Discover Cardrona
Back Country Saddles are located between Wanaka and Queenstown on the Crown Range road. The stables are situated 27 kms up the Cardrona Valley from Wanaka. It’s a pleasant 20 minute drive with high country stations on either side of the valley floor. From Queenstown allow 50 minutes for a scenic drive over the Crown range.
We are situated 800 metres up the road from the iconic Cardrona Hotel, the main surviving local historic building. Back in the late 1800s the area was home to thousands of gold miners and even now the ruins of their accommodation and mine workings abound. You can’t miss seeing them as your horse riding trip weaves around the hills and through the valleys of this beautiful part of New Zealand.
Besides Horse riding other activities in the Cardrona region include the Monster Trucks Adventure Park and in winter both sides of the valley are host to countless snow seekers. Cardrona Alpine Resort www.cardrona.com to the West while Snowpark www.snowparknz.com and SnowFarm www.snowfarmnz.com to the East cater for freestylers and Cross Country skiers.
While the Cardrona Hotel www.cardronahotel.co.nz is iconic as the social hub of the valley you can stay at Benbrae Villas www.benbrae.co.nz, the Waiorau Homestead www.waiorauhomestead.co.nz and the Hot Toddy Lodge www.thehottoddy.co.nz.