The Best Wanaka Hike? Why a Roys Peak Sunrise is Totally Worth it.

Yes it’s a hard slog, yes it’s busy, maybe it’s a little cliche…

But is the hike up to Roys Peak worth it? Absolutely.

I do believe that most popular attractions are popular for good reason, and even though this famous Wanaka hike gets a lot of slack for being overrated, a trip to Wanaka really isn’t complete without taking in a Roys Peak sunrise.

From it’s easily accessible location close to Wanaka town centre, the fact its doable in runners or trainers, and those stunning 360° views over the lake and Mt Aspiring National Park, let me share all the details on why hiking Roys Peak is totally worth it.

SO WHAT IS THE ROY’S PEAK WALK?

The basics:

Distance One-way: 8km (to the summit)

Time One-way: 3 hours (to the summit)

Difficulty: Challenging

Type: In and Out / Return via the same route

Roys Peak is one of the most well known hikes in New Zealand, really thanks to the famous ‘gram shot taken from an epic viewpoint not far from the summit.

Getting the recognisable shot does take a bit of effort though, and I think anyone has made it up the mountain has really worked for the right to plaster it all over social media - it’s one hard earned 4x5 square!

Starting from a carpark just outside of Wanaka on the road to Glenorchy, the trail passes through farmland in a series of switchbacks which take you further and further up the mountain.

The path is wide and well-formed, but the uphill slope is pretty unforgiving and there’s barely a flat section of trail on which to catch your breath. There’s also a few farm fences to climb as the first part of the trail passes through private land.

After 2-3 hours, you’ll make it to the famous viewpoint which is hard to miss, either from the stunning views, or the crowd of people that tends to form here. There’s also a WC tucked away here, the only one on trail other than one way back down at the carpark. The viewpoint is also a great place to stop for lunch or a snack, as it tends to be more sheltered than the exposed summit ahead.

From this point, it’s only about another half an hour to the summit. The trail continues up (no change to the grind unfortunately!) and winds around to the other side of the mountain for a completely different change in scenery.

It’s a final push up to the summit, marked by an antenna tower and incredible 360° views over Lake Wanaka to the north and Central Otago mountains to the south. You may need to bring out the windbreaker as the altitude can make it quite chilly up at the top.

After drinking in the views and a good amount of water (stay hydrated!) it’s time to head back down the way you came. Fortunately, the reverse trip is a lot easier on the lungs as it’s all down hill from here baby! It should only take a couple of hours, but if you’re prone to knee problems, take your time as they’ll be doing all the work on the way down.

If you headed up the mountain in the dark, enjoy the incredible lake views that are in front of you all the way back to the carpark.

new zealand wanaka sunrise from roys peak track — Roys Peak Sunrise

THERE’S MORE THAN JUST ‘THAT’ VIEWPOINT

It takes something special to become the most Instagrammable spot in New Zealand. The beautiful snow capped mountains, the sparkling blue water and golden alpine tussocks; there’s no denying that the view from Roys Peak is one of the most beautiful scenes in the world.

But it’s not just that one spot that delivers the views. In fact, there are spectacular views across Lake Wanaka the whole way up and down the track. And these views come in especially handy on the hike up (during daylight). Frequent photo stops are highly recommended - I may have strategically stopped a few times whilst out of breath, in the name of taking a photo of course!

Once you’ve reached the famous viewpoint and got the shot, it’s time to continue on to the top.

Once you get to the actual summit, you’ll see a completely different side of the region. The endless golden mountains that stretch all the way across to where Queenstown is hidden beyond. Standing looking out over Mt Aspiring National Park you’ll feel much more than a few hours walk from town!

Whilst you might have seen a few of these photos on Instagram, there’s definitely no comparison to experiencing the feel of the mountains for yourself.

new zealand wanaka behind roys peak — The views behind Roys Peak at sunrise are just as good

ROYS PEAK IS EASY TO GET TO

The trailhead is located less than a 10 minute drive (about 6km) from the centre of Wanaka, making it one of the most easily accessible hikes in the region.

BY CAR OR BIKE

If you pop ‘Roys Peak Track Parking’ into Google Maps, it will take you exactly where you need to go. Head out of Wanaka around the lake and you’ll come to a large carpark with space for about 100 vehicles, and it is spacious enough for campervans and there are fences for securing bicycles.

If you’re arriving early enough in the morning to make it up the top for sunrise, it’s very unlikely that the carpark will be full.

Over the summer holidays and long weekends things to do get a lot busier so be aware that the carpark will fill up, and parking on the road outside the carpark is not permitted. For your best chance of not missing out on a parking space at peak times, its best to either arrive early (before 9am in summer), or to arrive later in the day when other hikers have completed the hike and are starting to leave.

In peak season, the hardest time of the day to score a park is mid morning, before those that went up for sunrise have made it back down again. I would avoid arriving in the 9am-11am period on popular summer weekends!

If you’re on a tight schedule or don’t want to carefully plan your start time, the closest alternative parking is at Waterfall Creek, back down the road towards Wanaka. This will add about an extra 45mins on to your walk each way, so it’s definitely not as convenient but the option is there.

new zealand wanaka the lake from roys peak — The road from Wanaka to Roys Peak running along the bottom of the shot

BY SHUTTLE BUS / TAXI

To avoid any stress of not finding a carpark, or if you don’t have a vehicle, taxis and shuttles are a great option.

Unfortunately, some shuttles have stopped running whilst international tourism has been on pause, but hopefully they will be able to get back up and running once tourism picks up again.

For current options, check out Wanaka iSite (information centre) for the latest up to date information.

Taxis are a great option for a group - from anywhere in Wanaka, arrange a drop off and pick up with local company Yello.

BY FOOT

If you’re keen to add some extra steps onto the hike and make a whole day out of it, it is possible to walk from Wanaka. It will take about an hour and half each way - take the Millenium Walkway along the water’s edge for the most scenic route!

IT’S NOT BUSY IF YOU TIME IT RIGHT

There’s no denying that Roys Peak is an extremely popular track, but it’s not busy every day all year! In fact, if you time it right, it won’t be busy at all.

» THE BEST TIME OF YEAR

The best time of year to head up Roys Peak is either mid November to mid December, or mid February to mid-May (excluding the Easter school holidays!).

During these periods, and especially on weekdays, the track won’t be very busy at all, even once international tourism resumes. There shouldn’t be any trouble finding a carpark and you’ll spend more time saying hi to the local sheep than you will waiting to take a photo at the famous viewpoint.

February is also your best bet for clear, sunny days - it averages both the lowest annual rainfall and the lowest number of cloudy days.

» THE BEST TIME OF DAY

The best time of day to hike up Roys Peak is early in the morning for the sunrise! There’s a couple of reasons for this; firstly, you’ll be avoiding hiking up the mountain in the hot Central Otago sun, and secondly, the darkness is going to hide just how far you have to climb up the mountain!

If getting out of bed that early is not your thing (at the height of summer, you’ll need to start hiking about 3am!) then it’s still a good idea to get there early. Anytime before 9am should be safe to nab a carpark and the sun won’t quite be at full force yet.

Heading off later in the day is also a great idea but be sure to take some extra water as you’ll be climbing uphill for the hottest part of the day.

» WHEN NOT TO VISIT

LAMBING SEASON

It’s not possible to access the track when it is closed from the 1st of October until the 10th of November every year. The track crosses private land, with access kindly provided for the rest of the year, however this closure period is necessary for the four-legged, wooly locals.

SNOWY & ICY WINTER CONDITIONS

Over winter, extra care and preparation is needed to hike to the top of Roys Peak. At 1758m of elevation, the mountain frequently gets topped with snow and in these conditions only experienced hikers with crampons and ice picks should attempt reaching the peak. There are also avalanche risks when snow is present.

In the winter and early spring, check conditions with the local Department of Conservation office - the Mt Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre and follow their advice.

WHEN IT’S CLOUDY

If there’s low to medium clouds, I’d also recommend not heading up as your shots of the view might end up like this…

new zealand wanaka cloudy roys peak — Hands up if you want the clouds to disappear

» IN MY EXPERIENCE

Here’s a couple of examples of how busy it was in my experience:

The first time I conquered Roys Peak was in early February (pre-Covid) on the weekend of the Wanaka Challenge - aka, one of the busiest weekends all year in Wanaka!

We headed up for sunrise, so the carpark wasn’t busy at all. However by the time we were on our way back down, the viewpoint had a decent queue for a photo, and when we arrived back in the carpark about midday it was pretty much full. On this kind of day I’d highly recommend heading up early to avoid both the crowds and the heat!

On my most recent visit we arrived at the carpark on Easter Monday about 8am - it was also the middle of the school holidays.

The carpark was about half full when we arrived, mostly by those who had headed up for sunrise. Arriving at the famous viewpoint, there were a couple of other groups sitting around enjoying the scenery but no one queuing was required to get some photos. However, on our way back down, the viewpoint was a little busier with a couple groups waiting for a turn on the viewpoint. Back down in the carpark just after midday it was actually quieter than we had arrived in the morning.

SPECIAL HIKING GEAR ISN’T REQUIRED

» WHAT TO WEAR AND BRING UP ROYS PEAK

Outside of the winter season, no special hiking or climbing gear is required to reach Roys Peak. Here’s what you should wear or carry on your hike.

RUNNERS| the track is well formed and not technical at all. Unless you need specific ankle support, regular runners are totally fine for climbing Roys Peak from January to April. I will warn you that nice white shoes will probably need a wash after the hike! The track can get both very dusty (in periods of no rain) and muddy, and there’s also a bit of rabbit and sheep poo to deal with!

HIKING BOOTS | are only really needed if you need the ankle support, or if you’re heading up when snow or ice is around. There can be snow and ice at the top even in November so check the conditions with the local DOC office.

WATER | with three relentless hours of uphill climb, take plenty of water on this hike. The track is fully exposed to sun and there’s no water fountain or vending machine waiting at the top. 1L of water per person is the absolute minimum I’d recommend - and even more in summer.

FOOD | there’s nowhere to buy food on the 5-6 hour hike so bring along lunch or plenty of snacks. I’d recommend grabbing something from Fedeli (stock up the day before if you’re heading up for sunrise).

SUN PROTECTION | again, the hike is full exposed to all day sun so bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

LAYERS | prepare for changing temperatures. Even if it’s hot down by the lake when you head off, the temperatures can drop off quickly at altitude, especially thanks to the wind up the top. Even on a hot summer’s day bring a jacket or windbreaker to pop on while you stop for lunch.

WARM JACKET | even during the warm summer period the temperature drops off a lot overnight in Central Otago, so if you’re heading up for sunrise a warm jacket (like this one) is a must. Despite the hike, you’ll cool off quickly at the top early waiting for the sun to peak over the horizon, and the first part of the descent back down is on the shaded side of the mountain.

HEAD TORCH (HEAD LAMP) | whilst the full moon might help a little, a head torch is required if you want any chance of dodging sheep poo! In all seriousness, bring a head torch for safety and it will also helpful if there’s any ice up at altitude (there was a bit of ice on the shady side of the mountain when we went up in February!).

CAMERA | whilst phone cameras will do the trick for the insta-shot, the scenery and morning light is definitely worth lugging a DSLR camera and lens up for!

HIKING POLES | are not required for most people, unless you have bad knees or ankles where the continuous steep descent could be painful and poles will help you out.

For the winter season, check any additional requirements with DOC as crampons and an ice pick are likely required once they snow arrives.

BUT IS ROYS PEAK DIFFICULT?

Roys Peak is not the easiest hike in the world but it’s definitely do-able for most people.

The first half of the trail (from the carpark to the summit) is relentless uphill, so take your time and pace yourself with frequent breaks for water or to just catch your breath. One benefit of hiking up for sunset is that you can’t see exactly how far away the summit is - which definitely helps with the psychological side of the challenge! During the day, the views are stunning all the way up the track, so there’s always an opportunity to stop, take a photo, and have a little rest!

The second half of the trail (from the summit back down to the carpark) is a lot easier on the lungs, but can be difficult for those with knee problems. To help with the 8km of downhill, consider bringing hiking poles to take some pressure of your knees, or wear knee braces for support.

The track itself is well-formed, though it can be a bit dusty in dry weather and muddy in wet weather. It’s definitely not a technical hike outside of the winter snow season. The path is wide and easy to follow, so with a headlamp it’s very, very unlikely you’ll lose your way when hiking up in the dark for sunset.

new zealand wanaka views from Roys Peak track — Views worth stopping for

HERE ARE SOME MORE BRILLIANT WANAKA HIKES

Looking for more hikes to do in Wanaka? Surrounded by truly amazing hikes and the challenge is narrowing down the options when there are so many world-class choices. Here are some of my favourites.

» ROB BOY GLACIER TRACK

10km / 3-4 hrs | Make the drive out past Glendhu Bay to the Matukituki Valley and you’ll find a series of hikes choose from. The Rob Roy Glacier track is a great half day option that starts with a swing bridge over the crystal clear river before ascending through beautiful native bush and transporting you to glacier country. You’ll be looking up in awe when surrounded by these incredible, magnificent forces of nature sitting above dramatic rock cliffs. Over winter, follow all avalanche warnings and guidance.

new zealand wanaka matukituki valley rob roy glacier — Roy Roy Glacier

» MT IRON

4.5km / 1h 30m | Mt Iron is a great bang for your buck - if you want to check out some epic views but don’t want to climb all the way up Roys Peak (or if you only have a couple of hours!). This glacier carved monolith offers incredible 360 views over Wānaka, Albert Town and Hāwea Flat and is very popular with both locals and visitors. To avoid the crowds and the hot Central Otago sun, head out either early or late in the day; there’s a big carpark next to the main road, or walk up from the town centre. Most people prefer to complete the walk clock-wise from the carpark, but it can be walked in either direction.

» ISTHMUS PEAK

This peak is high up on my to-do list. The views over the lake, distance and elevation gain are all similar to Roys Peak, therefore Isthmus Peak is often touted as the quieter version of the more famous hike.

» DIAMOND LAKE LOOKOUT

Another hike on my ever increasing to-do list, the Diamond Lake Lookout is located just out past Glenorchy. There are a few options here of various lengths and difficulties with incredible views over the lake and Mt Aspiring National Park.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO IN WANAKA?

There are a ton of other things to do in Wanaka, that it would be easy enough to fill in a week in this small yet epic town. One you’ve made it back down from Roys Peak, check out some of these other Wanaka highlights:

» COOL OFF AT ONE OF THESE LAKE WĀNAKA SWIMMING SPOTS

If it’s time to cool down after the hike, jump into the blue waters of Lake Wānaka at one of these spots:

Waterfall Creek - can be accessed via road or on foot via Waterfall Creek Track from the centre of town.

Bremner Bay Beach - is a very shallow beach where can walk out quite away before the level drops off. This makes it great for kids but also keeps the water a bit warmer than other swimming spots.

Dublin Bay - take the Dublin Bay Rd turnoff just outside of Albert Town for this quiet bay most popular with locals. Plenty of parking is available.

new zealand wanaka rippon winery in autumn — Rippon in autumn

» TAKE A SIP AT ONE OF THE WINERIES NEAR WĀNAKA

What better way to rehydrate than an one of Wānaka’s world-class wineries. Visiting a cellar door or two is definitely a must-do when so many delicious options are on offer.

Rippon

One of the four original Central Otago wineries, this family-run winery has been producing outstanding wines for generations. Book a tasting to sample their biodynamic wines whilst enjoying breathtaking views of the lake and mountains beyond.

Maude

Located up behind the Wānaka golf course on the aptly named Gold Course Road, this family-run winery’s enchanting cellar door delivers award winning wines in tasting paddles, and also offers a small grazing menu. In addition, their on-site restaurant, Bistro Gentil, is one of my favourite places to splurge on a fine dining meal.

Cardrona Distillery

If spririts are more your jam, the local Cardrona Distillery is located on the road between Wānaka and Queenstown, so is easiest visited on your way through to Queenstown. In addition to the cellar door, distillery tours can be booked in advance and will take you through the distilling process with a tutored tasting to finish it off - delish!

» TAKE A MORE RELAXED WALK AT WĀNAKA LAVENDER FARM

Featuring row after row of beautiful lavender, Wānaka Lavender Farm is the perfect place to frolic amongst the flowers. Sample some honey and enjoy a refreshing lavender ice cream as you say hello to the retired and orphaned farm animals (including highland cows, miniature horses and alpacas) that now call this farm home. The farm is located on SH6, a 5 minute drive out of town.

» DROP IN TO THAT WANAKA TREE

#ThatWanakaTree, maybe the only tree in the world that has it’s own hashtag? The dangling branches of this old willow make a beautiful focal point to the alpine backdrop. It’s easy to find - head around the lakefront and find the queue of people waiting to get their shot. Note: please don’t climb on this delicate beauty.