Mt. Hutt ski field is in the Southern Alps west of the Canterbury Plains on the South Island of New Zealand near the town of Methven. It boasts the largest area for skiing on the South Island. Mt. Hutt is only about an hour and a half from Christchurch New Zealand, where you will find the major international airport in the region.

The mountain road to Mount Hutt can be treacherous, however, there is regular shuttle service every 20 minutes. There are also two bus lines from Methven and Christchurch to Mount Hutt and a trip on the bus includes the cost of the shuttle service when you arrive. You can save even more buying season passes. There are plenty of lifts available with triple, quad and six-seater chairs. New terrains have been created for the freestylers, too. This is the best of the Canterbury ski fields. Even when closed due to bad weather Mount Hutt has more open skiing days than other resorts. This is due to the long ski season in this area.

When skiing at Mt. Hutt, the visitor stays in Methven. Accommodations in Methven are plentiful and inexpensive. This is a plus because Mt. Hutt is popular with families and discounts for families are offered. Methven is a lovely country town full of local culture with a very relaxed atmosphere. You will find plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants. Besides being a ski town, Methven is noted to have been the base location for the cast and crew of The Lord of the Rings, which was filmed in the glorious natural terrain of New Zealand.

Historically, Mt. Hutt has always been the first ski field to open each season, and it is usually the last one to close. Here you will find slopes to accommodate any skier. This ski resort is well known for racing, due to the vertical combined with the steep pitch. The views on Mt. Hutt are especially spectacular. On a clear day you can see beyond the Canterbury Plains all the way to the Pacific, but the beautiful snow covered Southern Alps give amazing views in any direction.

The terrain is about 25% beginners, 50% intermediates and 25% advanced with the longest run measuring 2 kilometres. Mt. Hutt is known as the Capital of Speed and the best racers in the world ski there. Mt. Hutt hosts several races and other social events each season. There is an enclosed "magic carpet" lift for beginners and also an excellent ski school. The snowboard terrain park is 10,000 sq meters with just about anything you can think of including rails and half pipe. Their range of on and off piste runs are the best, too.

Heli-skiing is offered in full day and half day excursions offering every type of run you can imagine from long powder runs to very steep and challenging runs, the average run being about 700 vertical meters, with some up to 1000 vertical meters. This is the place for the ultimate heli-skiing and heli-boarding. Mt. Hutt is the only commercial field to have its own heli-pad.

Mount Hutt Helicoptors will take you to amazing places in the Mount Hutt Range, the Taylor Range and the Black Hills for some of the best heli-skiing anywhere. They also offer heli-fishing, scenic flights and romantic picnics at secluded alpine lakes.

Mt. Hutt is one of the best ski resorts in New Zealand. The facilities are modern with a crèche, a bar and a restaurant. You will discover a real Kiwi attitude here, relaxed and friendly.