Things to Do in Methven
Year-round adventures in New Zealand's alpine village — from world-class skiing to jet boating and thermal pools.
Winter in Methven
June to October — ski season brings Mt Hutt, ice skating, and après-ski atmosphere to Methven.
Mt Hutt Ski Area
New Zealand's best ski resort — ten years running and still the benchmark.
Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa
Solar-powered thermal pools with a swim-up bar, kids' caves, and private spa suites.
Discovery Jet
Jet boat the Rakaia Gorge — 360° spins, sheer canyon walls, and 80km/h on a braided river.
Lake Coleridge
A remote high country lake with trout fishing, jet boating, horse trekking, and silence.
DIRT Bandits Off-Road Experiences
High-speed off-road driving in purpose-built machines through the Canterbury high country.
Hot Air Ballooning over the Canterbury Plains
Sunrise above the Canterbury Plains — 300km panorama from the Pacific to the Southern Alps.
Staveley Ice & Curling Rink
New Zealand's only refrigerated natural-style ice rink — curling and skating in a bush setting since 1951.
NZ Alpine & Agriculture Encounter
Climb into a combine harvester, visit a live beehive, and discover how Mt Hutt's ski field was built.
Methven Golf Club
An 18-hole Canterbury country course with Mt Hutt for a backdrop and no pretension whatsoever.
Methven Heliski
Guided heli-skiing across three Southern Alps ranges — 200 named runs, four guests per guide, checked in from Methven's main street.
Heli Rural
A working rural helicopter operation at Pudding Hill that also flies scenic trips over the Rakaia, the high country and the Southern Alps.
NewZengland Clay Shooting & Archery
Clay bird shooting, archery, and air rifles on a high country terrace above the Rakaia Gorge.
Terrace Downs Golf Resort
An 18-hole championship course on the terraces above the Rakaia Gorge — parkland out, links home.
High Country Horse Adventures
Private horse treks from Lake Coleridge Village — river crossings, mountain country, and multi-day backcountry rides.
Summer in Methven
November to April — long days, stunning scenery, and adventure around every corner.
Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa
Solar-powered thermal pools with a swim-up bar, kids' caves, and private spa suites.
Discovery Jet
Jet boat the Rakaia Gorge — 360° spins, sheer canyon walls, and 80km/h on a braided river.
Lake Coleridge
A remote high country lake with trout fishing, jet boating, horse trekking, and silence.
DIRT Bandits Off-Road Experiences
High-speed off-road driving in purpose-built machines through the Canterbury high country.
Hot Air Ballooning over the Canterbury Plains
Sunrise above the Canterbury Plains — 300km panorama from the Pacific to the Southern Alps.
NZ Alpine & Agriculture Encounter
Climb into a combine harvester, visit a live beehive, and discover how Mt Hutt's ski field was built.
Methven Golf Club
An 18-hole Canterbury country course with Mt Hutt for a backdrop and no pretension whatsoever.
Mt Hutt Bike Park
A volunteer-built network of 40-plus kilometres of singletrack on the lower slopes of Mt Hutt, free to ride.
Heli Rural
A working rural helicopter operation at Pudding Hill that also flies scenic trips over the Rakaia, the high country and the Southern Alps.
NewZengland Clay Shooting & Archery
Clay bird shooting, archery, and air rifles on a high country terrace above the Rakaia Gorge.
Terrace Downs Golf Resort
An 18-hole championship course on the terraces above the Rakaia Gorge — parkland out, links home.
High Country Horse Adventures
Private horse treks from Lake Coleridge Village — river crossings, mountain country, and multi-day backcountry rides.
Year-round
Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa
Solar-powered thermal pools with a swim-up bar, kids' caves, and private spa suites.
Discovery Jet
Jet boat the Rakaia Gorge — 360° spins, sheer canyon walls, and 80km/h on a braided river.
Lake Coleridge
A remote high country lake with trout fishing, jet boating, horse trekking, and silence.
DIRT Bandits Off-Road Experiences
High-speed off-road driving in purpose-built machines through the Canterbury high country.
Hot Air Ballooning over the Canterbury Plains
Sunrise above the Canterbury Plains — 300km panorama from the Pacific to the Southern Alps.
NZ Alpine & Agriculture Encounter
Climb into a combine harvester, visit a live beehive, and discover how Mt Hutt's ski field was built.
Methven Golf Club
An 18-hole Canterbury country course with Mt Hutt for a backdrop and no pretension whatsoever.
Heli Rural
A working rural helicopter operation at Pudding Hill that also flies scenic trips over the Rakaia, the high country and the Southern Alps.
NewZengland Clay Shooting & Archery
Clay bird shooting, archery, and air rifles on a high country terrace above the Rakaia Gorge.
Terrace Downs Golf Resort
An 18-hole championship course on the terraces above the Rakaia Gorge — parkland out, links home.
High Country Horse Adventures
Private horse treks from Lake Coleridge Village — river crossings, mountain country, and multi-day backcountry rides.
Walks & Hiking
From forest waterfalls to high country viewpoints — the walking and tramping tracks around Methven, most on Department of Conservation land.
Track conditions change — check current alerts on the DOC website before you go. doc.govt.nz
Rakaia Gorge Walkway
A volcanic canyon, a turquoise river, an abandoned coal mine, and one of Canterbury's great half-day walks.
Methven Walkway & Enchanted Forest
An 11km town walkway along the RDR canal — with a fairy-door forest that locals built themselves.
Awa Awa Rata Reserve
Beech forest, a rhododendron dell, and the closest proper walking tracks to town.
Sharplin Falls Track (Tāhekerua)
A volunteer-built track up Bowyers Stream to a beech-forest waterfall the district refused to lose.
Washpen Falls
A private farm track through an ancient volcanic canyon — waterfalls, caves, and the plains laid out below.
Peak Hill Track
A steep, exposed climb to a 1,240m summit with the definitive view of Lake Coleridge.
Gear Hire & Visitor Services
Ski, snowboard and mountain bike hire, plus the local visitor information centre.
Alpine Sports Methven
Ski and snowboard hire, retail and workshop in winter; mountain bikes in summer. Over 50 seasons of experience on Main Street.
87 Main Street, Methven
alpinesports.co.nzBig Al's Snowsports
Ski and snowboard hire and sales in winter, mountain bike hire in summer — a Methven fixture for gearing up before the mountain.
Methven i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
The official visitor information centre in the Methven Heritage Centre — local advice, activity bookings, transport and track information.
Shopping
Galleries, giftware and everyday essentials in the village.
Smith Gifts and Art Gallery
Gift shop and gallery showing the work of local artist Karen Smith.
Methven Hammer Hardware
The local hardware store — everyday needs, from DIY supplies to household basics.
Wedding Venues
Venues in and around Methven for weddings and private events.
The Staveley
Wedding and event venue in Staveley, in the foothills 20 minutes from Methven.
Staveley Co-Op 1916
A restored 1916 co-op building in Staveley available for weddings and private events.
Indoor & Leisure
Pools, wellness and fitness for rest days and rainy days.
The Salt House
Complementary therapies clinic — halotherapy (dry salt therapy), massage and wellness treatments.
Flow Pool & Studio
Heated pool, yoga and dance classes, infrared sauna and hydrotherapy on 20 acres with Southern Alps views, just outside Methven.
Plan your stay
Browse self-contained holiday homes in Methven and book direct.
Browse accommodation