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Canterbury Travel Guide
Overview Not far from Christchurch, Canterbury is one of the most popular
ski resorts in New Zealand.
Mount Hutt is the most developed ski area in Canterbury; the
resort caters for skiers of all levels, with good intermediate and
advanced runs, and a 'magic carpet' lift for beginners. There are
also some excellent off-piste areas, including a run through the
Towers rock formations at the top of the mountain.
One of the main disadvantages of Mount Hutt is its location on a
very windy section of mountains in New Zealand. The ski area is
forced to shut down roughly 14 days per season due to dangerous
winds. The drive to Mount Hutt is also rough, so most drivers
unaccustomed to mountain and snow driving take the shuttles from
Methven.
The ski season in Canterbury lasts from June to October. There
is no accommodation on the mountain, and most skiers stay in the
small town of Methven, which has a few bars, cafes and restaurants;
the larger towns of Hanmer Springs, Ashburton and Christchurch are
both about an hour's drive from the mountain.
Activities Swimming with Dolphins The beautiful and sheltered Akaroa Harbour is the only place in
the world where visitors can swim with the world's smallest and
rarest dolphin, the Hector's or New Zealand dolphin. All necessary
equipment is included such as wetsuits, masks and snorkels and
supervision is provided throughout. It is also possible to simply
watch the graceful antics from aboard the vessel.
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