AUCKLAND, Today: Cardrona and Treble Cone took over Bondi Beach last week, tempting surfers to swap sand for snow in a one-off Board Swap activation with RealNZ and their new agency, Thinkerbell.
Timed to celebrate Cardrona’s 2025 winter launch and the massive Soho Basin terrain expansion, it marked the perfect moment to get Aussies thinking snow instead of surf.
From first light, surfers—joined by Olympian and two-time world champ Tyler Wright—handed over their boards for snowboards, lift passes, and the chance to win a three-day ski trip.
“This work is a bold start to our partnership with Thinkerbell. We’ve got world-class experiences and a big story to tell. Thinkerbell brings the energy, creativity and reach to help us do that across both sides of the Tasman.” – Alesha Stefanissin
Every surfboard swapped went straight to the Bondi Surf Club, adding a feel-good touch to the beach-to-snow mission. The activation is the first from Thinkerbell in its new role as RealNZ’s earned agency for both New Zealand and Australia.
RealNZ runs some of the South Island’s most iconic experiences—from Milford Sound to Cardrona—as part of its goal to connect people with conservation through unforgettable adventures.
Jessica Allison from Thinkerbell Aotearoa says, “Board Swap is a brilliant expression of what this collaboration is all about: using creative earned ideas to bring RealNZ’s story to unexpected places.
“Landing snowboards at Bondi is attention-grabbing, but it also captures something deeper: the thrill of discovery, and the invitation to experience Aotearoa’s wild side. We’re proud to kick things off with work that’s as imaginative as it is purposeful.”
Alesha Stefanissin from RealNZ adds, “This work is a bold start to our partnership with Thinkerbell. We’ve got world-class experiences and a big story to tell. Thinkerbell brings the energy, creativity and reach to help us do that across both sides of the Tasman.”
Cardrona Board Swap credits
Client: RealNZ
Earned agency: Thinkerbell
Production: The Park
Content: Spilt Milk
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