Ski Methven New Zealand
Methven is a quaint little country town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. Sometimes referred to as Mt Hutt Village, Methven New Zealand is an ideal base for skiing at
Mt Hutt which is only 30 minutes away.
Ski Methven: Summary of Pros & Cons
Pros
- A Methven ski holiday provides much better value for money than Queenstown or Wanaka. In particular, the Methven accommodation is where you’ll make big savings.
- For those flying into New Zealand from across the ditch, flights into Christchurch are reasonably inexpensive, especially when compared to flights into Queenstown.
- The positives of the town are what Methven doesn’t have – no crowds, no touristy hype, no attitude, and no pressure.
- Methven has a great heli skiing operation, Methven Heliski.
- Methven skiing is great for adventure skiers and boarders considering its proximity to the club fields.
- Methven has quintessential New Zealand friendliness.
Cons
- Those who just want to ski at Mt Hutt may be subjected to some non-ski days when it becomes Mt Shut.
- Methven activities are rather limited beyond the skiing and snowboarding and there’s negligible shopping.
Pro or Con Depending on Your Perspective
- Methven is not flamboyant like the ski town of Queenstown. The culture is pleasantly laid-back and it is a great place to unwind.
- Methven might not have a beautiful lake, but it does have the spectacular backdrop of Mt Hutt and surrounding mountains.
Where is Methven NZ?
Methven is located 94km west of Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand and just over an hour drive from the Christchurch International Airport, so it’s very accessible.
Methven Accommodation
There is no shortage of accommodation in Methven NZ and every 2nd house seems to be a B&B, lodge or backpackers. Prices for
Methven accommodation are incredibly low, so the town is a great place for a good value ski holiday. Go to our
Methven accommodation page where you can view properties and compare rates, check availability and book online.
Methven Ski Fields
Most visitors to Methven will be very happy just skiing or snowboarding at
Mt Hutt, but those looking for an adventure or in the event that Mt Hutt becomes “Mt Shut”, there is a smorgasbord of other Methven skiing options within 1.5 hours drive of town.
Some of the
NZ ski club fields in the Canterbury Highlands are absolute gems for adventurous skiers and boarders, and a fabulous way to explore the skiwi culture!
Craigieburn Ski Field,
Broken River and
Mt Olympus are best suited to advanced and expert riders with good fitness and an adventurous spirit. Approximate drive times from Methven are:
Porters (approx 1:15 hours from Methven) is a small commercial ski field that has terrain for all ability levels including beginners, and it is very family focused. Unlike most of the Canterbury club fields that have nutcracker ropetows, Porters is serviced by a chair lift and T-bars which are much less intimidating for those who've never used a nutcracker.
Mt Cheeseman (about 1 hour to 1:15 away) is also very family friendly, has terrain for all abilities, and has T-bars instead of nutcrackers.
There are shuttles between Methven and Mt Hutt available. To get to the other ski fields, you’ll want a 4WD vehicle. See our Methven travel page for information on how to get to the ski fields.
Methven Heli Skiing
The Methven area is also a centre for
New Zealand heli skiing, and like elsewhere in NZ, the heli skiing costs a fraction of what it does elsewhere in the world. Heli skiing is an amazing experience for those who love skiing or boarding untracked snow, phenomenal scenery, and a great adventure.
Methven Heli Ski is the primary operator in the area. Their steep terrain is particularly well geared to advanced to expert skiers & boarders.
Methven Bars and Nightlife
Methven NZ is not a crazy ‘party town’ like Queenstown. There is definitely nightlife, albeit somewhat mellow. There is a good selection of
Methven restaurants and bars, and a couple of pubs. If the foul weather sets in, there’s potential you might spend a bit of time at the Brown or Blue Pub!
Non-Skiing Methven Activities
Considering there is a reasonable chance that the ski areas and heli skiing will be closed for at least one day during your stay, you will need to keep your itinerary flexible. Bring a book (and an umbrella) and plan for other things to do on your “rest day”. Non-skiing activities around Methven New Zealand include jet boating in the Rakaia Gorge and playing golf on the picturesque golf courses.