In summer the Cardrona Skifield converts to the Cardrona Bike Park. All the trails are accessed by ski lift and a ticket is required to ride in the park although there is one uphill track (Oxygen Thief). The setting is high up in the foothills of the Southern Alps with stunning views and a formidable on-top-of-the-world ambiance. There is a wide variety of trails from a kids area to world cup level downhill trails. You'll find cross-country style tracks as well as the downhill ones.
In peak season lifts operate daily from 10am to 4pm except on Fridays when they operate till 8pm. Later in the season they only operate on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For specific dates check their website: www.cardrona.com.
You can catch a shuttle with bike trailer from Queenstown or from the Cardrona Valley Road turnoff. Costs and timetables are on the website: www.cardrona.com
You'll find all the facilities you need up at the resort including accommodation, food, bike hire, bike school and so on.
A good trail to start on is the intermediate Arcadia which drops 400 vertical metres over 2.4 km - you'll be smiling all the way!
Cadrona is good sized bike park with two lifts open for bike season. I hired a bike and they had a selection of DH or double squish trail bikes, and they were quick and professional getting me moving. I sampled all the green and blue trails and some small bits of black. Most of good shape but some of the berms were torn up by this time of the season (no doubt by riders like me) be sure to look into shutting the peak to pub run all the way down to the highway for $10 nz.
| ThankLooking forward to riding these trails - in winter Cardrona is my favourite place to ski.
| Thank2017-18 bike season is December 2 to April 2...