Local Attractions

Methven is at the heart of a whole host of activities and experiences including fabulous subalpine and scenic walkways, challenging country golf courses and one of New Zealand’s best international golf resorts, hot air ballooning over the Canterbury Plains with views to the Southern Alps, experience a scenic flight by helicopter over the spectacular Canterbury High Country, jet boat up the spectacular Rakaia Gorge or a wild river raft on the Rangitata River, dare yourself and enjoy the extreme views and adrenalin charge of a tandem skydive, a 4WD journey through some of Canterbury’s most unique locations including Mt Sunday – a hill made famous by the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, horse trekking across some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes, and salmon or trout fishing in the high country lakes and braided rivers.

With over twenty eating establishments, visitors to Methven Mt Hutt Village can enjoy a wide variety of meals, from the classic kiwi takeaway or New Zealand country pub meal to delicious first-class fare. Fresh vegetables, meat and poultry grown in our region are sure to satisfy even the most discerning diner.

Methven is also known as the Mt Hutt Village and is the main town servicing the Mt Hutt ski field in Canterbury, New Zealand. The township is situated amongst the rich farmland of the Canterbury Plains with the rugged Southern Alps providing a majestic backdrop. Methven is an ideal base to explore the area and has a small town feel with a friendly atmosphere.

Methven also has excellent facilities for travellers to the region including accommodation, restaurants and cafes, tour companies, a travel and visitor information centre, a museum and a range of the township amenities such as a bank, craft shops, petrol station, medical centre and more.

Getting to Methven and Mt Hutt
The township is an easy 1 hour drive from Christchurch in the east and 1½ hours from Timaru in the south. If you are travelling from Christchurch, try the Inland Route on Scenic Highway 72.

What to do in Methven
Methven and Mt Hutt is a year round destination with summer and winter activities

See the Ashburton District Tourism website for more great activities and attraction in the Ashburton district or coming events.

Skiing Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt (Mount Hutt) sits high above the Canterbury Plains in the heart of the New Zealand Southern Alps and is approximately 30 minutes drive from Methven. Drive up to the ski field or catch one of the regular daily shuttles to your motel lodge accommodation in Methven.

This ski field is one of the major ski fields in New Zealand and enjoys a long winter season typically from early June to the mid of October. The ski field has snowmaking facilities and spring skiing is a bonus. The wide-open trails provide easy learning for novice skiers (25% of the ski area), intermediate skiers (50%) and advanced skiers (24%). Excellent terrain for both skiers and snowboarders with the longest run being 2km.

Six seater high speed chairlift
Express quad chair
Triple chair
140m long surface conveyor lift
Children’s centre
Qualified instructors
Ski and snowboard school
Ski, snowboard and clothing hire
Snow shop
Licensed restaurant and Café’s
Heli-ski and heli-board with Mt Hutt helicopters
Snowboard half pipe and terrain park
Two international half pipes

Mt Hutt offers all levels of skier and rider an awesome winter experience. Each winter, the arrival of many of the world’s best ski racers for training down under enhances the mountain’s reputation as the ‘Capital of Speed’.

Contact Abisko Lodge now for more information on Methven, Mt Hutt motel style lodge and apartment accommodation or about camping in the campground we are sure to have an option that will best suit you, or click here to make a booki ng.

(Please note: All bookings on our website are commission free and booking fee free – the price you are quoted is what you will pay and includes 15% GST and credit card fees).