Real Kiwi flavour
A ski town might not be the first place you'd expect to find genuine Kiwi atmosphere.
But lovely little Methven, whose rhythmic Maori name is Piwakawaka, fits this bill.
It's true, though, that this village of 1350 residents takes on an international feel in winter due to the lure of its fabulous nearby ski field, Mt Hutt.
Indeed, at Ski Time hotel, where I stayed, recent guests had included the Canadian and Norwegian women's winter-sports teams and former Test cricketer Jonty Rhodes.
The town had also turned all glitzy and glam back in 2002 when it served as the base for the cast and crew during the filming of the Edoras scenes for The Lord of the Rings.
Mount Hutt soars over the fertile Canterbury Plains, where the town of Methven is an ideal base for skiers / Pictures: Stephen Williams
But Methven's ski-resort function still plays second fiddle to its identity as a real town servicing the thriving farming endeavours of the surrounding Canterbury Plains.
As a local bus driver told me: "Methven's a great place to take the kids to get a real Kiwi experience. You won't find any of the takeaway chains or theme parks, so perhaps after skiing a family would get fish and chips and then play a board game or cards."
Speaking of kids, how's this?
Under the town's Kids 4 Free Winter program, children 10 and under are given the keys to Methven and the ski fields. Well nearly.
At selected businesses, youngsters receive return transfers from Christchurch Airport and Mt Hutt, accommodation,ski/snowboard hire, Mt Hutt ski lifts tickets, meals.
At the ski field, there's also a licensed creche and dedicated children's ski programs, such as Skiwi Kids for ages 3-5 at $100 a day.
Included in this all-day program are lunch, ski and boot rental, a ski lesson and lots of other fun indoor and outdoor activities.
Methven's a very adult destination, too, with lots of very good places to stay, eat and drink, from budget to high class.
I stayed in a contemporary $165-a-night one-bedroom apartment at Ski Time, which is run by a very friendly couple - an Aussie and a German ski instructor who had stayed in Methven a bit longer than she had first anticipated.
Their welcoming ways rub off on the locals, who provide Kiwi flavour and fun to the bar and restaurant.
The town runs a highly innovative CAT-style free bus service each evening. It plays the role of a skipper, running around Methven's accommodations, bars and restaurants.
I have to ask: what other town in the world with a population of 1350 has a CAT bus?
I think this initiative and Kids 4 Free are about challengers having to try harder.
Methven-Mt Hutt is a challenger to more famous winter destinations such as Queenstown.
It is also been affected by the earthquake adversities suffered by their air gateway, Christchurch.
Yet rarely have I seen such spirited ambassadors as those I encountered in Methven, Mt Hutt and Christchurch.
If dreaming of a white winter adventure, especially with littlies, put this destination on the 2015 calendar.
fact file
It takes about an hour to drive from Christchurch Airport to Methven, from where the Mt Hutt ski field is 30 minutes away.
Mt Hutt ski field has the largest skiable area in the South Island (3.65sqkm), and a vertical height of 683m. It caters for a wide range of skiers, with an enclosed "magic carpet" lift for beginners. The snow season is from June to October.
See amazingspace.co.nz/methven for comprehensive coverage of accommodation and activities in the Methven area and skiing on Mt Hutt.
For Ski Time hotel see skitime.co.nz.
