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The most photographed pub in New Zealand

Old-style charm shines through at a New Zealand pub, Mogens Johansen finds.

If it could talk, the rustic facade of the Cardrona Hotel could probably tell an tale or two. And, although it wears a tasteful amount of make-up in the form of paint, there is no hiding its age. The building is not quite straight, the wood cladding is warped where it has moved with the building over time, the Gaelic Whisky sign above the door looks like it has been shot a few times and the doors and windows suggest they could be a bit hard to open and close. But you would still have to say, it’s a place of considerable old-style charm.

Established in 1863, the iconic hotel is said to be the most photographed pub in New Zealand. It’s in the Cardrona Valley about halfway between Queenstown and Wanaka. During the 1860s word got out that there was gold in the hills and prospectors flocked to the area. The Cardrona Hotel was one of four hotels offering accommodation and the odd drink to thirsty miners during the ensuing boom. When the boom ended most of the other buildings in Cardrona were transported to the growing town of Pembroke (later renamed Wanaka). In 2002 the hotel underwent a major refurbishment and a new accommodation wing was added. Since it is a heritage-listed building special care was taken to preserve the facade and also ensure that the new extension was in keeping with the existing structure.

The nearby ski fields and mountain-bike trails makes the Cardrona a popular place to stay and its location, on a scenic drive from Queenstown to Wanaka, means it’s also a perfect stop for a meal or a drink.

Cardrona Hotel near Wanaka in New Zealand. Public bar area. Picture: Mogens Johansen

The rustic mood of the facade continues when you enter: there is a cosy bar with heavy wooden furniture and from the exposed beams hang an assortment of historic paraphernalia ranging from mining equipment to snow shoes and a pair of skis that the local ghost apparently moves from time to time. The lounge bar next door has a log fire with comfortable Chesterfield lounges, a boar’s head mounted over the fireplace and bank notes and coins from many countries decorating the ceiling.

Outside, sheltered by the corner of the old building and the newer accommodation block, is a beer garden with shady trees and a stone fireplace.

Alongside the hotel, on Cardrona Valley Road, the Robert McDougall & Son General Merchant Post and Telegraph and school and church buildings have also been restored, which adds to the feeling that one has stepped back into another time.

Mogens Johansen was a guest of Air New Zealand and Lake Wanaka Tourism.

FACT FILE

Air New Zealand has daily flights between Perth and Auckland with its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. airnewzealand.com.au or 13 24 76.

Wanaka is about a one-hour drive from Queenstown Airport via the Crown Range and Cardrona Valley.

Alpine ConneXions runs multiple daily bus services between Queenstown and Wanaka. alpineconnexions.co.nz.

For more on visiting Wanaka, see Lake Wanaka Tourism at lakewanaka.co.nz. The Cardrona Hotel is at cardronahotel.co.nz.