Mt Hutt Ski Field

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Mt Hutt has spectacular views across to the east coast
Mt Hutt has spectacular views across to the east coast
Mt Hutt has nearly 700m of vertical skiing
Mt Hutt has nearly 700m of vertical skiing
There is some great intermediate & advanced terrain at Mt Hutt
There is some great intermediate & advanced terrain at Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt's new tunnel keeps the traffic flowing more safely
Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt's 6-pack detachable chair lift is fast & efficient
Skiing from the top of the mountain through towers
Skiing from the top of the mountain through towers
Mt Hutt is very family friendly
Mt Hutt is very family friendly
There are some good terrain park features & jumps at Mt Hutt
There are some good terrain park features & jumps at Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt has some gentle beginners areas
Mt Hutt has some gentle beginners areas
Looking towards the Virgin Mile at Mt Hutt
Looking towards the Virgin Mile at Mt Hutt
You can ski a lot of vertical in a day at Mt Hutt
You can ski a lot of vertical in a day at Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt terrain; Towers in the background
Mt Hutt terrain; Towers in the background
One of the local
One of the local's at Mt Hutt....these guys will eat your roof racks!!
Mt Hutt has a great ski & snowboard school for all levels
Mt Hutt has a great ski & snowboard school for all levels
May people also visit Mt Hutt for some good old fashion snow play
May people also visit Mt Hutt for some good old fashion snow play
The Virgin Mile at Mt Hutt
The Virgin Mile at Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt has some nice wide intermediate groomers
Mt Hutt has some nice wide intermediate groomers
The powder at Mt Hutt can be great!
The powder at Mt Hutt can be great!
Mt Hutt has a couple of cafe
Mt Hutt has a couple of cafe's serving good coffee & cafe-style food
The deck at the day centre is a great place to hang out on a nice day
The deck at the day centre is a great place to hang out on a nice day

Mt Hutt Ski Field

Readers Ratings

Mt Hutt

Mt Hutt3/514
Mt Hutt3 out of 5 based on 14 reviews
  • Recommend
    79%
  • Would Revisit
    64%

Mt Hutt New Zealand

Mt Hutt Ski Field in New Zealand is a premier ski resort, and combined with the town of Methven, is a great destination if you head there on weekdays for a laid-back and inexpensive 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”.

Pros and Cons of Mount Hutt

Pros
  • Mt Hutt Ski Field is a good all-rounder when it comes to terrain for all ability levels.
  • Whilst the skiing related costs are comparable to other commercial ski resorts in NZ, staying in Methven makes for a cheap New Zealand ski holiday.
  • On fine days, the views from Mount Hutt are nothing short of extraordinary. 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.
  • Mt Hutt is popular with families due to good children’s facilities and kids 10 and under ski for free.
Cons
  • Mt Hutt aka Mt Shut is rather exposed and the ski field closes more than most other NZ ski fields due to weather factors.
  • Like elsewhere in New Zealand: variable snow quality; challenging access road; and no on-mountain accommodation.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
  • In addition to kids skiing for free (under 11), Mount Hutt is on the Ikon Pass and season passes are incredibly cheap, so half of Christchurch turns up on the weekends, and major lift queues can ensue, and the car parking reaches capacity early.

Mt Hutt Ski Field Terrain

The Mt Hutt skiing 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 Mt Hutt ski field in particular is lots of fun and powder hounds will have a ball after a fresh dump of snow. The ski field isn't crowded on weekdays, but powder hounds will need to be assertive as the freshies won’t last for hours and hours.

The lift infrastructure copes very well with the lack of traffic on weekdays, whilst on weekends there can be lift queues.

Mount Hutt Snow and Weather

Mt Hutt receives 4 metres of snowfall on average per season, which is impressive relative to some other NZ commercial ski resorts, but like its New Zealand 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 the Mt Hutt Ski Field 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 fully 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. Powder hounds are happy for the resort to be closed sometimes if it means more snow!

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 on-mountain, but there is plenty of Methven accommodation. Methven is a beautiful country town full of character (and characters) about 30 minutes away.
Tours That May Include Mt Hutt

Safari (Road Trip) Tours

South Island Snow Safari
FULLY HOSTED ROAD TRIP
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Skiing
Ability: Beginner to Advanced
This 8 day adventure is ideal for the young at heart who want to pack in as much skiing or snowboarding and fun as possible into a single week. You will visit up to 6 of NZ's great ski areas with professional hosts who will get you to the best skiing/snowboarding in each of the locations.
Price p/p Base/invoice currency is NZD
Price is per person dorm share (upgrade may be possible for extra cost)
Displayed price might vary slightly to actual due to fluctuations in exchange rates.
USD 1,829
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See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit Mt Hutt here

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Mint Methven Heli Tour
METHVEN HELI SKIING ADVENTURE
5 Nights | 3 Days Heli | 1 Day Resort
Ability: Advanced to Expert
This tour includes 3 epic days of HELI BOARDING in the ARROWSMITH'S, PALMER & RAGGED RANGES with over 200 named runs. Based in Methven in stylish lodging with private rooms & ensuites, cooked daily breakfasts & dinners are included.
Price p/p From price based on private room with ensuite for 2024 season.
Base/invoice currency is in AUD inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 4,336
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See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Mt Hutt here

Heli Skiing Tours

Methven Heliski Day Heli Skiing
METHVEN HELISKI - DAY HELI SKIING
Standard 5 Run "Perfect" Package
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Methven Heliski is one of New Zealand's premier heli ski companies offering what many would agree is NZ's best heli skiing terrain. Don't just take it from us, book a day or more and experience it for yourself!
Price p/p From price based on PERFECT 5-run day in 2024.
Base/invoice currency is in NZD inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 912
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