The South Canterbury foothills

Mount Hutt is widely regarded as one of the best and most varied ski-fields in the land, with a vertical rise of 683m, a variety of runs (two beginner, eight intermediate and thirty advanced) and, generally, the longest season (roughly June–Oct). All this is served by a triple, a quad and a six chairlift, and plenty of snowmaking. Rentals are available on the mountain, but there’s no accommodation here, so most people stay in Methven, from where there are frequent shuttle buses (all around $18 return; 45min to the ski-field): buy a ticket on board or from the i-SITE, from where most of the shuttles depart.

A hundred kilometres west of Christchurch on SH77, METHVEN is Canterbury’s winter-sports capital and the accommodation and refuelling centre for the Mount Hutt ski-field during the busy June to October ski season. Outside those months it can be pretty quiet, though summer visitors often base themselves here to explore the nearby Rakaia Gorge and Washpen Falls to the north, and Mount Somers to the south. It’s not a big place but the small centre has banks, post office and camping supplies.

The 1687m Mount Somers rises from the flatlands above the villages of Mount Somers, 21km southwest of Methven, and Staveley, 8km further south The mountain is encircled by the Mount Somers Track, which is conveniently in the rain shadow of the mountains and is often above the bushline – when it’s raining in Arthur’s Pass and Mount Cook is clagged in, there’s still a chance you’ll be able to get some hiking in here. The terrain, gentle by South Island standards, incorporates patches of regenerating beech forest and open tussock pocked by outcrops of rock. Large areas of low-fertility soil subject to heavy rainfall turn to bog, and as a result you’ll find bog pine, snow totara, toatoa, mountain flax and maybe even the rare whio (blue duck).

If you don’t fancy a long walk, just go as far as Sharlpin Falls (about 1hr return) or go riding with Staveley Horse Treks.

The tiny hamlet of PEEL FOREST, 12km west of SH72 and 35km south of Mount Somers, is the hub of Peel Forest Park, one of the eastern South Island’s last remaining patches of original native bush, which is threaded with walking tracks. Come for easy walks, horse trekking and the superb whitewater rafting trips through the Rangitata Gorge.