Mt Hutt Ski Area

Mt Hutt Ski Area is one of the most popular ski resorts located on the South Island of New Zealand and approximately 90 minutes' drive from Christchurch. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New Zealand and is known for its extensive network of groomed trails, spectacular alpine scenery, and reliable snow conditions which has allowed Mt Hutt to be voted New Zealand’s best ski area continuously from 2015.

The ski area has a variety of terrain, catering to skiers and snowboarders of all levels, from beginners all the way through to experts. Mt Hutt ski area has a total of 365 hectares of skiable terrain, with 4 chairlifts, 1 surface lift, and a vertical drop of 683 meters. Mt Hutt Ski Area has a reputation for being one of the most reliable ski resorts in New Zealand for snowfall, thanks to its high altitude and location in the Southern Alps. It typically has a long ski season, running from early June to late October, and often receives significant amounts of fresh snow throughout the season.

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Mt Hutt Ski Area also offers a range of other winter activities, such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and tobogganing. The resort has several on-mountain dining options, including a cafe and a restaurant, as well as ski rental and retail shops. Resorts in New Zealand are not known for villages or accommodation on the mountains however the quaint township of Methven found at the foot of the mountain range has great accommodation options for all kinds of travellers. Multiple shuttle bus options head up to the resort daily from Methven and confident drivers can make their way up the challenging mountain roads, not for the non-confident drivers.

Overall, Mt Hutt Ski Area is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders from around the world, thanks to its excellent snow conditions, wide variety of terrain, and stunning alpine scenery.

Mt Hutt Web Cam & Live Snow Cams

Stay up to date with the snow conditions from every corner of Mt Hutt Ski Area. We have collected all the best shots from the Mt Hutt web cam so you can see every aspect of the ski resort.

If you want to check out the snow depth from the latest storm, see if the sun is going to be shining or check out the weather before your next visit - check out the Mt Hutt web cam below.

Mt Hutt Lift System

Looking at the numbers most riders would question how only 3 lifts are enough to cover the 365 hectares of rideable terrain, but Mt Hutt has positioned their chairlifts perfectly to ensure consistent riding all day. Mt Hutt has it all, a six pack, a triple chair and also a new 8 pack chair coming 2021. To keep the newbies, kids and beginners happy there are two surface lifts in the base area.

The Nor’west Express will replace the Quad chair and be the first chairlift in the region to feature padded seats, foot-rest bars and a loading carpet with access gates. Each chair weighs nearly a tonne and is equipped with a chair swing dampener meaning the lift will be more stable and operate at higher speeds in windy conditions.

Mt Hutt Ski Area Stats

Mt Hutt Snow

Sitting on the eastern face of the Southern Alps and with an elevation of over 2000m means that Mt Hutt gets a great amount of natural snow each winter season with August constantly being the snowiest month. Around 2.5m of natural snowfall hits this resort each year and the snowmaking team do a great job of filling in the gaps with an awesome snowmaking system. When storms do roll in, they tend to sit around this resort for a while and the visibility can be dreadful (this is where the resort gets the sarcastic name Mt Shutt) however those storms are great for filling in the gullies and chutes and when the sun comes out after a good day the powder riding is world class.

Where is Mt Hutt

Situated high above the Canterbury plains on the eastern side of the Southern Alps Mt Hutt is a dominating mountain that sits proudly above the farmlands and the quaint township of Methven.

Just under 2 hours’ drive from Christchurch and less than 1 hour from Methven the resort is a scenic and simple drive until you get to the actual mountains. Rising from 1200m up to the base area of 1600m the climb up in a small and narrow mountain side New Zealand road. Those not comfortable should take the shuttle buses that run daily. Methven has the best accommodation options with lodging options from cheap back packers, normal motels and hotels all the way through to luxury homestays. Perfect for all travellers of any kind.

The closest airport is Christchurch with international flights from Australia and domestic flights from everywhere in New Zealand. International visitors will likely fly into Auckland and then connect down to Christchurch. For those adventurous travellers looking for a ski journey should consider renting a car and making their way from Christchurch down to Queenstown and stopping Mt Hutt, Treble Cone, Cardrona, The Remarkables and Coronet Peak.

Mt Hutt Snow News