After Dark

BY LIZ CARLSON @youngadventuress

Nothing beats a bluebird powder day on your favorite mountain in New Zealand. The familiar sound of our skis whipping through the fresh snow, the laughter & pure joy can only come from a perfect winter’s day on the hill. Followed up by aprés-ski by the fire with friends as the sun dips behind the mountains, it’s easily a feeling that gets under your skin & brings us back to places like Cardrona again & again.

As we head home, tired but filled with happiness, on the surface it might seem like the mountains are also calling it a day. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: when the sun goes down, the party is only just getting started & that’s when things really get interesting. The surrounding mountains turn gold then red before sinking into darkness as the last stragglers of the day wind their way down the dirt roads to the valley below. The bright stars & planets begin to shine, illuminating a whole new world few get to see.

But now’s your chance. Last year Cardrona lifted the curtain on one of New Zealand’s most iconic mountains, giving visitors a rare glimpse into the hive of activity that can only happen when the crowds have gone home to bed. If you think that only the groomers get to see the stunning show that is the Cardrona Valley night sky then you are sadly mistaken because you now can too. Zip up the winding road at sunset & have a comfortable dinner with friends as the stars begin to show their faces. After that, you can join in on one of the incredible new stargazing tours & learn everything you couldn’t even imagine about the heavens. You can even stay the night on the mountain in the apartments.