Cardrona Alpine Resort has officially unlocked a whole new side of the mountain - literally.
After more than a decade in the making, the long-awaited Soho Basin is finally open to the public, adding a whopping 150 hectares of fresh terrain to the ski area.
That takes their total land spread to 615 hectares, officially making it the largest commercial ski area in Aotearoa.
Soho’s been a bit of a dream since the ‘80s, and after RealNZ (Cardrona’s parent company) snapped up the rights to the basin in 2018, the vision’s finally become reality.
To celebrate, Cardrona marked the opening with a traditional blessing and public celebration up the mountain over weekend.
It’s all been part of big plans to level-up the mountain, following upgrades like the McDougall’s Chondola in 2016, the Willow’s Basin opening in 2022, and massive snowmaking and infrastructure boosts.
The new Basin's kitted out with the Soho Express, a flash high-speed 6-seater chairlift, a mix of intermediate runs and more advanced stuff for the seasoned shredders.
Plus, the snow holds well and gets a load of sun - so it's really good vibes only up there.
Chief Mountain Officer Laura Hedley reckons it’s a huge moment for NZ skiing:
This is the biggest leap forward in New Zealand skiing in a generation. Soho has been a dream since the 1980s, and we’re incredibly proud to finally open this terrain to the public.
And that’s not all. There’s also a brand new T-bar for the slopestyle and race setups, a flash new retail and dining space, more car parks and road upgrades - the full shebang.
Looks like the 2025 ski season is shaping up to be a beauty. Catch ya up there!
