new zealand [day nine] Cardrona

Up until this point in our holiday we'd viewed plenty of snow from a distance, beyond our reach on mountains high, looking pretty as a picture. As you can imagine, Harry and Till were itching to get knee deep in the cold stuff...as was Ben (OK, me too). In our old stomping ground (New South Wales' Central West), snow fell but once or twice a year, leaving a light dusting if you were lucky. So that is the only kind of snow Ben and the kids were familiar with. I on the other hand had many skiing holidays as a child. We hadn't planned on skiing whilst in New Zealand, even though I'd been told the skiing there is pretty dam amazing.

So in Wanaka we decided we really should drive up to a ski resort and see for ourselves what the big fuss is. We chose Cardrona as Ben had read it was a great place for beginners...though again, we still had NO intentions of skiing! Our plan was to just take a look and let the kids play in the snow.

The drive up to Cardrona was like NOTHING I have EVER experienced in my life. As we pulled into the dirt carpark at the bottom of the mountain I began to feel nervous. Before us was a mountain range so enormous, we couldn't see the top. It appeared we'd be driving for a few kilometres or so before reaching the snow line, but I was worried about what would happen when we reached it - my instincts told me we were about to experience snow chains 101. There weren't many cars travelling up nor down the windy road before us, in fact there were hardly any signs of life at all. Where exactly was this resort? And where were all the skiers???

About a third of the way up we pulled over to get our snow chains on. Lucky Ben has a head for stuff like that...I was useless in knowing how to assist him and to make matters worse I have this little condition called 'Ineptness for Interpreting Written Instructions' - it compliments my map reading skills.....you get my drift?

 So with chains firmly hugging our tyres, we rolled along, slowly, all the time climbing higher and higher and not daring to look down. The dirt road now had a soft slushy snow-covered surface but our chains seemed to be doing their job, traction proved to be great. But suddenly lots of cars began passing us but in the opposite direction and I wondered why everyone was leaving the mountain!??? At about the halfway point I started to panic, I mean seriously freak out! The snow was becoming thick and frosty, the road narrow and steep...and did I mention it was on the edge of a cliff - with no guard rails, and no "BE CAREFUL, if-your-vehicle-slides-off-the-edge-you-will-die" signs, nothing!!!!!!!! I told Ben to stop!!!! We weren't going a single metre further until I'd phoned the resort at the top; I wanted to know two crucial things (i) what are the conditions up there? and (ii) is it safe for a motor home to make the climb? We were driving a motor home for goodness sake, not a snow mobile!!!!!!

The lady on the phone must have thought me a little strange. I was told in no uncertain terms that of course it was safe (dur) and yes, motor homes drive up all.the.time (again, dur). Yes, the weather conditions were OK, and oh by the way, people are starting to leave now as the resort shuts at 4pm. 

OK, so it was 3pm already...we didn't have a lot of time. We pushed on, me with my sweaty palms and brow creases. Truth be told, I think Ben was feeling apprehensive too - he'd never encountered driving conditions like this! Very close to the top we were stopped by a parking attendant who asked us to state our name and business. Well not quite, but he did want to know of our intentions as the carpark was full and the traffic a little chaotic as folk were calling it a day. We said we just wanted to take a peek. The friendly young chap said that was fine and that he'd escort us right to the front of the resort so we didn't have to walk far. Ha, what luck.

Finally at the top we were all a little gobsmacked by what was before us. I was blown away by the view, height and scale of it all...and I've seen plenty of ski resorts before. I can only imagine Ben, Harry and Till must have felt like they'd landed on another planet. It was another world altogether.  Snow ploughs, ski doo's, crowds of people dressed in funny clothes. Seeing it through their eyes, I realised how foreign it must look. Oh but the snow...there was SO MUCH SNOW!!!!!

The kids begged us to take them skiing and I was secretly relieved they were so keen. I was eager to hit the slopes myself.  Ben and I exchanged knowing glances and before you knew it, we had everything arranged for the next day. We had to hire absolutely everything, even goggles! 

Stay tuned for Day Ten..

Ben, Harry and Till ski for the first time!