Trail Distance: 6.8 miles
Elevation Gain: ~4100′
Terrain Rating: Easy Side of Moderate (4WD track but very steep)
Hike In: 9:24AM
Hike Out: 12:50PM
Trailhead: The Roy’s Peak parking lot is only 10 minutes from Wanaka
Why You Need to Hike Roy’s Peak in New Zealand
Roy’s Peak is a famous hike in Wanaka, South Island. Wanaka is one of the most popular stops when people are visiting New Zealand, right after Queenstown. To folks who are based in the US, Wanaka has a similar vibe to Lake Tahoe.
There are a lot of hikes that are based out of Wanaka, but Roy’s Peak is probably the most popular hike here. With the accessible trailhead, mind-blowing views, and nice footing, it’s easy to see why!
When Should I Hike Roy’s Peak?
You can hike Roy’s Peak year-round, but it will be a lot more enjoyable weather-wise in New Zealand summer, which is around December to March.
In terms of time of day, you can definitely hike Roy’s Peak during sunrise or sunset. We were planning on doing Roy’s Peak as a sunrise hike, meaning waking up at 3AM, but we ended up watching the stars so late that we couldn’t do the wake-up. If we had more time, we definitely would have tried again.
The views are so beautiful up there, I can only imagine how beautiful it is at sunrise!
Where should I stay in Wanaka?
There are a lot of places to choose from in Wanaka. From Airbnb’s to hostels to hotels, Wanaka has a place for everyone. As long as you are close to the center of town, you will be able to reach the trailhead of Roy’s Peak fairly easily.
Wanaka Bakpaka $
Wanaka Bakpaka is a budget backpacker accomodation and is the only hostel by the lake. They offer good housing for a very reasonable price.
Edgewater Resort Hotel $$
Edgewater Resort Hotel is a great mid-tier option that is located right on the lake in Wanaka!
Tin Tub Luxury Lodge $$$
The Tin Tub Luxury Lodge is a great luxury option in Wanaka. The hospitality will be excellent here. You even have access to a pool, tennis court, gym, and don’t forget the amazing breakfast!
What to Pack for Roy’s Peak
Weather should generally be pretty manageable when you are hiking Roy’s Peak in the summer. However with New Zealand weather, you truly never know! This is why it is important to have the hiking basics when you hike. Even if it looks bright and sunny outside, it can turn at any moment.
Hiking Boots / Shoes
Having the right shoes is super important. Whether you like lighter shoes like I do or a sturdier hiking boot, Hoka One One and Salomon are my go-to products. I would say that sneakers are ok for hiking Roy’s Peak in New Zealand and you don’t necessarily need hiking boots – although they may give you more grip on rocks.
Hiking Poles
You may want to bring hiking poles with you in New Zealand, especially at Roy’s Peak. The incline up is pretty steep and the poles would help you balance some of that effort to your upper body.
Sun Protection
Sun protection is super important out in Roy’s Peak – especially in the summer! Here are some of my favorites
Food!
Level Foods has been my new go-to bar. I found that their bars have been better on my stomach. They are Gluten free, Dairy free, Non-GMO.
Water Storage
I personally prefer using an MSR Drom Bag because I’m fairly lazy to take water bottles out of my bag, but both options are great. Make sure to bring plenty of water on any Wanaka hiking trails.
Hiking Roy’s Peak in New Zealand
The trail is very steep and starts immediately. You will be hiking on a 4WD road the whole time, so sneakers are ok. I actually liked hiking in my lighter Nike sneakers rather than my hiking boots. Poles are recommended for the downhill if you are doing a lot of hiking. It saves your knees! From the parking lot, we reached the gate “checkmarks” at the following times:
- Gate 1: 9:45AM
- Gate 2: 9:57AM
- Gate 3: 10:44AM
- Peak 1: 11:04AM
- Peak 2: 11:40AM
There are shortcuts you can take across the switchbacks on the way up, but I don’t recommend taking them because the trail is steep enough. They are nice to take on the way down though provided you have strong knees/joints or poles. The way back was a lot quicker for us since we half-jogged it and took all the shortcuts. It took us 2.5 hours to get up to the peak and only over an hour to get down.
Overall this is a fantastic half-day option in Wanaka. The views are absolutely incredible! It’s a very popular hike and we saw a lot of folks on the way down. Be prepared to bring lots of water if it is sunny. The entire hike is exposed and we ran into many unprepared, thirsty hikers!
There are other nice hikes like the Rob Roy Glacier Track or the Blue Pools if you want to drive further out of Wanaka!
Have you hiked Roy’s Peak in New zealand Before? What Did you think?
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