The unpaved winding road to Cardrona Alpine Resort

Located in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand, at an elevation of 1.648m (5,406ft) above the sea level, Cardrona Alpine Resort is one of most popular ski resorts of the country.

Cardrona Alpine Resort

Nestled in the heart of the Southern Alps, the access road to the resort is a driving challenge to suit all thrill-seekers who prefer to be behind the wheel while enjoying the ride. The road is unpaved. Located in a high alpine environment, the weather can change quickly. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

The road to the summit, known as Cardrona Alpine Resort, is pretty steep. Starting from Cardrona, a hamlet in the Cardrona Valley, the road is 12.3km (7.64 miles) long. The elevation gain is 1.136 meters. The average gradient is 9.23%. The area is heavily affected by snowfalls, so it’s best to always carry chains and know how to use them.

 

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.