Mount Hutt, the ski resort that offers the longest skiing season in the whole of the Southern Hemisphere is around an hours drive from the city, and offers something for skiers of all levels on its many slopes.
The best place to stay close by is in Methven, where there are plenty of bars and hotels, and from the mountain there are superb views over the countryside to the sea.
In the New Zealand summer, when the snow is gone on most sloes, the mountain becomes a popular spot for walkers, and climbers, with a variety of challenging routes along its sides.