Eat the dust up Cardrona Alpine Resort in summer with their 3-wheel mountain carting experience! The Cardrona Valley see’s a vast change in the warmer months, with golden tussocks and dry tracks in place of snow. Thanks to this favourite alpine resort, you can try your hand at the only mountain carting experience in the whole country. You can’t not have fun as you ride mountain carts down these awesome tracks in the most picturesque mountain setting.
1. Mountain Carting at Cardona Alpine Resort
This has got to be the most fun you can have on 3 wheels. Mountain Carting at this iconic location means cruising down tracks, over bumps and around bends, on 3-wheel carts, powered by sheer gravity. No petrol-fueled pedals in sight. After you get kitted up in overalls, a full helmet and goggles, an introduction to the carts and a safety briefing sets you up for success. Enjoy the ride up the chairlifts to get to the start of the tracks. It’s a great way to soak up the mountain views and scope out the tracks below. The team load up your carts on the chairlift and unloads them for you at the top each time – no fluffing around. Another quick briefing and you’re off on a self-guided carting tour of the mountains tracks. The control is all in your hands, so it’s an activity for everyone. Control your speed and choose the tracks you want to go down, and go as cruisy or as wild as your heart desires. Prepare for a bit of dust and a lot of adrenaline!
Find out more about New Zealand’s only mountain carting at Cardrona here!
2. Cardrona Alpine Resort in summer
If you’ve seen Cardrona in the winter, it’s hard to picture how this terrain can transform into dry gravel tracks, perfect for mountain biking and carting. It’s the beauty of summer at Cardona Alpine Resort. This ski resort transforms itself into an arena for the ultimate summer activity in Queenstown and Wānaka. Ride down the mountain on the tyre-lined tracks and soak up the beautiful views on the chairlift back up. Mountain carting at Cardrona is just about the best thing you can do in the area to see the sights and get the blood pumping all at once. Plus, Cardrona Alpine Resort is New Zealand’s highest mountain bike park, so it’s a popular spot for avid mountain bikers too. Wrap up the day with a few cold drinks at Apres, the bar just 30 minutes drive from the top of the mountains, and you’ve locked in a great day.
3. 3-wheel gravity carts
No acceleration needed. These mountain carts are fueled by gravity, so there’s not too much to think about as you ride down the tracks. The team at Cardrona Alpine Resort give you all the tips and tricks so you can get the most out of your carting experience. Left and right breaks help you control your speed and navigate the corners. Get some air over bumps on the straight runs, or create a dust storm behind you as you cruise around the corners. These carts come in different sizes, so the team pair you with one based on your height. The full helmet, goggles and overalls are essential for keeping you dust-free, but don’t forget to close your mouth as you ride down the dusty tracks!
4. Multiple tracks
See so much more of the mountain while you’re carting. There are three mountain carting tracks and depending on the conditions and other mountain operations, you may be able to check out each one. Go for a straighter and shorter track to warm up, before taking ‘A Real Journey’ track that winds around the picturesque vantage points on the mountain. Each track begins at the top of the chairlift, so you can keep coming back for more with ease during your two-hour session.
5. A summer activity for everyone
Imagine a day full of mountain carting, and perhaps some mountain biking, with the incredible Southern Alps as your backdrop. It’s the ideal summer’s day out. Enjoy the drive up the mountain, with uninterrupted views of the surrounding mountain ranges, and the Cardrona team will look after you once you reach the resort. There are spots up the mountain to grab a coffee and a bite to eat; perfect for those who are just spectators for the day or for when you need a little break. Mountain carting at Cardrona is a great choice for stags and hens dos in Queenstown and Wānaka! Rally a group of eager people together for a day of friendly fun. Don’t count out mountain carting for a family holiday too. Kids over 8 years old who meet the height requirements can ride their own cart, and younger ones can ride tandem with an adult! Summer fun for everyone!
This article was created in paid partnership with RealNZ.
