Roys Peak

Mountain peak · Wanaka

Roys Peak

Mountain peak · Wanaka

Wānaka 9382, New Zealand

Highlights

Roy's Peak is a stunning 5,177-foot trek near Wanaka, offering breathtaking views of Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps—perfect for a sunrise snap.

Wānaka 9382, New Zealand Get directions

@afar

"Hiking Roy's Peak in Wanaka The guidebooks say this is a difficult trek but well worth it. After a huffing and puffing trek to the top of Roy’s Peak, I would most certainly like to concur. 11k in approximately 4-5 hours, a decent level of fitness is most needed for this mission of a hike. Extra bonus if you have the ability to jump over and around sheep poo. Providing unyielding views of Lake Wanaka and the countless mountain peaks surrounding it, this hike takes you up along the mountainside through private land (hence all the sheep) and to the top of Roy’s Peak, a spot with 360 degree views of Wanaka and beyond. Be sure to check weather conditions and bring extra layers of clothing as it can get quite chilly at the top. The car park is just off of Mt. Aspiring road. There’s no restroom here, so be sure to take care of business beforehand."

The Best Hikes in New Zealand

View Postcard for Roys Peak

@cntraveler

How Technology Can Help Us Tackle Overtourism

"Roy's Peak in Wanaka, New Zealand, has become an iconic Instagram spot, leading to overcrowding with lines up to two hours long for photos. The area, which was previously less visited, now sees close to 100,000 hikers a year. The influx of visitors camping without proper facilities has created environmental and logistical issues."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-technology-can-help-us-tackle-overtourism

View Postcard for Roys Peak

Jan

Google

I recommend doing this track and timing it to either watch the sunrise or sunset! The views are lovely and it was wonderful and calming to see all the cows, sheep and birds along the track. Its a steady incline but not too bad - as needed bring the appropiate gear and be prepared. We did it in late June and the worst part was the recent snow that packed down into ice near and at the top of the mountain.

Timo Marquardt

Google

Super nice hike that offers stunning views! For trained people, this is an easy hike. For untrained people, it would probably count as difficult. In any case worth the effort! I went up in the later afternoon / early evening to avoid the crowds that meet for sunrise.

Ratch Vpisit

Google

We could say Roys Peak is the ultimate experience/ best trip for all place in NZ trip. You may read many view saying about cow's 💩. There only have cow's 💩 at the entrance and many if them may step on because they walk up early morning (3am-6am) before sun rise, but if you go up after sun rise there is no problem. Long walk, prepare yourself well, but absolutely worth conquering Roys Peak. We start 7am, reach view point 11am, back down to base 2pm.

Jon Liu

Google

We did this most popular sunrise hike on March 1st. There was some cloudy condition and rain forecast, luckily it didn't rain and not overcast throughout the night ( I've been waking up to check the weather since 12 midnight). We decided to go for it. Woke up at 3:30 am, got to the parking lot and started the hike at 4:30 am. There were already lots of hikers ahead of us lighting up the trail with their headlamps going uphill on the switch backs. We are very slow going up and had many stops ( not as young as 20s-40s and had not done any walking/hiking prior coming to NZ :) As we were approaching the famous instagram spot, we saw beautiful sunrise as day light started coming in and stars started fading away, it was so pretty! There are some other recommendations to do The Rocky Mountain Summit Track over this one, I am sure it would be nice too, but we want to do ROYS PEAK because of its fame. We really think it's worth the effort!

Charlie

Google

Definitely do this hike for sunrise. Mainly because you can’t see the view and you get a huge payoff when it is revealed at sunrise. Otherwise you have the same view the entire 4-5 hours it takes to do the whole hike. Definitely harder work than was anticipated. It was 6 degrees at 4am and I was down to t shirt and shorts after 10 minutes from the constant incline. Very cold once you stop though so bring layers. Maybe a little overrated since other hikes in NZ are much better but still worth it if you have the time.

Irfan P

Google

Roys Peak is a famous hiking destination near Wanaka, New Zealand, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Wanaka, Mount Aspiring, and the surrounding Southern Alps. The hike is about 16 km (10 miles) round trip, with a steep ascent of over 1,200 meters. The well-maintained trail takes around 5 to 7 hours to complete. The summit is a popular photography spot, especially at sunrise. A small entry fee applies during the lambing season (October-November) as the track crosses private farmland. Hikers should carry enough water, wear sturdy shoes, and check weather conditions before starting.

Yana T

Google

Challenging hike but the cutest sheep and lamb make it so worth it. The views are like nothing else. We went on a cloudy day and didn’t get that classic Instagram shot, but it was still so beautiful and pleasant the entire way. I can’t wait to come back one day

Brian Williams

Google

Took 4 hours total, uphill the entire time so it’s a good workout. But overall I wasn’t impressed with the views compared to other hikes in NZ. I think it’s overrated and you won’t miss much if you don’t have time to hike it.