New Zealand - Methven/Mt Hutt/Christchurch

I realise after a week of living in our lovely new pad that I'm not going to get any work for another couple of weeks as Oz has there end of year accounting in June. So after a very kind Jude gives me the nod, I jump on a plane to Christchurch to get some powder action. We never got to this side of the south island last time, so it was good to check it out, and see NZ in the winter. This is the area that is seen as the most similar to England, which is no surprise as it was created by the English as a home away from home. It has a rich agriculture, but also some of the best early snow in New Zealand.


Methven - A tiny little town nearest to the slopes. I noticed in the monthly magazine that the worlds ploughing competition with be held here later in the year.....Hmm, interesting!

Mt hutt is the highest ski slope in NZ, with a very flat countryside below.

This is the view over the other side of the mountains.... off piste anyone?

The temperature was -4C, but then with the wind you're easily up to -11C!

This is the winding road that you need to take ever day to get to the slopes. It takes about an hour from Methven, requires snow tires, has drops on either side, but is just beautiful. A car slid of the road 2 weeks beforehand and somehow they didn't die!

Me somehow still in one piece after a long week of snowboarding

As the slopes were only occupied by locals and a few tourists, it was easy meeting people. This is a group of crazy NZ guys, and US girl, i met who start every evening drinking jagerbombs at 7pm, owch!

Can you believe, a drum and bass night in Methven!

I got to Christchurch late in the afternoon, to check it out before my early morning flight. This is the square, with a conical statue to celebrate the millennium.

The canal that winds through town. You could easily believe you were in England.