The Cardrona Hotel – arguably New Zealand’s most photographed pub and a fixture in the Southern Alps for more than 160 years – is officially on the market.
Set between Queenstown and Wānaka, the heritage-listed property is about as iconic as it gets. And for the first time in more than a decade, it’s up for grabs – with a price range of NZD$20–30 million.
The hotel is co-owned by Cade and Alexis Thornton and James and Fleur Jenneson, who purchased the property in 2013. Thornton said the group was stepping back to spend more time with their families – and described the sale as a “once-in-a lifetime opportunity”.
The 8613-square-metre site includes an award-winning restaurant, a year-round beer garden, and 17 ensuite hotel rooms with capacity for up to 44 guests.
The Cardrona Hotel operates at 84% annual occupancy and employs between 40 and 50 staff. According to the owners, Australian tourists now account for 35% of bookings, with Australians surpassing local New Zealanders in total nights booked for the 2025 ski season.
“Aussies love the laid-back, relaxed vibe because it feels like home,” Cade Thornton said.
“After endless requests, chicken parmigiana became a permanent fixture on our winter menu and it remains a firm favourite. I think Australians like this place because it looks different to their local pub, but still gives them that same familiar feeling.”
“There is still scope to expand,” Thornton added, referencing opportunities to add more accommodation, outdoor kitchens and function spaces.
Originally built in 1863 during the Otago gold rush, the Cardrona Hotel still retains historical features, including its original façade and a glass panel in the floor revealing an old mineshaft.
The property is considered one of the most recognised heritage buildings in New Zealand and a popular après-ski destination, having hosted locals, tourists, royalty and celebrities.
“We’ll have guests arriving by helicopter, all dressed up for a nice meal, and then the local farmers will come in, leaving their gumboots by the door,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any other place quite like it in New Zealand.”
Expressions of interest close at 5pm NZT on Friday, August 15, 2025.
