each with its own rhythm, views, and local legends in the making.
To mark the milestone, the mountain will echo with a traditional blessing and public celebration, a fitting nod to the land, its people, and the powder-seekers who call it home.
Need to Know
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Opening Date: Sunday, 29 June
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Location: Cardrona Alpine Resort, Otago, NZ
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New Chairlift: Soho Express (6-seater)
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Total Area: 615 hectares
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Terrain Focus: Intermediate & Advanced
For those planning their snow pilgrimage, now’s the time to wax your skis, dust off the thermals, and get ready to carve into something truly historic. And for added peace of mind while travelling, always check Smartraveller before heading abroad.
The bottom line? Cardrona just raised the alpine bar — and it’s snow joke.
