Mt Hutt
Ski Mt Hutt, New Zealand
Mt Hutt in New Zealand is a premier ski resort, and combined with the town of Methven, is a great destination for a laid-back ski holiday. Mt Hutt ski field is a place where you can experience some lovely thigh burn considering the substantial vertical drop (by NZ standards). The vertical combined with the steep pitch lends itself well to racing and earns Mount Hutt the title of the “capital of speed”.
Ski and Snowboard Terrain
The
Mt Hutt ski terrain is brilliant for beginners and intermediates, and in addition to the speedy groomers, the 365 hectares of treeless terrain also provides an infinite number of off-piste lines for advanced riders. The terrain around the periphery of the resort in particular is lots of fun and powderhounds will have a ball after a fresh dump of snow. The ski field wouldn’t be described as crowded, but powderhounds will need to be assertive as the freshies won’t last for hours and hours.
Lift queues are never an issue as Mount Hutt has undergone recent infrastructure development to significantly improve the efficiency of the lifts. New terrain parks have also been created to cater to freestylers.
Mount Hutt Snow and Weather
Mt Hutt receives 4 metres of snowfall on average per season, which is impressive relative to other NZ commercial ski resorts, but like its NZ counterparts the snow conditions can be incredibly variable. Anything is possible including dry powder, mashed potatoes, cement, slush or ice.
One of the shortcomings of Mt Hutt is that it sits on the edge of the mountain range and is exposed to cold and strong southerly winds. Mt Hutt has unaffectionately been called Mt Shut because the ski area and the steep windy access road are at the mercy of the weather gods. Bring a book, hang out in the Blue Pub or find other non-skiing
activities in Methven, as there’s a reasonable chance that the resort will be closed for at least one day during your stay. Or if it’s open, not all lifts may be operating.
Poor weather results in the resort being closed 14 days per season on average, but because Mt Hutt has such a long season, the positive spin is that it has more “open” days per season than other resorts. And of course, bad weather is often accompanied by snowfall, and the geographical features of Mt Hutt means that it catches the snow like a baseball glove. Powderhounds are happy for the resort to be closed sometimes if it means more snow!
Another advantage of the exposed nature of Mt Hutt is that it provides views that are nothing short of extraordinary. On a clear day you can see right across the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific. Over the back of the mountain there are amazing views of the snow-covered Southern Alps which seem to go on forever.
Where is Mt Hutt?
Within the Southern Alps, Mt Hutt is near
Methven in the Canterbury region of the South Island. It is located only 1.5 hours by car from Christchurch, New Zealand.
The road up to Mt Hutt can be pretty daunting for people who don’t have much familiarity with mountain driving or putting on chains. As an alternative mode of transport, regular shuttle buses operate between Methven and Mt Hutt.
Mt Hutt Accommodation
There is no
Mt Hutt accommodation per se, but there is plenty of
Methven accommodation. Methven is a beautiful country town full of character (and characters) about 30 minutes away. One of the drawcards for visiting Methven and Mt Hutt is the laid-back culture, with the area being described as the Byron Bay of the South Island. Obviously there are no beaches, but the relaxed feel of the place is a major plus.
Why Ski or Snowboard at Mt Hutt?
Whilst the skiing related costs are comparable to other commercial ski resorts, staying in Methven makes for a cheap New Zealand ski holiday. Mt Hutt is also popular with families due to good children’s facilities and family discounts.
Powderhounds have provided Mt Hutt with multiple
best ski New Zealand awards for its snow and terrain:
- Best snow conditions
- Best lift infrastructure
- Best racing run
Travel Agents & Tour Operators
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Blue Powder Tours - Snow Travel Specialists
Blue Powder Tours specialise in individual & group tours to your favourite ski destinations in New Zealand. We have personal experience of skiing at Mt Hutt & can tailor a tour to your budget.
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