Cardrona Alpine Resort Limited (CARL) has been successful in a bid to expand the ski area’s sub zone (SANZ) to include an area known as Andersons Basin, but the skifield says managing capacity is its first priority.

Andersons Basin sits on private land adjacent to CARL and the extension of the sub zone means it can be developed for skiing and related activities in the future.

“We worked in collaboration with the owners of this area to apply for this subzone change,” CARL general manager Laura Hedley said.

“For us, it’s about making sure we are future proofing… but for now we aren’t looking at this area as our current planning and focus is on the Soho projects.”

The Cardrona ski area sub zone with Anderson Basin indicated in orange. IMAGE: Cardrona Alpine Resort

The Soho Ski Area was acquired by CARL in 2018 and activated with the opening of the Willows chairlift in 2021 giving access to two basins on the southern face of Mt Cardrona overlooking Queenstown.

“We are going to have to work out how to manage the road and the parking better”

“Willow’s lift was our first activation of the Soho area,” Laura said, adding the company is “working through planning for extending further into Soho”.

Former Real NZ general manager of experiences Bridget Legnavsky said she was working on CARL’s masterplan before leaving to take up a role in the USA last month. 

The company must manage the capacity an expanded ski field provides before any expansion, she said.

Read more: Busy skifields leave locals unhappy

Soho Basin PHOTO: Danny Warley

Consistently high visitor numbers throughout August led to complaints from locals about leaving for a skiing trip to find the road had closed during their journey, and regularly waiting in very long chairlift queues.

“With the Soho lift there is no doubt it is going to be more attractive and you have to expect more people to be coming,” Bridget said.

“So we have to find a way to park cars, transport people up there, and give people somewhere to sit at lunch time.

“Those are the things we’re really focused on at the moment.”

Bridget said, despite rumours, gondola access is not on the horizon as it is simply too expensive.

“We are going to have to work out how to manage the road and the parking better,” she said.

Laura said there were times during the 2022 winter season when CARL could not deliver on the level of experience it desired for guests due to how busy the ski field was.

“For winter 2023, we are going to be managing capacity through the number of passes sold,” she said. 

“This has started with the season pass sale on at the moment and will include limiting the number of day passes available on any given day during the season next year.”

Cardrona’s summer season begins on Saturday December 10 with mountain biking, mountain carting and sightseeing all available, she said.

CARL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Real NZ and owns Cardrona Alpine Resort which operates the Cardrona and Treble Cone ski fields, employing close to 900 seasonal staff and 100 year round staff.

Cardrona Alpine Resort is located on private land owned by CARL, and includes the private road which provides access from Cardrona Valley Road to the ski field.