If you only have time for one hike in Wānaka and want something popular, easily accessible, and incredibly rewarding, you have to climb Roy's Peak.

I've walked along my fair share of hiking trails in Aotearoa, and there's no other way to say it: Roy's Peak is one of the best. The views over Lake Wānaka are world-renowned, and I've met so many people who decided to plan their dream trip to New Zealand just for this view.

I'd had Roy's Peak hike pinned on my bucket list for years before finally hiking it for the first time in 2022. Now, I've climbed up twice and feel qualified enough to tell you that while the views will leave your jaw on the ground, the hike up is brutal.

Track overview

Difficulty: Hard (immediately unfollow anyone who is telling you this walk is "moderate". They're big fat liars)

Length: 16km return

Time: 7 hours

The track starts from the carpark just outside the town of Wānaka near the edge of Mt Aspiring National Park. From there, you'll pass over a fence, pay your gold coin donation to the land owner and then follow the trail upwards.

You’ll climb a whopping 1,258 meters (4,127 feet) to the summit and zig-zag along endless switchbacks. It's a very challenging hike, but if you’re reasonably fit and take it slow, you’ll be fine, as there are plenty of opportunities to "stop and take a photo." When I first came here in 2022, I was very unfit and had done next-to-no "real" hiking in many years, and I managed just fine.

It takes most people around 3.5 hours to reach the famous viewpoint. A lot of people stop here, take their photos and then return to the carpark. But the real summit is about 30 minutes further up! If you can make it, I highly recommend going to the top, as I think that's the most impressive view of the whole trail.

Hundreds, even thousands, of people climb up Roy's Peak every day. If you plan to be one of them, please remember you're walking over private land. You must practice Leave No Trace by sticking to the trail and taking your rubbish back with you.

Unless you arrive at the viewpoint just as the sunrise hikers are walking down, you’ll have to line up to get a photo. Please be kind and respectful while you're waiting, and once it's your turn, try to be conscious of how much time you take getting the perfect shot.

Hiking Roy's Peak for sunrise

One of the most popular things to do in Wānaka is hiking Roy’s Peak for sunrise. I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never done it. And to be even more honest, I probably never will. I know, I know, very controversial. But, I just can't fathom getting out of bed at 2 am for a view I've already seen.

That said, I’ve heard it’s incredible and a once-in-a-lifetime memory! I've met so many people who have said watching the moon dip beyond the horizon and the sun rise over the mountains is something they'll never forget. You might get lucky and catch a cloud inversion, too.

The track is exactly the same as during the day, but you’ll be hiking in the dark for the first few hours, so you’ll need a head torch and warm layers. Most hikers start around 2–3 am, and even though it's the middle of the night, you won’t be alone. Loads of other hikers will be with you, and the summit can get pretty busy as the world starts to wake up.

How to get there

The trail starts from the carpark on Mt Aspiring Road. It's 6km or 5 minutes outside Wānaka or about an hour from Queenstown. The carpark has around 100 spaces, but it fills up quickly (usually by 9 am), so you'll need to get here as early as possible. You'll find it often fills up for the sunrise rush, too. If the carpark is full, you might feel tempted to park on the side of the road. However, I advise against this as parking here is very unsafe and can land you with a hefty fine.

Important: Roy's Peak closes every year.

This catches so many people out! Please don’t book your trip to Aotearoa dreaming of hiking Roy’s Peak without reading this first!!!

The first part of the trail crosses private farmland and is closed annually between October 1st and November 10th for lambing season.

If you’re visiting Wānaka while Roy’s Peak is closed, there are lots of lovely alternatives. Isthmus Peak has similar views, and while it's also closed for a portion of the year, it's not at the same time.

My unfiltered thoughts (brace yourself)

If I’m honest, Roy’s Peak isn’t my favourite walk in Wānaka. The views from the top are amazing, but the track itself is a bit boring. There's no shade, barely any variation, and you’re pretty much just dragging your feet up a steep dirt path for 3.5 hours (sorry, I know I sound like a negative Nancy!!).

If you genuinely love hiking and have your own transport, I’d 100% recommend the Rob Roy Glacier Track instead. It’s a moderate trail and way (way, way, way!!!) more interesting. The scenery changes constantly, and you'll see mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and an incredible glacier. Plus, there are way fewer people on this trail than on Roy's Peak. It’s hands-down one of my favourite hikes in Mount Aspiring National Park.

The only downside is getting there. It’s about 50km from Wānaka, and the last part of the drive is on a rough gravel road with a few fords that can flood after heavy rain. While you could technically get here with any car, I'd recommend having a 4wd. But if you can get out there, it’s 10000% worth it.

That said, if you dream of getting the classic Roy’s Peak Instagram shot, you should do that too! The lovely thing about hiking is that everyone's preferences are different, and what's #1 to me might not be #1 to you. Roy's Peak is one of the most breathtaking views in Aotearoa, and deserves a spot on everyone's bucket list.