Whilst Methven isn't a tourist activity mecca like the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown, it certainly has a lot to offer for a relatively quite rural town & area. You won't have a problem filling in a week in Methven with skiing activities combined with other things to do in the area.

Methven Ski Activities

Methven is home to one of New Zealand's longest-running and premier heli-skiing operations; Methven Heli-ski. Also, within 1 hour's drive there are several fabulous club ski fields that are well worth a visit for the adventurous powder hound.

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Ice Skating

For a really novel NZ winter experience, go ice-skating in Stavely. The little town of Stavely is about 20 minutes from Methven. The ice skating is on an outdoor rink about 5 minutes from the town of Stavely (turn right down Flynns Road towards Sharplin Falls and then turn right at the sign-posted T-intersection). If you need skates, these can be hired back in town. The ice skating rink is open on Wednesday nights, weekends and during school holidays.

What makes this experience so unique is that it’s a completely no-frills ice skating rink. There are no walls to the rink, so there are no rails for beginners. Instead they use old sled like contraptions and wheelchairs that you can hold onto for support. To fully appreciate the experience you have to toast marshmellows on the fire next to the rink. The fire is also a great place to dry off your bottom if it is a bit wet!

Nearby is another ice rink used for curling. On weekend afternoons a great spectacle is the men that meet to compete. They wear their club uniform, a Scottish hat adorned with a pom-pom! It’s not quite clear whether the competition is about the curling or whether it’s about the whiskey being consumed. Either way, it’s a bit of fun!

The other activity nearby is a hike (or a tramp as the Kiwis call it) to Sharplin Falls.

Adventure Activities Methven

If you want to go jet-boating, Rakaia Gorge is only 13 minutes drive (16km) from Methven. Discovery Jet offers some thrills in the Rakaia River. This is a good activity for bad weather days when it’s not possible to go skiing or boarding, although with the scenic Mt Hutt as a backdrop, it’s even more spectacular when the sun is out.

Another great adventure activity is sky-diving. Skydiving Kiwis located at Ashburton (about 30km drive), offers tandem rides. Skydiving is the ultimate rush, but it will require giving up some skiing or boarding time to do it. Unfortunately it’s not a down day activity, as if the ski areas are closed there’s a good chance that the weather won’t be conducive to sky diving either.

For other activities in the air to soak up the views, you can try hot air ballooning.

Leisure Activities

Golf is not just a summer activity considering that the golf courses are generally not covered in snow. The Methven golf course is near town, and there’s also the Terrace Downs 18-hole championship course. The views from both courses are spectacular.

From Methven it’s possible to do a Lord of the Rings tour. What would a trip to New Zealand be without taking in a “Lord of the Rings tour”?  

Indoor Activities

For a rainy day activity you could catch a movie at Cinema Paradiso.

Relaxation

For complete relaxation have a massage at Methven Sports Massage which is located upstairs at Alpine Sports. The quality of the massages are superb (I mean absolutely superb!!) and they are reasonably inexpensive.