The Cardrona Hotel a.k.a. The Cardrona Pub is a famous Instagram building you’ve probably seen before.
But rather than just taking a photo from the outside, take the time to head inside that was first open way back in 1863! They have accommodation too.
A popular stopover after a day out on the skifields, a visit to the Cardrona Hotel is one of the must do things to do in Cardrona.
I finally went inside after a day of cross-country skiing at Snow Farm.
Paying $10 for a handle of beer wasn’t fun, but the food, while seemingly expensive did seem to be a large portion which was great. And the atmosphere was awesome, just how I hoped it would be.
DON’T FIX WHAT AIN’T BROKE
Stepping into the Cardrona Hotel feels like you’re stepping into a small town pub which is exactly what it is Perfect. After changing ownership a few times I was hoping they hadn’t gentrified the place.
Thankfully, it’s got a kind of dark feeling to it with plenty of seating. And there’s an awesome fireplace which if you’re lucky to get a spot next to would be awesome on a chilly afternoon.
I didn’t like the taxidermy on the walls but can understand it’s all been there for a while and makes it all part of the package.
It’ll be awesome if they keep the interior feeling like it does for another 100 years.
THE BEER GARDEN
They’ve got an awesome beer garden out the back, adding to the vibe of the iconic pub.
In the winter you’ll want the prime seating near the fire, otherwise you’ll be wanting a seat inside. But in the summer I can imagine being outside is the perfect option!
THE FOOD & BEERS?
The beer and food suit the place!
It was quite satisfying to make my way to the bar and see the beer taps in their old-school-looking taps. The beer selection is solid, with a few craft beers and a Cardrona Ale that I saw.
I’m sure you can find some others in bottles and cans too (including Speights), along with a decent wine menu. I got a Cardona Ale, but crikey at $10 for a handle (smaller than a pint) I felt a bit ripped off…the Panhead was $12! Yuck.
The food, however, is solid. I wasn’t too hungry so grabbed a bowl of fries. They definitely filled me up! At $11 it’s about par for what to expect in the Queenstown/Wanaka area.
My friends got a bowl of nachos ($23), and they loved them. The portion was large and shared between 4 people they were happy that it tided them over. Apparently they’re famous for the nachos, and they come heaped with cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, and guacamole.
That said, check out the menu online in advance… there are plenty of options for various eating styles (they don’t make this clear on the online menu).
FAST SERVICE DURING THE BUSY TIMES
This was impressive. I saw a mate who got there earlier than us, and he’d ordered the nachos too. The place was super busy so when he said it took less than 10 minutes for his food to arrive…we were stoked. Ours came out super quick.
The queue at the bar was moving fast too with both staff super friendly and helpful. Loved that.
HISTORY OF THE CARDRONA HOTEL
The Cardrona Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in New Zealand having opened in the 1860’s during the gold rush. Today it’s owned by a couple of friends who loved the pub when visiting on their road trip in 2012. Less than a year later, they were the owners of the Cardrona Hotel.
Knowing this, I appreciated the FAQ’s chalk board they had. A few of the answers to popular questions are:
- They used to brew the Cardrona Ale themselves, but now it’s brewed by Speights.
- The year of the car out the front is 1926
- The dogs name is Louie
- That’s a mine shaft you can see through the glass window on the floor (this gave me a fright 😛 )
You’ll need to visit the pub to get all the details 😉
Overall I liked the Cardona Hotel/Pub and can appreciate how it’s become so popular, not just as an Instagram stop but a place to relax after a day out on the slopes or maybe you stayed up at Meg Hut.
If you’re planning to spend a few nights in Cardrona, definitely consider booking a room here.
You’ll find the hotel on Cardrona Valley Road, you can’t miss it. Phone: 03 443 8153
If you have any comments/questions etc. about the Cardrona Hotel, email me jub@churnewzealand.com or leave a note in the comments box below.
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.