Roy's Peak (Wanaka)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 9.77 mi
- Elevation gain
- 4,160 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 4,160 ft
- Max elevation
- 5,204 ft
- TrailRank
- 32
- Min elevation
- 1,092 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 3 hours 19 minutes
- Time
- 4 hours 3 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2759
- Uploaded
- January 7, 2024
- Recorded
- January 2024
near Glendhu, Otago (New Zealand)
Viewed 36 times, downloaded 3 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
|
English version:
The Wanaka area is excellent for beautiful hikes, but of course, mobility also plays a role. Hikes like those around Diamond Lake require some means of transportation, but my improvisation skills did not allow me to cover such distances. So, I opted for a hike close to Wanaka: Roy's Peak.
Film enthusiasts might be familiar with the 1995 movie "Rob Roy," featuring the main character Rob Roy MacGregor, who leads a Scottish clan. If you know the film, you immediately know after whom Roy's Peak is named. The starting point of this ascent is about seven kilometers from Wanaka and is reachable on foot if you don't mind following the somewhat monotonous car road. Fortunately for me, I am dropped off here after a round of jet boating and can embark on the ascent with fresh enthusiasm.
Because ascent is the right word for this hike, which actually consists of two parts: one uphill and one downhill. Therefore, you won't do this hike for the variety in the landscape but rather for the exceptionally beautiful panoramic views at the peak. With almost 1300 meters of elevation gain, this is a quite challenging climb, and when I start at two o'clock in the afternoon, the thermometer reads 27 degrees Celsius. Moreover, the first 300 meters of elevation gain are quite steep, making it a bit challenging at the beginning. The trail is in good condition, consisting of sand, gravel, and occasional rocks. Especially near the top, there are more rocks, but overall, this is an easy trail with a mild alpine character.
The path zigzags its way up with a beautiful view of the lakes behind. Occasionally, I see a small waterfall or stream, but I can only enjoy them for a few moments. It's better to be well-prepared for this hike, not in sneakers with just a liter of water, as I saw some people doing. Along the way, you are exposed to wind and sun, with no shade in sight. Moreover, there are no shelters. So, bring enough provisions and wear sturdy hiking shoes. You can also climb in your Nikes, but believe me when I say that a decent pair of hiking shoes is much more pleasant.
The landscape variety going up is rather modest, although there are a few bushes and flowers popping up here and there along the roadside. The most remarkable guests in this area are probably the sheep, which are not very shy. In these sections, I cross private property and have to take small steps to step over a fence. After over four kilometers, it's time for a bit of huffing and puffing as the gradient goes back over twenty percent. At higher altitudes, the temperature decreases, and I suffer less from the 27 degrees at the start of the hike.
The first major attraction appears after about six kilometers at an altitude of 1300 meters, where there is a fantastic viewpoint over the various lakes of Wanaka. A small promontory stretches out over the mountain, making it a very 'Instagrammable' place to take photos, both of the panoramic views and portrait shots for social media. But as beautiful as this place is, the real beauty unfolds all the way at the top, which means struggling another 250 meters uphill, where the most beautiful views of the day await.
When I show photos taken on Roy's Peak, I am asked if these are postcard photos. No, they are not, because I took them myself. This says nothing about my photography skills but everything about how picturesque the surroundings of Wanaka are when viewed from almost 1600 meters high. Of course, the weather must cooperate, as a blue sky is obviously much prettier than a gray overcast. In that regard, luck is on my side, and I can count on a blue sky complemented by some clouds.
The way down is exactly the same as the way up, or not entirely. Some sections that go steeply uphill, I avoided on the way up, but on the way down, I take these shortcuts. In terms of distance, it won't make much difference. Because the trail is in such good condition, the descent is relatively easy. Only during the descent near the top, you need to watch out for stones and rocks. Later on, they sometimes appear on the trail, but in smaller numbers. During the descent, I continuously look at the various lakes, making the descent quite picturesque. Sometimes it's worth stopping for a moment and enjoying the view. The advantage of my late start is that I encounter relatively few people on the way down, allowing me to descend smoothly. Keep in mind that Roy's Peak is a very popular hike, and you will hardly be alone on this trail.
Despite the awe-inspiring number of elevation meters to overcome, Roy's Peak is one of the most popular day hikes around Wanaka, thanks to its heavenly views. It takes a lot of sweat, but once at the top, you have a view that ranks among the very best in New Zealand. This is true, of course, on good weather days, as on cloudy days, the experience will be considerably less rewarding. As a pure hiking experience, there are probably better options (think of Diamond Lake), but they do not offer the same spectacle as Roy's Peak. And that's why this hike is immensely popular!
Dutch version:
The area surrounding Wanaka is ideal for taking beautiful walks, but mobility obviously also plays a role. Walks such as those around Diamond Lake still require a means of transport, but my ability to improvise did not allow me to cover such distances. So then it became a walk close to Wanaka: Roy's Peak.
Film buffs may be familiar with the 1995 film Rob Roy, starring Rob Roy MacGregor, who heads a Scottish clan. If you know the film, you immediately know who Roy's Peak is named after. The starting point of this climb is about seven kilometers from Wanaka and can therefore be reached on foot if you don't mind following the somewhat monotonous motorway. Fortunately for me, I am dropped here after a round of jet boating and I can start the climb with fresh courage.
Because climbing is the right word for this walk, which actually has two parts: one uphill and one downhill. That is why you will not do this walk for the variation in the landscape, but for the exceptionally beautiful views of the peak. With almost 1300 meters of altitude, this is a fairly tough climb and when I start at two o'clock in the afternoon the thermometer shows 27 degrees. Moreover, the first 300 meters of elevation are quite steep, which means you may have to persevere at first. The path is in good condition and consists of sand, gravel and here and there there are some rocks and boulders along the way. There are some more rocks especially near the top, but overall this is an easy trail with little alpine character.
The path zigzags its way up with the beautiful view of the lakes in the back. Every now and then I see a small waterfall or stream, but I can only count a few. So you better start this walk well prepared and not with sneakers and a liter of water as I saw some people do. Along the way you are exposed to the wind and sun and there is no shade anywhere to be found. Moreover, there are no hiding places. So take sufficient provisions with you and wear sturdy walking shoes. You can also walk up with your Nikes, but believe me when I say that a decent pair of walking shoes is much more pleasant.
The landscape variety upwards is therefore rather poor, although a few shrubs and flowers appear here and there on the verge. The most special guests on this site are perhaps the sheep that are not very shy. On these parts I cross private property and have to take small steps to cross a fence. After more than four kilometers it is a bit of a struggle again because the slope goes back over twenty percent. At higher altitudes the temperature drops somewhat and I am therefore less bothered by the 27 degrees at the start of the walk.
The first major attraction presents itself after more than six kilometers at an altitude of 1300 meters where there is a fantastic viewpoint over the various lakes of Wanaka. A small headland extends over the mountain and it is a very 'Instagrammable' place to take photos, both of the views and portrait photos for social media. But no matter how beautiful this place is, the real beauty is all the way up and that means struggling another 250 meters up where the most beautiful views of the day are located.
When I show photos I took at Roy's Peak, I am asked if these are photos from a postcard. No, they are not, because I took them myself. This says nothing about my photography skills, but it says everything about how picturesque the surroundings of Wanaka are when you view them from almost 1600 meters above sea level. Of course the weather has to be good, because a blue sky is of course much more beautiful than a gray cloud cover. In that respect, luck is on my side and I can count on a blue sky supplemented with some clouds.
The way down is exactly the same as the way up, or not quite. I avoided some sections that go up steeply on the way up, but I do take these shortcuts on the way down. However, it won't make much difference in terms of distance. Because the path is in such good condition, the descent is relatively easy to do. Only during the descent near the top do you have to watch out for stones and rocks. Later they are also sometimes on the path, but in smaller numbers. During the descent I continuously look at the various lakes and that makes the descent very picturesque. Sometimes it's worth stopping for a moment and enjoying the view. The advantage of my late start is that I encounter relatively few people on the way down, so I can walk down smoothly. Please note that Roy's Peak is a very popular hike so you will be anything but alone on this hike.
Despite the staggering amount of elevation gain to be conquered, Roy's Peak is one of the most popular day hikes around Wanaka and that has everything to do with the heavenly views. It takes a lot of sweat, but once at the top you have a view that is one of the most beautiful in New Zealand. This applies in good weather, because in cloudy weather the experience will be a lot less rewarding. As a pure hiking experience, there may be better options (think Diamond Lake), but they don't offer the same spectacle as Roy's Peak. And that is why this hike is extremely popular!
The Wanaka area is excellent for beautiful hikes, but of course, mobility also plays a role. Hikes like those around Diamond Lake require some means of transportation, but my improvisation skills did not allow me to cover such distances. So, I opted for a hike close to Wanaka: Roy's Peak.
Film enthusiasts might be familiar with the 1995 movie "Rob Roy," featuring the main character Rob Roy MacGregor, who leads a Scottish clan. If you know the film, you immediately know after whom Roy's Peak is named. The starting point of this ascent is about seven kilometers from Wanaka and is reachable on foot if you don't mind following the somewhat monotonous car road. Fortunately for me, I am dropped off here after a round of jet boating and can embark on the ascent with fresh enthusiasm.
Because ascent is the right word for this hike, which actually consists of two parts: one uphill and one downhill. Therefore, you won't do this hike for the variety in the landscape but rather for the exceptionally beautiful panoramic views at the peak. With almost 1300 meters of elevation gain, this is a quite challenging climb, and when I start at two o'clock in the afternoon, the thermometer reads 27 degrees Celsius. Moreover, the first 300 meters of elevation gain are quite steep, making it a bit challenging at the beginning. The trail is in good condition, consisting of sand, gravel, and occasional rocks. Especially near the top, there are more rocks, but overall, this is an easy trail with a mild alpine character.
The path zigzags its way up with a beautiful view of the lakes behind. Occasionally, I see a small waterfall or stream, but I can only enjoy them for a few moments. It's better to be well-prepared for this hike, not in sneakers with just a liter of water, as I saw some people doing. Along the way, you are exposed to wind and sun, with no shade in sight. Moreover, there are no shelters. So, bring enough provisions and wear sturdy hiking shoes. You can also climb in your Nikes, but believe me when I say that a decent pair of hiking shoes is much more pleasant.
The landscape variety going up is rather modest, although there are a few bushes and flowers popping up here and there along the roadside. The most remarkable guests in this area are probably the sheep, which are not very shy. In these sections, I cross private property and have to take small steps to step over a fence. After over four kilometers, it's time for a bit of huffing and puffing as the gradient goes back over twenty percent. At higher altitudes, the temperature decreases, and I suffer less from the 27 degrees at the start of the hike.
The first major attraction appears after about six kilometers at an altitude of 1300 meters, where there is a fantastic viewpoint over the various lakes of Wanaka. A small promontory stretches out over the mountain, making it a very 'Instagrammable' place to take photos, both of the panoramic views and portrait shots for social media. But as beautiful as this place is, the real beauty unfolds all the way at the top, which means struggling another 250 meters uphill, where the most beautiful views of the day await.
When I show photos taken on Roy's Peak, I am asked if these are postcard photos. No, they are not, because I took them myself. This says nothing about my photography skills but everything about how picturesque the surroundings of Wanaka are when viewed from almost 1600 meters high. Of course, the weather must cooperate, as a blue sky is obviously much prettier than a gray overcast. In that regard, luck is on my side, and I can count on a blue sky complemented by some clouds.
The way down is exactly the same as the way up, or not entirely. Some sections that go steeply uphill, I avoided on the way up, but on the way down, I take these shortcuts. In terms of distance, it won't make much difference. Because the trail is in such good condition, the descent is relatively easy. Only during the descent near the top, you need to watch out for stones and rocks. Later on, they sometimes appear on the trail, but in smaller numbers. During the descent, I continuously look at the various lakes, making the descent quite picturesque. Sometimes it's worth stopping for a moment and enjoying the view. The advantage of my late start is that I encounter relatively few people on the way down, allowing me to descend smoothly. Keep in mind that Roy's Peak is a very popular hike, and you will hardly be alone on this trail.
Despite the awe-inspiring number of elevation meters to overcome, Roy's Peak is one of the most popular day hikes around Wanaka, thanks to its heavenly views. It takes a lot of sweat, but once at the top, you have a view that ranks among the very best in New Zealand. This is true, of course, on good weather days, as on cloudy days, the experience will be considerably less rewarding. As a pure hiking experience, there are probably better options (think of Diamond Lake), but they do not offer the same spectacle as Roy's Peak. And that's why this hike is immensely popular!
Dutch version:
The area surrounding Wanaka is ideal for taking beautiful walks, but mobility obviously also plays a role. Walks such as those around Diamond Lake still require a means of transport, but my ability to improvise did not allow me to cover such distances. So then it became a walk close to Wanaka: Roy's Peak.
Film buffs may be familiar with the 1995 film Rob Roy, starring Rob Roy MacGregor, who heads a Scottish clan. If you know the film, you immediately know who Roy's Peak is named after. The starting point of this climb is about seven kilometers from Wanaka and can therefore be reached on foot if you don't mind following the somewhat monotonous motorway. Fortunately for me, I am dropped here after a round of jet boating and I can start the climb with fresh courage.
Because climbing is the right word for this walk, which actually has two parts: one uphill and one downhill. That is why you will not do this walk for the variation in the landscape, but for the exceptionally beautiful views of the peak. With almost 1300 meters of altitude, this is a fairly tough climb and when I start at two o'clock in the afternoon the thermometer shows 27 degrees. Moreover, the first 300 meters of elevation are quite steep, which means you may have to persevere at first. The path is in good condition and consists of sand, gravel and here and there there are some rocks and boulders along the way. There are some more rocks especially near the top, but overall this is an easy trail with little alpine character.
The path zigzags its way up with the beautiful view of the lakes in the back. Every now and then I see a small waterfall or stream, but I can only count a few. So you better start this walk well prepared and not with sneakers and a liter of water as I saw some people do. Along the way you are exposed to the wind and sun and there is no shade anywhere to be found. Moreover, there are no hiding places. So take sufficient provisions with you and wear sturdy walking shoes. You can also walk up with your Nikes, but believe me when I say that a decent pair of walking shoes is much more pleasant.
The landscape variety upwards is therefore rather poor, although a few shrubs and flowers appear here and there on the verge. The most special guests on this site are perhaps the sheep that are not very shy. On these parts I cross private property and have to take small steps to cross a fence. After more than four kilometers it is a bit of a struggle again because the slope goes back over twenty percent. At higher altitudes the temperature drops somewhat and I am therefore less bothered by the 27 degrees at the start of the walk.
The first major attraction presents itself after more than six kilometers at an altitude of 1300 meters where there is a fantastic viewpoint over the various lakes of Wanaka. A small headland extends over the mountain and it is a very 'Instagrammable' place to take photos, both of the views and portrait photos for social media. But no matter how beautiful this place is, the real beauty is all the way up and that means struggling another 250 meters up where the most beautiful views of the day are located.
When I show photos I took at Roy's Peak, I am asked if these are photos from a postcard. No, they are not, because I took them myself. This says nothing about my photography skills, but it says everything about how picturesque the surroundings of Wanaka are when you view them from almost 1600 meters above sea level. Of course the weather has to be good, because a blue sky is of course much more beautiful than a gray cloud cover. In that respect, luck is on my side and I can count on a blue sky supplemented with some clouds.
The way down is exactly the same as the way up, or not quite. I avoided some sections that go up steeply on the way up, but I do take these shortcuts on the way down. However, it won't make much difference in terms of distance. Because the path is in such good condition, the descent is relatively easy to do. Only during the descent near the top do you have to watch out for stones and rocks. Later they are also sometimes on the path, but in smaller numbers. During the descent I continuously look at the various lakes and that makes the descent very picturesque. Sometimes it's worth stopping for a moment and enjoying the view. The advantage of my late start is that I encounter relatively few people on the way down, so I can walk down smoothly. Please note that Roy's Peak is a very popular hike so you will be anything but alone on this hike.
Despite the staggering amount of elevation gain to be conquered, Roy's Peak is one of the most popular day hikes around Wanaka and that has everything to do with the heavenly views. It takes a lot of sweat, but once at the top you have a view that is one of the most beautiful in New Zealand. This applies in good weather, because in cloudy weather the experience will be a lot less rewarding. As a pure hiking experience, there may be better options (think Diamond Lake), but they don't offer the same spectacle as Roy's Peak. And that is why this hike is extremely popular!
You can add a comment or review this trail
Comments