“The best mountain in the country on a good day in my opinion! Turoa has everything, from great groomed runs to powder bowls, a decent park, steeps, drops, chutes galore. Lifts can get pretty busy on the weekends if the weather is good.
Score a midweek powder day and you will be riding fresh lines all day!
It is really exposed so can quite often have high winds and be closed. This also means it gets some epic dumps. Typical for the off-piste to be completely frozen so make sure you sharpen your edges!
Usual expensive mountain prices for food but you can just take your own and leave a bag outside the cafe :) Get up there early to get a good car park.
People are quick to criticise for many reasons but RAL is a non-profit organisation so any profits get put back in to the resort. There can be delays opening the lifts due to de-icing.
Ohakune is a great little ski town with decent bars, restaurants and cafes. Check out TBC for all of your gear needs. Make sure you go to the Choclate Eclair Shop. Best ever! Also try the afghans and the steak, mince and cheese pies!
This season has been the best I can remember with every weekend being bluebird and lots of them being powder days!
This season a major avalanche took out one of the towers and broke the cable of the top main lift but they have done some excellent work pushing snow around and making new trails.
If you don't mind hiking the summit is around a 1 hour walk from the top of the 6 seater lift with amazing views and you can see the crater lake (it's actually a live volcano that erupted last in 1995)
I have been coming here for over 30 years and have snowboarded all around the world and have had some of the best days of my life here!
Love this mountain :)”

adam from NEW ZEALAND - 08 Oct 2018

“Anyone writing that this is the best skiing in the world has clearly never even left the country. Few runs, bad snow, zero terrain features and nothing but beginner slopes. If you're going to lie, at least make the lie halfway believable. When you're saying this is better than thousands and thousands of acres of glades, cliffs, gullies, steeps, jumps, etc. you just look like an idiot.”

You Wiah You Knew from UNITED STATES - 30 Sep 2018

“Cardrona has had a lot of money invested in it over the last 3 seasons. This includes a complete revamp and new chair/gondola for the beginner slope. This summer they are putting in a new chair at the bottom of ‘Captains’ which will take the total number of chairs to 6 on the mountain. Cardrona have also secured the rights to the Soho Basin which will open in 2020. This will take the total skiable area to 900ha making it the largest ski field in New Zealand.
Cardrona also has the best snow park in NZ and has two half pipes.
All new snow making equipment and science means that there is always a good amount of snow on the mountain.
Like all resorts across the world in can get busy in the NZ/OZ school holidays. But with the new chair and areas opening this will help disperse the crowds. Otherwise, Cardrona wait times are normally pretty good.
Early season and spring are also good snow-sure options.
There are lots of places to eat and drink on the mountain. Prices are not hugely inflated and there is a good variety of food and drink to suit any budget.
Cardrona has an excellent selection of rental gear and update it every season. This means if you are renting up the hill you are getting modern, often new gear. not old worn out 6 season old stuff. There is also an option to hire ‘advanced’ skis and snowboards.
The staff here are excellent. The ‘Parks’ crew work tirelessly to keep all the jumps and rails in pristine condition. The lifties are always happy and cheerful and ski patrol know their business. You will be safe up the mountain at all times.
Most people wear helmets up Cardrona (80%) and there is a higher percentage of skiers over snowboarders. There is always a good friendly vibe on the mountain and the runs are well thought out.
And the best part is there are 3 other mountains all within an hour's drive.”

Jonny from NEW ZEALAND - 28 Sep 2018