Cardrona Valley
Cardrona Valley is located south of Wanaka Town, in the Wanaka region of New Zealand.
The road along Cardrona Valley is a beautiful, scenic drive and merges with the route over the Crown Range. At 1,121 metres this is the highest main road in New Zealand.
For some of New Zealand's most scenic walks and unforgettable flightseeing, take the short drive from Wanaka to Mount Aspiring National Park. You'll be glad you did! Back at Wanaka, State Highway 89 meanders through the beautiful Cardrona Valley to Queenstown - New Zealand's four season alpine resort town.
Abuzz during the Otago gold rush of the 1860s, Cardrona's name is now synonymous with white treasure—the snow that covers the world-class Cardrona Alpine Resort ski field and Waiorau Snow Farm, New Zealand's only Nordic ski area.
With trails open for mountain biking in the summer months, the Cardrona Valley is a popular route for those wanting to combine some adventure activity with a scenic drive.
South of Rivendell / Misty Mountains
Looking out across the stunning Lake Wanaka, the snow-capped Southern Alps doubled as a backdrop of the Misty Mountains surrounding Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Stop to savour the views at the summit of the Cardrona road and you'll have expansive views over the River Anduin, site of the Pillars of the Argonath and Dimrill Dale. Then carry on to Queenstown for more Lord of the Rings location spotting!