Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt rises straight from the Canterbury plains 90 minutes west of Christchurch, an exposed Pacific peak that takes the brunt of the Tasman storms and turns it into the deepest, longest season of the New Zealand commercial fields. The road climbs Pudding Hill and the town of Methven sits quietly at the foot.
Pistes and lifts
Run counts and piste kilometres are indicative. Green runs only exist in France, Spain, Andorra, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Japan, the United States, Morocco, Algeria, Lesotho, South Africa, Egypt, Canada, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand; Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany start at blue. Indicative average snow depth near the top of the resort, in cm.
No on-mountain stay is available at Mt Hutt and the access road closes overnight, often early in heavy weather. You base in Methven, 35 to 45 minutes downhill, and drive up daily. Conditions can require chains, and a 4WD or AWD vehicle is strongly advised mid-winter.
Get to know the resort
Mt Hutt is the South Island's go-to resort outside Queenstown, a single, exposed face on the east edge of the Southern Alps that opens at the start of June and stays open into late October. Vertical drop is 683 m, the highest of the New Zealand commercial fields, and the terrain breaks into three distinct sections: long groomed cruisers below the summit chair, a true intermediate playground around the Quad chair, and steep, windblown chutes off the Towers and South Face for advanced and expert skiers willing to chase storms. The mountain takes a full hit from Pacific weather, which translates to heavy snowfall and frequent white-outs, but also to powder that holds well thanks to the cold, exposed aspect. Methven, the gateway town at the foot of Pudding Hill, is a quiet farming and ski community with friendly pubs, simple lodgings and none of the Queenstown party scene. Mt Hutt sits within the NZSki group with Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, but its character is entirely different: less city, more weather, and longer days on skis.
Hotels in Mt Hutt
Hotels and apartments around the lifts. Compare prices on Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com.
Plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
Is Mt Hutt good for beginners?+
Mt Hutt offers 30 km of pistes across 4 lifts, from 1,430 m to 2,086 m. Whether it suits beginners depends on the dedicated learner zones at the base of the slopes, so check the local ski-school options for green and blue run access.
When is the best time to ski Mt Hutt?+
The season runs from Jun 1 to Oct 26, with a snow score of 85/100. The best conditions are usually from late January through February, while spring skiing in March and April brings longer days and softer afternoons.
Where should I stay for true ski-in/ski-out?+
No on-mountain stay is available at Mt Hutt and the access road closes overnight, often early in heavy weather. You base in Methven, 35 to 45 minutes downhill, and drive up daily. Conditions can require chains, and a 4WD or AWD vehicle is strongly advised mid-winter.
How big is the Mt Hutt ski area?+
Mt Hutt has 30 km of marked pistes served by 4 lifts, between 1,430 m and 2,086 m of altitude.
Is Mt Hutt more for beginners or experts?+
Mt Hutt counts about 45 marked runs in total. The colour breakdown above shows how they split by difficulty, a good guide to whether the resort fits your level.
Other ski destinations
Similar style, different mountain.
Cardrona
Southern Alps
Treble Cone
Southern Alps
Coronet Peak
Southern Alps
The Remarkables
Southern Alps