- Est. Median Value
- $522K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $600/wk
- Safety Score
- 91/100
- Green Space
- 53%
- Current Weather
- -1.4°C
- Median Age
- 42 yrs
~34 crimes/1k/yr
clear sky
Living in Cardrona
Cardrona sits in its valley between Wānaka and Queenstown at around 900 metres, and it earns its place on the map with one of the most recognisable buildings in Central Otago: the Cardrona Hotel, which has been serving travellers since 1863 and looks exactly as a gold rush pub should, wide verandah, stone chimneys and the kind of structural confidence that comes from outlasting everyone who ever doubted it.
The valley's economy now runs on snow rather than gold. Cardrona Alpine Resort climbs the slopes above the pub, one of New Zealand's most developed ski areas, with terrain parks, high-speed lifts and snowmaking that extends the season when the Otago sky isn't cooperating, which in this valley's microclimate it sometimes isn't. The summer pivot is real too, with mountain biking, hiking and the Highlands Motorsport Park's asphalt nearby in Cromwell.
The permanent population is small, the transient one enormous in winter, and the Cardrona Valley Road stitches it all together on a sinuous Crown Range approach that photographers treat as a destination in its own right, poplar-lined in autumn and frost-glazed in winter to a degree that should be illegal.
Cardrona Primary School holds the valley's young, with secondary students heading down to Wānaka.
Is Cardrona a good place to live?
Cardrona is home to roughly 2,838 people across 344.7 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Cardrona scores 67 out of 100, with a safety score of 91/100 and 53% green space.
Schools: Cardrona has 1 school in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $522K, and weekly rent typically sits around $600.
Lifestyle: Cardrona has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. Public transport stops are within easy reach. The current temperature is -1.4°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Cardrona is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.
Map
Livability Breakdown
- Safety91
- Amenities36
- Schools34
- Housing Affordability72
- Green space100
- Community67
- Transport100
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $522K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $600/wk
- Median HH Income
- $121K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- -0.5%
- Data Year
- 2023
Key Financial Indicators (NZD)
† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.
Nearby Suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Cardrona?
- Cardrona is in the Queenstown Lakes district, in the Cardrona Valley on the Crown Range road between Wānaka (25 minutes) and Queenstown (45 minutes), at around 900 metres elevation.
- What is the Cardrona Hotel?
- The Cardrona Hotel is one of Central Otago's most iconic buildings, operating since 1863 during the gold rush era, with its original facade and wide verandah intact. It serves food, drinks and accommodation.
- What is Cardrona Alpine Resort?
- Cardrona Alpine Resort is one of New Zealand's most developed ski areas, with groomed runs, terrain parks, snowmaking and high-speed lifts, operating from the slopes above the valley from June to October.
- What is the Cardrona Valley like in autumn?
- The Cardrona Valley's poplar avenue, planted along the valley road, turns gold in April and May, making it among the most photographed autumn landscapes in New Zealand.
- How do I get from Wānaka to Cardrona?
- By car, around 25 minutes via the Crown Range Road (State Highway 89). The road is unsealed in sections and can close in extreme weather. Shuttle services run from both Wānaka and Queenstown to the ski area in winter.
- Which schools are in zone for Cardrona?
- Children living in Cardrona are in zone for Te Kura O Take Kārara. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Cardrona?
- Use the School Zone Checker on this page. Enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Cardrona
Schools in zone for Cardrona
Children living in Cardrona have a guaranteed right to enrol at these school, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Te Kura O Take Kārara
Contributing · roll 315
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Cardrona. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.
Explore Cardrona
Things to do(8)
Old gold workings
Gold workings
Cardrona Bra Fence
Ford Of Bruinen
Norman Smith Bridge
Real Guns New Zealand
Cardrona Equine Center
The Cardrona
Parks & green spaces
Parks and reserves for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Healthcare(1)
Cardrona Medical Centre
Eat & Drink in Cardrona
Places to eat & drink(8)
Benny's Cafe
Cardrona Base Café
Cardrona Boundary Creek Hut
Captains Cafe, Cardrona Alpine Resort
Mezz Cafe
Cardrona Valley General Store
Cardrona Pub, Cardrona
Base Cafe
Shops in Cardrona
Shops(1)
Kind Farm Plant Nursery
Beauty & Fitness in Cardrona
Beauty & fitness(3)
Cardrona Equine Center
Real Guns New Zealand
The Cardrona
Stay in Cardrona
Places to stay(3)
Cardrona Mountain House
Cardrona Hotel
Cardrona Villas
Cardrona Weather
Current conditions: -1.4°C, clear sky
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 18.43 | 8.98 | 3.15 | 11.44 |
| ☀️ Feb | 16.89 | 7.69 | 3.15 | 10.95 |
| 🍂 Mar | 13.39 | 4.45 | 3.99 | 9.35 |
| 🍂 Apr | 12.02 | 3.94 | 4.13 | 8.04 |
| 🍂 May | 7.59 | 1.56 | 3.5 | 5.8 |
| ❄️ Jun | 5.03 | -0.02 | 2.18 | 5.51 |
| ❄️ Jul | 3.35 | -1.98 | 2.92 | 5.61 |
| ❄️ Aug | 3.7 | -2.24 | 2.85 | 7.12 |
| 🌸 Sep | 6.64 | -0.46 | 9.44 | 7.75 |
| 🌸 Oct | 9.05 | 0.97 | 6.63 | 9.5 |
| 🌸 Nov | 13.37 | 4.16 | 3.22 | 11.15 |
| ☀️ Dec | 16.77 | 7.79 | 4.83 | 11.48 |
Cardrona Community
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