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Ski Mt Hutt

Mt Hutt is one of the most (if not the most) easily accessible ski areas in New Zealand. Being located only 1.5 hours drive from Christchurch International Airport, it is conceivable that you could fly into New Zealand and be skiing the same day at Mt Hutt. There are also several other great ski fields in the area such as Porters, Mt Olympus and the ski resort with no lifts (just a helicopter) Helipark, are all within easy reach if you have a car.

The town of Methven (base camp for Mt Hutt), is a quaint little rural town with a ski village vibe during winter. You will find plenty of great restaurants & bars in Methven to keep you going for a week or more.

Suggested Itinerary

Fly to Christchurch International Airport Self-Drive Christchurch to Methven (about 1 hour drive) 7 nights accommodation in Methven 6 days to ski and / or explore the other great things the Canterbury region has to offer Drive Methven to Christchurch Airport Fly Christchurch International Airport to home Other Activities to consider: Heliskiing Methven - Methven Heliski, Helipark Other Activities - Jetboating, Skydiving, Hot Air Ballooning & more

Methven Accommodation
Methven is the main base for Mt Hutt (often referred to as Mt Hutt Village). It has a good selection of accommodation from cheap budget backpackers to boutique lodges. The following table provides a few recommendations based on Powderhounds.com personal reviews & research.

Price Range	Recommendations	Ideal for
Budget	Big Tree Lodge	6 Bedroom Colonial House/Lodge. Budget conscious couples and groups. Located right in town.
Economy	Mt Taylor Lodge	Small families & groups. Private ensuites. Beautifully decked-out. Great location.
Deluxe	Ski Time Apartments	Couples, families & groups who want a bit more luxury. Restaurant & bar on site.
Luxury	Beluga Luxury Lodge	The best boutique lodge accommodation in Methven. 2 people max per room.

See all Methven Accommodation options here.


Car Hire ($NZD)
There are regular Methven shuttle buses that are available to get you to and from Christchurch Airport, and also very good daily shuttle services between Methven and Mt Hutt.

However, there are several fabulous ski areas in the Canterbury region and access without a car can prove to be a challenge (unless you take a guided tour). If you are wanting to vary the places you ski (and have the flexibility to travel to where the best weather and snow conditions are each day) we highly recommend hiring a car.

The following table shows typical prices (for peak ski season) for weekly hire based on various types of car (from lowest to highest price). Please note a standard car (with snow chains) will get you up and dow the mountain, however the roads to Mt Hutt and other Canterbury ski fields can be very muddy and slippery so a 4X4 or AWD (carrying chains) is advisable.

Car Hire	Car Type	Cost/week NZ$ inc Taxes
Budget	Ford Focus / Toyota Corolla (or similar)	204 to 430
Moderate	Ford Futura / 4wd wagon (or similar)	470 to 634
AWD (5 seats)	Ford Territory (or similar)	890
People Mover	8 seater (or similar)	483 to 894
Mini Bus	10 - 12 seater (or similar)	609 to 984

We have researched a number of car rental companies and have found that there can be a huge variation of costs and conditions. Many of the larger companies quote what seem to be reasonable rates, however when you start to drill-down to get a quote, the addition of costly insurance, extras such as chains and roof racks, taxes etc can add another 20% to 30%.

Here are a couple of  links that make searching for the best price very quick (typically the big brands are more expensive however the cars are in a lot better condition with lower kms):
Compare big brands - Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar & Thrifty:  Oodles Car Rental.
For budget rentals try: Ace Car Rentals

Also see our getting to Methven section for more options.


Lift Tickets (2011 prices)

Coronet Peak	Single day (NZD)
Adult (18 - 64)	$91
Student	$70
Youth (7-17)	$49
Senior (65 - 74)	$51
75+	FREE
Child (6 or under)	FREE

Mulit-day and flexi-pass discounts apply.

See full details of Mt Hutt Lift Passes here.

Airfares & Flights
The closest airport to Methven / Mt Hutt is Christchurch International Airport. Be careful when booking a flight to Christchurch as there are many indirect flights that go via Australian cities and / or via Auckland. These flights might appear to be cheap but you can lose almost a day in travel time (each-way). Also read the fine print about luggage allowances. Many carriers such as Jetstar and Virgin have very strict baggage allowances and will charge you for every extra kilogram.

Get the cheapest flights to New Zealand here