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Visitor reviews for Mount Hutt Ski Resort

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Ski Resort Rating: Rate Mount Hutt

• August 03, 2011
  David Dewitt from Australia
  

  Well, we came, we saw (50cm snow) we conquered?
  Mount Hutt seemed like it would be great with 2 metres of snow, but alas a lot more rocks this time. It has come a long way since I was there 20 years ago, but the old Hutt needs a lot of snow, and it would be unreal! The staff were great, and it is well organised. When it was shut, we liked the 'Blue Pub' & the 'Brown Pub" in Methven, did 9 holes on the local Golf course and did a Heli-Ski. Yes, we got in touch with Heli Park and they took us to the Southern Alps for a first time, one day adventure, thanks Tracy and the gang. Something surreal about having a chopper drop you off on top of a strange noise free mountain and hitting fresh knee deep powder....wow, we had to pinch ourselves each run. So this made up for everything! Best food was the beef burger from the canteen at Mt Hutt, it was awesome! try one!! C U next time!

• July 01, 2011
  David Dewitt from Australia
  

  Well, this is a preview, as we (8 of us from Gold Coast OZ) are heading for Mt Hutt 24 July 2011. Got a great deal, cheapest ever 7 nights ski package, so here we come. Now I haven't been to Mt Hutt since 1991 as a beginner, so looking forward to it now that I can really board. We are definitely doing a heli-ski which should be awesome. Chow.

• August 30, 2010
  Alex S from Afghanistan
  

  I have skied Mount Hutt 40+ days in all types of conditions.

  The snow is always presented at its best, the staff are great and there are some excellent off-piste powder runs on the right day. Providing the mountain is not closed, due to the all too frequent high winds & bad visibility (Mount Hutt is sometimes coined, Mt Shutt) it can be a very enjoyable mountain to ski/ride. The groomed slopes are always maintained to perfection and there is some excellent terrain but of limited variety.

  The mountain itself lacks a little character but the views are amazing in any direction you look from the summit.

  Definitely worth a day or two, perhaps even a week or two if the snow is really on and you don't mind the 20-30min ascent. Keep in mind the assent can be slightly hair raising for the uninitiated, as unprotected 300ft + drops exist to one side (two cars have gone off the edge this season, resulting in one fatality).

  The crowds are minimal mid-week but it can be a little busy on the groomed slopes on weekends, especially if the snow is good. Same for the lift queues.

  Enjoy.

• August 24, 2009
  Angela, UK. Aug 2009 from United Kingdom
  

  I've only ever skied in Austria so the runs available at Mount Hutt seemed limited but ok for a day. The drive up in the ski bus was scary to say the least - that alone would put me off coming again. The pistes were well groomed but one that opened later in the day was very icy. I don't think it got any sun at all. I felt like a beginner again. There was a lively band playing which gave a slight apres-ski feel but arriving back in Methven, it was very quiet. Not exactly St Anton. Sorry about the negative comments but two people were killed off-piste while we were in NZ - if the area to ski was more extensive, maybe people wouldn't feel this need? What a blast to ski in August though.

• May 07, 2009
  Rossini from Australia
  

  Mount Hutt will not appeal to all, but will supply a satisfying days skiing/riding to most. The best part of this mountain is its lack of pretension and the relaxed rural atmosphere. On snow it offers great off-piste (lots of special spots if you know where to go) and the chance of true steep and deep. On-piste the grooming is good to very good on runs where what you see is what you get, the terrain parks are well looked after. Being a small field by Noth American/European or even Australian standards it still offers pretty good good facilities. The cafes whilst not 5 star are comfortable and reasonable for a ski field. The ski school and rental people are friendly and capable. The crew, who keep the mountain and access road safe, should have their blood bottled.
  The Mount Hutt experience is just that. Not just a snow sports destination but a great place to enjoy a different pace and life for a while.
  Ripping up some wind blown or corn snow or real powder is definitely on the cards but...one sometimes has to be philosophical down Mount Hutt way.

• September 01, 2008
  Andrew A from New Zealand
  

  To call Mt Hutt 'sheltered from most winds' is a plain lie. Rossini and Bdalza's reviews are more consistent with what I (pass holder for 8 years) have experienced at Mt Hutt. On a powder day it can be great and the snow is always as well presented as conditions allow. The field does struggle with prevailing weather, especially wind, snow and low-vis which close the road regularly. Lift icing has been a BIG problem this year, so check which lifts are actually operating on 'open' days. New 6-lift can make the experience a bit one-dimensional as everyone goes up and down the same way, if the triple is not open.

  [Comment by editor: the content of this review that was directed to an individual has now been removed]

• September 17, 2006
  big al mcneil from Australia
  

  I have just got back to Oz from what could only be described as the most fantastic ski trip I have had. I would rate myself as an intermediate skier, however, I got out of my comfort zone on Mt Hutt doing black runs on some of the best snow in years. Staying at Mt Hutt lodge on the Rakaia river just made it even better, when my friend and I landed a rainbow trout each. thank NZ.

• July 10, 2006
  Andrew from New Zealand
  

  Mount Hutt, consistently talked about as being the best ski field in New Zealand. With three chair lifts, this mountain is made very accessible and has the best lift accessed back coutry New Zealand can offer. The new 6 seater chair lift has done wonders for this field, when the queues are large (very rare even in holidays) this chair can get rid of large queues in a matter of miniutes, taking you up 500m vertical in just 4 miniutes! The quad from the base area offers awesome intermediate skiing and the trip (below carpark) offers double black diamond skiing and enables you to ski the towers and South face, massive powder runs. This mountain has awesome snow, dry powder and perfect groomed slopes, bumps and steep terrain. Green run from the top gives beginners a huge 10 miniute ride! Combine these with fast efficeint lifts, cold temps and shelter from most winds, dry snow, grromed slopes, steep powder runs and a huge field and you have in my opinion the best mountin in New Zealand! Just a short 1hr 30min drive to the top of the mountain from the city of Christchurch makes it a very accessible field offering beautiful scenery, nothing beats the view from the top looking over the back from the top of the mountain where some of the Lord of the Rings was filmed! Go to Hutt, you wont be dissapointed!

• March 24, 2006
  Richard from United Kingdom
  

  Driving up to this place scared the hell outa me, the drop was huge and it didn't feel right. That said, when I got to the top I was welcomed by a awesome base camp with friendly helpful staff. Unfortunatley this was one of the worst ski seasons for down south so there was not the best possible off-piste but on-piste was awesome and the view was teriffic. Definately recommended and I hope to go back one day.... ohh yeah, wouldn't be the same without the Kia in the carpark that tried to eat my boot laces =]

• May 06, 2005
  Rossini from Australia
  

  Mt Hutt is not everyones cup of tea, the best of the skiing/snowboarding is off piste, the snow can be wind affected and the ski field closed due to high winds.
  However the seasons are long the snow usually abundant and when Hutt is "on" it is really on with great consistent virtical and great snow quality. (the wind blown snow has to be experienced to be believed).If you are into the backcountry you dont have to search to far to drop off into some untracked seclusion,plus there is heliskiing/ snowboarding from the car park.
  Methven the nearby town is a laid back rural centre with plenty of bars restaurants and accommodation. Mt Hutt is as good as any commercial field in NZ and better for my money than most

• October 04, 2004
  Bdazla from New Zealand
  

  commercial in flavour, somewhat limited in terrain, and often wind effected, Hutt is one of the less inspiring of NZ fields. Best feature is the proximity to Christchurch (1.45 hrs), which unfortunately can also lead to large crowds on weekends. Good view like all NZ fields. Reasonable back country to explore if so desired, but unfortunately no longer offer a single ride ticket on the lifts.

• January 27, 2004
  Andy Hacker from United Kingdom
  

  The best bit about this place is the drive up!! A 1000 ft drop off to the side, unprotected! Also the 'helping hand' you get from the ski patrol if you get stuck on the road. Picture a massive 4x4 nudging you up the icy road from behind!! Very cool
  Skiing area is limited on piste but the off piste rocks, esp if you can afford to hire a helicopter or snow cat for the day

• 
  C. Sinclair Stewart from Canada
  

  The only possible thing better than Mt Hutt is winning the lottery. It's that good. My first day up the mountain was, with out a doubt, the best day of my entire life. I rode my first black diamond, drank my first beer, and even met my soul mate, Martha. Hi martha. Will you marry me? Please say yes, or I'll have nothing else to live for, aside from the beauty of Mt Hutt and all of its employees, particularly the snow makers. Those snow makers might even be better than winning the lottery.
  Overall I'd say that Mt Hutt is like a totem pole. No, wait, it's more like a guitar amplifier that you can turn up to 11. Most of the time it's at 10, but every now and then you choose to turn it to 11 because 11 is louder and better, like Mt Hutt.
  Hi mom.
  C. Sinclair Stewart