Mount Hutt Skifield
Hit the slopes at one of New Zealand’s largest ski areas, which is best known for its long season and gorgeous surrounding scenery.
Mount Hutt Ski Field features one of the longest vertical drops in New Zealand’s South Island and some of the region’s finest snow conditions. The ski season generally lasts from June to October, making it among the longest seasons in the Southern Hemisphere. Bring the family to explore one of the country’s most varied ski fields and take advantage of kid-friendly discounts and facilities.
Spanning 900 acres (365 hectares), the ski field is positioned inside an inactive volcano within the eastern rim of the Southern Alps and is filled with a mix of zigzag runs and steep drops. It overlooks picturesque Canterbury Plains and the Pacific Ocean. The highest point is 6,843 feet (2,086 meters) and the vertical drop is 2,126 feet (648 meters), among the longest in the region. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced skier, try your skills on the varied and challenging slopes.
The field encompasses two beginner and nearly 40 intermediate and advanced runs. Warm up with the wide, groomed beginner runs or take on the challenging black diamond runs on the mountain’s south face. Freestyle skiers should investigate the exceptional terrain parks, which include an International Ski Federation-certified halfpipe.
Bring your children between 2 and 5 years old to participate in Skiwiland crèche, which provides indoor childcare and ski lessons. Enrol your older children under 15 in the special Kea club ski school.
There are no accommodations on the Mount Hutt Ski Field, so most visitors choose to stay in nearby Methven, a 35-minute drive away. Shuttle buses run frequently between the two areas.
The Mount Hutt Ski Field is located on South Island, a 90-minute drive from Christchurch. Get here by car or take one of the shuttle buses that regularly depart from Christchurch or Methven.