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Mount Hutt Skifield
A long term, large budget development.
The Location
Mt Hutt Ski Area (formerly referred to as Mt Hutt Skifield) started as a club facility with a single rope tow and grew to be one of New Zealand’s largest commercial ski areas and, arguably, one of its finest.
At such a high altitude, the field consistently enjoys excellent snow and a long season. The easy drive from Christchurch takes about 90 minutes, or about 25 minutes from the nearby rural town of Methven, making it an attractive and accessible destination for locals and tourists.
The Challenges
The challenges in developing Mt Hutt Ski Area into a multi-million dollar operation arose from the high altitude and associated seasonal extremes of climate, lack of water, steep gradients and the long-term nature of the development.
The Solution
Although Davis Ogilvie’s commercial involvement in the project technically extended from 1979 to 1986, the relationship began in 1970 when skiing enthusiast and Davis Ogilvie civil engineer, Peter Yeoman, first walked the route to take levels and study the terrain as one of the investigating team. It was the enthusiasm of Peter Yeoman and the collective vision of this team that made the project a reality.
Davis Ogilvie provided engineering and surveying services to establish the best route for the 12km access road to an altitude of 1830m, the highest in the country at the time. The company also surveyed the best locations and routes for t-bars and chairlifts.
The Result
The result is an international success story as Mt Hutt continues to draw thousands of local and overseas visitors each season to its great snow, spectacular views and plenty of crisp, dry, sunny days. The development has been an inspiration to other tourist ventures around the country and crucial to the economic survival of Methven while continuing to contribute substantially to the economy of the entire nation.