Methven is a small town with a population of 1,900 people, and the home of Mt. Hutt ski area in Canterbury, New Zealand. Approximately 93 km from Christchurch International Airport, the area is renowned as being a year-round base for action sports enthusiasts, being home to a wide range of activities.

Get in

By plane

Christchurch International Airport is about 93 km from Methven, with many flights daily from a range of major cities.

By airport shuttle

Methven Travel runs transport services to and from Christchurch Airport, with summer and winter timetables. In winter, the shuttle travels each way three times a day.

Get around

There are a number of shuttle services between Methven and Mt. Hutt.

See

• Mount Hutt skifield
• 1 Rangitata Diversion Race (RDR). A public works project that diverts water from the Rangitata River into Rakaia River while irrigating farms along the way. It goes by the north of Methven and under Waimarama Road and Mount Hutt Station Road. There are also a few walks that lead to the RDR from the town. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 War Memorial. (updated Apr 2023)

Do

• Hot air ballooning
• Skiing
• Mountain Thunder Motorcycle
• Cinema Paradiso
• Aoraki Balloon Services
• Methven Heliskiing
• 1 Ōpuke Thermal Pools, 35 Mount Hutt Station Rd, ☏ +64 3 261 6800, soak@opuke.nz. (updated Apr 2023)
• Golf: Fable Terrace Downs Resort is at Windwhistle, ten miles north of town.

Eat

Restaurants, Bars, and Cafés

Methven is home to a number of restaurants, bars and cafes. Venues can be very busy, so to be sure to book your spot to avoid disappointment.

• 1 The Green Parrot Bar & Grill, 36 Forest Dr, ☏ +64 3 302 9900, thegreenparrotnz@hotmail.com. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 The Dubliner, 116 Main St, ☏ +64 3 302 8259, info@dubliner.co.nz. (updated Apr 2023)
• Cafe Primo e Secundo, 38 Mcmillan St, ☏ +64 3 302 9060. 07:00–17:00. (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 AQUA Japanese Restaurant and Takeaways, 112 Main St, ☏ +64 3 302 9010. (updated Apr 2023)
• 4 Ski Time Restaurant & Lodge, 43 Racecourse Ave, ☏ +64 3 302 8398, fax: +64 3 302 8394, res@skitime.co.nz. (updated Apr 2023)
• Arabica Licensed Cafe
• 5 Craft @ Arabica, 36 McMillan St, ☏ +64 3 302 8455, arabicamethven@gmail.com. (updated Apr 2023)

Convenience and Grocery Stores

Apart from the cafés, restaurants, and bars, there are also a few convenience and grocery stores where you can buy food and snacks.

• 6 Four Square, 33-37 McMillan St, ☏ +64 3 302 8114. 7:00AM - 8:00PM. (updated Apr 2023)

• 7 SuperValue, 34 The Mall, ☏ +64 3 302 8050, Admin@methvensupervalue.co.nz. 8:00AM - 7:00PM. (updated Apr 2023)

Sleep

Methven has a wide range of accommodation properties including hotel resorts, ski lodges, luxury B&Bs, motels, backpackers and camping grounds offering more than 2,000 beds all year round. Mt Hutt Ski Area and the majority of ski fields in the Canterbury region do not offer on-mountain accommodation; Methven/ Mt Hutt Village is the accommodation base for ski holidays.

• 1 Methven Resort Hotel, 51 Main St, ☏ +64 3 302 8724, reservations@methvenresort.com. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 Methven Motels and Apartments, 197 Main St, ☏ +64 3-302 9200, info@methvenmotels.co.nz. (updated Apr 2023)
• Skibo House B&B, 82 Forest Dr. (updated Apr 2023)
• Lake Coleridge Lodge. (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 The Brown Pub Methven Mt. Hutt, ☏ +64 3 302 8045, stay@thebrownpub.co.nz. (updated Apr 2023)

Go next

Routes through Methven

Darfield ← Rakaia Gorge ←

NE  S

→ Ashburton