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.