We’re continuing our series on places that are off the beaten track on the South Island with a look at the small rural township of Methven, close to the foothills of the Southern Alps and around sixty miles from Christchurch.
Like most people, I first visited Methven on a ski trip to the Mount Hutt region, which is the main Ski resort in North Canterbury.I remember it being quite a long drive heading into the hills and along a high road to the Ski area. In fact, it’s this road, built over fifty years ago, which has put Methven on the map. Prior to the building of the resort and the access road (a controversial development at the time) Methven was very much a rural backwater with farming families making up the bulk of the small population.
History of Methven
Methven’s history revolves around one man – Robert Patton. In 1869, he purchased a 500 acres (200 ha) farm property and called it Methven, after the name of his old hometown in Perthshire, Scotland. The name of the farm subsequently became the name of the town and surrounding district. Sections in the township were offered for sale by public auction on 24 June 1878 at South Rakaia and sold for between 20 and 95 pounds.
In 1879, he also built a hotel, aptly named the Methven Hotel. This 24-room building was built to serve visitors to the township, many of them coming to the hills from the new towns of Christchurch and Ashburton.
The Methven Branch railway line from Rakaia to Methven was completed in 1880, primarily to transport agricultural produce but also to take day trippers.
By the time of Patton’s death in 1889, Methven had a butcher, baker, grocer, draper and a blacksmith, in addition to the hotel.
Alongside Patton in the early years of the township and region was another astute farmer, Duncan Cameron. He was initially the manager of a large 21,000 acres property called Springfield. Cameron became the owner of the Springfield property in 1890, by which time he had 4,000 acres in crops most years. Cameron was an early pioneer of irrigation in the district and in the early frozen meat export industry.
In 1902, the population of Methven town was 300 people. Methven contributed troops to the First World War, with 69 of them losing their lives.
In the 1920s, Methven slowly changed from having livery stables and smithies to garages and engineering firms to service cars and farm machinery. Trucking firms also aimed to compete with the railways to ship farm goods such as wool to the ports. Electricity also arrived around this time. Farm labourers frequented the grocery stores, clothing retailer, pubs, billiard halls, brothels, and boarding houses that were present in Methven in the early days of the town. For the first 100 years of Methven’s existence, its primary role was that of servicing the needs of farmers and farm labour.
Present Day Methven
As farmers turned to more sophisticated farm machinery in the twentieth century, farm yields increased substantially, and the region became more prosperous.
The Mount Hutt Road Board Building was built in 1879 on Methven’s Main Street and is one of the earliest buildings in the town.
The All-Saints Anglican Church at 1 Chapman Street was built in 1880.
The Methven Post Office reopened as an Irish bar and restaurant in 2015. The original bank safe and other historical items remain in the building.
Earthquake Damage
The original Methven Public Library was built between 1883 and 1884 at 60 Main Street, in an Italianate style. It was a category 2 historic place. It was damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes and was demolished in 2013.
The Methven Historical Society Building was built in 1917 at 7 Bank Street. It was also a category 2 historic place that was damaged and subsequently demolished after the earthquakes.
Methven expanded dramatically in 2021, with over three hundred residential sections sold. By 2023, the population was expected to be 2411 people. Many of these new residents are retired from city life and are employed in the tourist industry now.
Ski town
In 1971, the Methven Lions Club studied whether Mount Hutt could be developed into a ski field. The study suggested that this was possible, and it led to the opening of a ski field in 1973. Mount Hutt ski field is around half an hour away from Methven.
Although most skiers made the journey to Mount Hutt from Christchurch daily, some would stay the weekend in Methven and need accommodation, dinner and services. Thus in 1975, the town centre was redeveloped with 14 new shops. Development continued, and by 1989 Methven had five hotels, three motels, twenty ski lodges, two camping grounds and nine restaurants
During winter, Methven undergoes a significant transformation. Several cafes, bars, and restaurants lie relatively dormant over the summer months but become busy during the ski season. Similarly, the town’s accommodation providers have a strongly seasonal trade. The New Zealand Ski Heritage Museum was established in 2000. It is in the Mount Hutt Memorial Hall and includes ski fashions, antique ski equipment and Winter Olympic memorabilia.
Methven is also a base for heliskiing in the Arrowsmith range of mountains. The annual Peak to Pub race starts at the top of Mount Hutt where competitors ski two kilometres down the mountain to the car park. This is followed by an 18 km mountain bike ride down the ski road, followed by a 12 km run into Methven
Methven tourism businesses struggled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Methven Resort Hotel was placed into liquidation in June 2020. The hotel had a 100-seat restaurant, a large swimming pool and multiple spa pools.
Ōpuke Thermal Pools
In 2019, the New Zealand Government’s provincial growth fund provided a $7.5 million government loan to help fund a new hot pools and spa complex that was built next to the Methven Trotting Club. It has both family bathing and an adults-only area.
The hot pools opened in November 2021 and were described “as money well spent amid challenging times” In November 2022, the complex reported that there had been 100,000 visitors in the first year of operation. The facility also won the NZIA National Award for Commercial Architecture at the 2022 New Zealand Architecture Awards.
Other sport and recreation
Walking and tramping
Walking and tramping in the hills and mountains surrounding Methven is a popular recreation, as Methven is at the gateway to a wide and varied range of walkways and tracks.
The Methven Walkway is 12 kilometres long and is intersected by various country roads. It is possible to walk through various sections or to complete the walkway from beginning to end, which will take from 3.5 to 4 hours. The walkway includes the Enchanted Forest and the Piwakawaka Walk, perfect for families (and everyone else!) to enjoy.
Nearby are the Awa Awa Rata Reserve, Rakaia Gorge Walkway, Sharplin Falls, Mount Somers Walkway, Washpen Falls, Hakatere Lakes & Alpine Trails and the Te Araroa Trail. Information about all these walks and hikes can be found at the Methven iHub, located right next to The Blue.
Short walks in the Mount Hutt Forest (12.5 kilometres from Methven) include the Rhododendron Walk, Te Awa Awa Walk, Alder Track, Opuke Track and the Ridge Track. A longer walk is the Pudding Hill Stream (8.25 kilometres, 3 hours one way) and the Scotts Saddle Track (4.5 kilometres, 2 hours one way)
The Mount Alford Conservation Area is a 12.5-kilometre drive from Methven. The Mt Alford Track itself is a 4.6-kilometre-long track that climbs to the summit of Mt Alford (1,171 m). It takes approximately three hours one way. The tracks are closed each year in September and October during lambing season. Slightly further away, Mt Somers can be visited as a day trip, or there are options for a two- or three-day trip with nights in backcountry huts along the way
Mountain biking
Bike Methven has developed a range of mountain bike trails around Methven, which cover cross-country, enduro, and downhill trails. The Mount Hutt Bike Park is home to 30 kilometres of trails that are within five minutes’ drive from Methven.
Methven Rodeo
The Methven Rodeo is held annually in October each year, and attendance can exceed 6000 people. Events include Barrel Racing, Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling and Team Roping.
Other activities
Horse riding is a popular activity and there are several companies that offer horse treks in and around Methven. Hot air ballooning is also available. [ At other times of the year, activities such as jet boating, hot air ballooning, scenic flights and mountain biking are popular. The town offers an excellent choice of eating places and bars. Accommodation ranges from backpacker lodges to character B&Bs.
In popular culture
Methven also served as a base to cast and crew for the filming of Edoras (located further inland at Mt Sunday for The Lord of the Rings.
During the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown in New Zealand, Lynda from the Topp Twins and her wife Donna played music from the back of their truck on the way to the supermarket to bring some fun into people’s lives in Methven
Methven as an alternative to Christchurch
If you’ve already seen Christchurch or are going to end your tour in the Garden City, Methven is an “off the beaten track “alternative stop or base. En route to Mount Cook from the West Coast, it’s a way of avoiding the city and spending time in the mountains during the Summer months.