Roys Peak is easily the most famous walk in Wanaka and one of the most well known in the whole of New Zealand. Most people are drawn in by ‘that photo’ where it looks like you’re standing on the edge of the world, surrounded by mountains. And it really is that beautiful, in fact it’s more beautiful because there are even more incredible mountain peaks to the left of the shot. It’s an unforgettable view, especially if you plan to watch the sunrise, which makes it even more magical.
But Roys Peak has more to offer than just that one spot. Whilst the trail is by no means varied, the view gets more and more spectacular the higher you climb and the summit offers the chance to view a full mountain panorama.
But there’s no denying it’s a steep climb, it’s definitely a view you have to work for. We’re sharing exactly what the hike is like in full detail, as well as other tips for the trail.
The Roys Peak hike summary
The stats
Distance: 8km each way (6.3km if you only want to go to the lookout)
Elevation gained: 1,285m (804m to the lookout)
Difficulty: Hard
Roys Peak Difficulty
For most people, Roys Peak is a difficult hike. Whilst it isn’t hard in terms of terrain - there’s no scrambling or anything technical - it’s a real lung burner.
No matter whether you choose to go to the summit, or stop 1.5km earlier at the viewpoint for the photo spot, it’s a steep climb. There is the odd very short flat section, but for the most part it’s a fairly steep and relentless slog to the top.
If you’re going up in the dark and don’t have to contend with the heat of the day (or just the intense sun in general, even in winter) then it is easier, as this trail has zero shade - nope, not a single tree covering the trail!
I’m really glad we hiked up before sunrise, even though I hate getting up so early!
Track Condition
In terms of track conditions, the path is well made and easy, there aren’t any dodgy bits or scrambles. However, there is an exception. If the track gets very waterlogged it becomes incredibly slick, one of the most slippery trails we’ve ever walked and that makes the descent a challenge.
In dry conditions the descent is easy. Similarly ice and snow can make it difficult, more on that later in the post.
The path is very wide (it’s basically a 4WD road) and there is no exposure, so no danger of falling off or anything like that.
How long does it take to hike up Roys Peak?
It will take the average person somewhere between 1 hour 45 and 2.5 hours to reach the viewpoint, and a further 30 minutes to reach the summit.
If you aren’t a regular hiker I would recommend doing a couple of other trails first and preparing your legs for Roys Peak, which will make the whole experience more enjoyable.
We were noticeably quicker and found Roys Peak much easier than Isthmus Peak because we’d got a few recent climbs under our belt. If not, and you’re finding it a struggle, then maybe have some upbeat music with you! : )
As the path itself is in no way technical, getting to the top of Roys Peak is more a case of mind over matter.
The Roys Peak Track Description
To help you understand what you’re getting yourself in for, we thought we’d do a description of the trail kilometre by kilometre. We found it quite motivational on the way up to keep track as each kilometre went by on the Apple Watch, and we took note of how each one felt.
The first kilometre - 200m elevation gained
The first kilometre of the Roys Peak Track is the steepest and depending on how you view it, this could be good or bad news. Although it means you start with a bang, it is also means that if you can do that bit, you won’t face anything steeper!
If you’re going up in the dark there isn’t anything to watch out for as it’s all good track, if you’re going up in the daylight you’ll be surrounded by green fields, lots of sheep and the beginnings of a wonderful view over Lake Wanaka.
The second and third kilometres - 276m elevation gained
The second kilometre is 25% less steep than the first, and the third is less steep again, and believe me, you do feel that. You’ll find that the switchbacks have some short sections that are so shallow they feel flat.
For me this put a spring in my step as any little bit of flat was time I was making progress without climbing!
Assuming you have views, they are getting loftier, and on a clear day, the deep blue water of Lake Wanaka is spectacular.
You’ll still be passing fields of sheep and some of their antics will give you a good laugh as you climb.
Kilometre three was my favourite and I use favourite lightly! I never really like relentlessly steep climbs, but by the third kilometre you’re hitting your stride.
There are also lots of short cuts (social trails) which are steeper and quicker, but we’d recommend sticking to the main trail as DOC asks you to, as it’s private land.
Whilst taking a shortcut can look tempting, the reality is you save a minute or less.
Kilometres four and five - 311m elevation gained
I hate to break it to you but kilometres four and five are steeper again, with the first 300m of kilometre four being very steep.
I remembering wondering in that first 300m if this was how the trail was going to be until the end, but luckily it isn’t! It gets steeper but not like the very first bit.
You leave the farmland behind and are instead walking through the tussocks. Even in the dark I could see the peak looming ahead and you do start to feel like you’re getting there!
If you are walking in daylight the views are fabulous, you can see much more of the lake now and it feels more dramatic.
We were walking under the stars and it’s at this point that I realised I’d broken the back of the ciimb and could really appreciate the incredible night sky.
I was feeling really good until the end of kilometre five, when a bit of fatigue hit and I could feel my pace slow for the final 1.3km to the viewpoint. It didn’t matter though because by then I knew we were well on course for sunrise, and would in fact be too early (we ended up having over an hour to wait in the freeezing cold!).
The final 1.3km to the viewpoint - 215m elevation gain
The last section to the viewpoint continues on relatively steep switchbacks and by this point I was ready to get there, but similarly you have that so close feeling which keeps you going! Views of the tussocks with the lake behind and the mountains in the distance are stunning.
It’s less steep than the previous couple of kilometres but I didn’t really notice that. It does go quite quickly though and I was surprised when all of a sudden the trail completely flattened and I came to the junction with the viewpoint and the summit.
The viewpoint is 80m down the little pathway you will recognise, and the summit is 1.5km to the left. There’s a toilet just beside the path to the viewpoint and it must be up there with the one on the Milford Track as one of the best loos with a view we’ve ever seen!
The viewpoint is easy to get to, it looks really narrow, but it isn’t one of those vertigo inducing ones (unless you have severe vertigo!) and you’ll reach the little knoll that you stand on for the photo within a couple of minutes.
The Roys Peak viewpoint and getting the shot
Regardless of whether you’ve come for ‘that photo’ or not, the view from the lookout is quite simply magnificent.
You can see so many snow-capped mountains to the left, as well as more distant mountains ahead of you and to the right. The lake looks sensational, especially with all inlets and if you’re lucky enough to have some (but not too much!) low lying cloud it’s even more atmospheric.
It’s one of the most beautiful views on the South Island and worthy of all the hype.
If you want to get that small person big backdrop photo you’ll want the photographer to stand at the beginning of the pathway and the subject to stand on the small rocky knoll.
Make sure that the person is in frame with the lake behind them and not the mountains, or they won’t really stand out. Obviously there are many different compositions but this is the most popular.
It’s worth moving around and even scaling up the hill behind the toilet to get the one that’s best for you.
The viewpoint at sunrise vs sunset
As mentioned we’re not big fans of early starts, so 9 times out of 10 we will always opt for sunset over sunrise! However, when it comes to Roys Peak, there’s no competition.
At sunrise the sun illuminates everything in the foreground evenly in golden light and if you’re lucky, some colour on the mountains to the left too.
Although we haven’t experienced sunset at Roys Peak we have seen enough photos to know that the view has a lot of shadows over it. That makes such a huge difference to the atmosphere of the photo. When you’ve slogged to the top of Roys Peak you may as well see it as its absolute best!
If you’re looking for a sunset peak, then nearby Isthmus Peak is a wonderful choice, although as we mention here the viewpoint is at its best at sunset, but most of the trail is in shadow.
Going to the summit of Roys Peak - an extra 1.5km and 266m elevation gain
In my opinion the view from the lookout is more special than the one from the summit, but I still really enjoyed going up.
Unless you’re really tired or pushed for time, it’s worth adding on just 30 minutes more and going to the very top. The trail is slightly rockier at first, but after that it’s very similar to the path to the viewpoint.
There are a couple of steep bits but then also lots of gentle slopes which feel almost flat. You’ll start to see extra snow-capped mountains, which you couldn’t see from the viewpoint.
The views are just beautiful and for us, visiting in winter, it felt even more special as all the long grass had frozen and there was a bit of fresh snow on the ground.
The peak itself has a large concrete platform you can sit on, although the phone tower and shed makes it feel less wild!
There’s also a toilet and some rather persistent little birds hoping to scrounge a crumb or two from your breakfast! The view from the very top is a full mountain panorama, including Mount Aspiring.
You could also watch the sunrise and sunset from here as the view is great in both directions.
The descent
If you don’t have muddy conditions the descent is straightforward and you can make quick work of it. It’s steep at points but not horribly so and it never feels precarious.
If the track is very muddy, it’s a different story as some large sections become very slick. It’s worth noting that even if it’s been a while since it’s rained, the trail can become muddy in the colder months as the ground thaws.
Go carefully and use the gully where possible when you hit these sections as we both fell and although you are at no risk of falling off the track as the path is so wide, it could still be painful!
If conditions are good you’ll get to enjoy those beautiful views on the way down and it’s a real pleasure.
Tips for your Roys Peak hike
Cloud conditions
In an ideal world you would go up with the exact weather you’ve seen on the forecast, but in reality, the mountains often have other ideas! Clouds can form very quickly and we watched the viewpoint and summit go from crystal clear to full white out in minutes.
Happily this means it can change back quickly too, so don’t panic if you pop out over the ridge and can’t see a thing. Factor in some time to wait for better conditions.
You might also find that the viewpoint is in cloud but the summit is clear (you can see it from the viewpoint). If so, pop to the summit first or vice versa.
You can see Roys Peak from Wanaka town centre, but it doesn’t mean the conditions will last so it’s not necessarily a good measure.
Try and pick a clear day on the weather forecast and check the fog forecast too for your best chance at good conditions and then hope it’s accurate!
Roys Peak in winter
Winter conditions on Roys Peak greatly vary. We hiked in late June and had frost and some ice on the trail, but nothing to worry about and no snow until a small smattering near the very top.
When the big snow of the season arrives it can be quite different though, with lots of snow and ice, and DOC recommends the use of crampons and an ice axe in these conditions. With a much smaller amount of snow or ice you could use Yaktrax which we swear by after using them for several months in the US winter.
Above 1000m on Roys Peak you are also in avalanche territory. When I read this on the DOC website I was worried, but that doesn’t necessarily apply to the whole winter, as it didn’t for us. My advice is to give DOC in Wanaka a call, they are super helpful and will tell you exactly what to expect on the trail at that particular time.
The other thing to note if hiking Roys Peak in winter is that if you have a full covering of frost on the trail like we did, and then the sun warms it up, it will turn the track into a mud slick in certain sections. If you are going up at sunrise and down shortly after you’ll be fine as it won’t have had enough sun to melt it. If not you will face several long sections of slippery descent.
I took a big fall (I was that girl that everyone looked at on the way up and said ‘oh i hope that doesn’t happen to me!’) and Joe took three smaller ones and we had good hiking boots and poles! It just has no grip whatsoever.
If you find yourself in that position, walk in the gully, this was the only place with any grip on the trail during the slick mud sections. If I’d have realised how bad it would get I would have walked down earlier, we loved the views so much we were up there for about five hours, allowing the sun to melt all the frost!
Where to park for Roys Peak
There is quite a large car park for Roys Peak (Roys Peak Track car park) but it does fill up quickly. If you can’t get a space make sure you park well off the road or you will get fined.
There is a donation box by the trailhead at the car park for you to donate your $2 track fee. The car park itself has no fee and no time limit.
It’s 7.5km and roughly an eight minute drive from Wanaka town centre. There is no public transport to the trailhead, but you can take a taxi or see if your accommodation has a shuttle option.
Seasonal track closure
The track is closed for lambing from the 1 October - 10 November each year.
What to bring for your Roys Peak hike
Whatever season you come, bring layers! Especially if heading up for sunrise. Even in summer it can get very cold out of the blue and you want to be able to enjoy your time up there.
The track has very little shade, so suncream and plenty of water is a must.
If you plan on using one of the toilets which are located at the car park, (at the viewpoint and at the summit), you might want to bring toilet paper with you!
Where to stay in Wanaka
Distinction Wanaka Alpine Resort
We stayed at the Distinction on our most recent visit. The apartments have fully equipped kitchens which include an oven, and lots of space in the living room and bedroom.
They aren’t flashy and could do with a few more soft furnishings, but we loved the space, kitchen and washing machine. There’s also a shared jacuzzi and sauna which we made use of on a nightly basis!
You can check out the reviews and prices on:
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website, thanks for your support.
