There’s a good reason Roy’s Peak Lookout is famous. It draws people from across the globe to haul themselves 4-miles uphill on switchbacks through near-vertical agricultural fields for one reason – the view. And the view is spectacular. At the Roy’s Peak lookout, a ridge-top trail offers panoramic views of the islands, bays, and inlets of Lake Wanaka surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Photographers flock to this destination to capture their subject at the edge of a dramatic landscape.
Without sugar coating too much, this hike is strenuous. Before you reach the lookout, you must tackle a relentless four-mile climb. There is no shade and a relatively barren landscape with only cute sheep to cheer you on. However, you’ll have omnipresent views that only get better as you climb. I loved this hike and am so glad we caught it when the crowds were thinning and temperatures were cooling in the late afternoon. Keep reading to see if you’re ready to tackle this gorgeous hike.
(Hanna Note: We did the hike on February 26, 2020, but I wrote this post in May 2022. Due to the pandemic, I froze and didn’t think it was a good idea to share a hike in a destination that was closed off to most of the world for what ended up being years. Now that New Zealand has opened up again, I am excited to relive the hike. Information is updated with current information as of 2022.)
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Roy’s Peak: The Climb
The trail begins in a dusty dirt parking lot on the side of the road. The parking area wasn’t packed, but there were a lot of cars around, so we were concerned that the trail would be busy. Luckily beginning in the late afternoon (around 4 pm) has advantages because we passed most people as they were coming down, and the trail became quieter as time went on. The track is next to and sometimes through farmland, so you see cute sheep while hiking. We primarily saw them at the start and end of the trail. You’ll also encounter little sets of stairs to pass over a couple of times during the hike.
The trail is a wide dirt path with a consistent climb on sweeping switchbacks. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there are almost no breaks on the four miles to the lookout. The consistency of the climb makes it brutal. There were primarily brow grasses with greens poking through in late February as New Zealand was about to head into the fall season. I cannot stress the importance of going at your own pace while doing this kind of switch-back hike. Don’t let other hikers (even the people you are with) pressure you into a faster pace. Soak up the views while catching your breath, and let the sweat flow as you tackle each switchback.
The bright side of climbing is the increasingly gorgeous views over Lake Wanaka. You lose the views to the west as you hike closer to the ridge. But the ridge is the destination, so use the proximity to motivate you to the top. At the ridge, you’ve made it to the lookout!
At a Glance:
- Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars; I would go again for sunrise
- Intensity: Hiking clothes that you can sweat in, Hiking Shoes
- Location: Near Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand
- Cost: Free!
- Restrooms: There is a non-flushing toilet in the parking area and near the lookout
- Timing: 3 – 7 hours (the hike took us 4 hours to the lookout)
- Elevation Gain: 3,226 ft (THIS IS A BEEFY CLIMB!) to the lookout, 4,281 to the peak
- Distance: 8 miles round trip to the lookout (10 to the peak)
- IMPORTANT NOTE on Timing: The track is closed from October 1 to November 10 for lambing each year
Highlights:
- Insanely gorgeous views of the lakes and mountains around Wanaka — there’s a reason this is a famous photo spot!
- Great exercise!
- Cute sheep at the start and end of the hike
Lowlights:
- The trail can be very busy… with some influencers/photographers/people with tripods
- Switchbacks galore! It was a tough climb with not much variety. However, you get increasingly gorgeous views as you climb, so there is a bit of motivation.
- There is no shade on the trail, which makes for great views and a hot climb.
Roy’s Peak Lookout
Once you reach the ridge you’ve been climbing next to, you’ve essentially made it to the lookout and infamous photo location. And MAN, it is stunning. Lake Wanaka stretches out in front of you with exciting peninsulas, islands, and bays that create an undulating and engaging landscape. Although you can see a tiny peak of Lake Hawea, it’s just Lake Wanaka that you see in all the photos.
From the main trail, there is a slight detour out onto a ridge and point. This detour is a classic shot of Roy’s Peak Lookout and is typically taken with people standing out on the point.
We lucked with the placement of the clouds, and the sun was shining while we got a few photos at the point. Speaking of photos, an interesting dynamic occurred at Roy’s Peak that I want to share since this is a busy trail that is a well-known photographer’s destination.
Photographer’s Battle
As we reached the ridge and marveled at the scenery, we noticed a dynamic happening at the lookout. A couple was setting up a tripod on the detour point… Taking it over in a way that indicated they would be there for a while.
Now, I am a very photo-positive person and firmly believe in capturing yourself at a destination at that moment. However, I also don’t think that should be at the expense of others enjoying that destination. So, I advocate for (1) taking turns, (2) setting up as much as possible BEFORE getting in someone else’s way, (3) moving quickly, and (4) communication. If you know you’re going to want a lot of particular photos, you can take a few photos, let others go (and even help others) while being friendly and telling people that you’ll get more after them, then get more pictures at the new angle. Rinse and repeat until satisfied.
We didn’t wait for the tripod couple. We walked right up to the point and took photos on the other side of them, while they set up their tripod. If they were ready, actively shooting, and communicative we wouldn’t have interrupted. We took our photos and decided to hike down without getting “the shot” from a distance you see everywhere. Apparently, during the busy season, lines can form to get the single shot, which is something to consider!
If you’re not yet tired, Head to Roy’s Peak Summit
The lookout/photo detour is not the actual peak! There is another mile of climbing to reach the summit. From my experience, most people turn around at the lookout/photo detour point. So if you decide to continue, you’ll likely have a quieter trail and with a good chance you’ll be alone at the peak. From what I gather online, the framing of the photos is not quite as dramatic as it seems to be further away from Lake Wanaka, but you do capture the trail below. With the sun quickly setting and another week of adventures ahead, we didn’t do the summit.
The Return Trip
Since the Roys Peak Track is an out-and-back trail, you return on the same route that you climbed. Yep, you must tackle the switchbacks AGAIN to get to the parking area, and it can be brutal on your joints as you sweep back and forth. Interestingly, as we began to descend, the clouds moved and fully shaded the trail. It made me incredibly grateful that we got the photos when we did!
Eventually, the clouds cleared, but we remained in the shade as the sun set behind the mountain. The surrounding mountains lit up with an orangy glow! I used the changing colors of the surrounding mountains and the cute sheep to distract from the switchbacks. It was cooler heading down in the late afternoon, and we made it back to the car before the sun entirely set. We still had time to take a dip in Lake Wanaka!
Roys Peak Lookout Sunset vs. Sunrise
In terms of crowds, sunrise and sunset are your best bet to have a quiet moment on the trail. But you may also encounter other sunrise or sunset chasers. The track is wide and obvious, so it would be easy to follow with a headlamp. As I just mentioned in the last section, the sun was setting behind the mountain as we descended. If you’re looking to photograph Roys Peak, then it’s likely that your subject will be in the shadows. It did get increasingly cool while we were there with golden colors on the surrounding mountains. Instead, Roys Peak lookout is bathed in light at sunrise and an excellent time to photograph it.
Roys Peak Hike – What to Bring With You
The Roys Peak Hike is an intense workout with 4 miles of climbing, so I recommend bringing a small backpack with essentials, such as:
- Download the Alltrails Map (this one goes all the way to Roy’s Peak)
- Day Pack – I used a small 16L backpack from Amazon. Consider the Gregory May 16 or small Osprey pack.
- Water bottle – You cannot go wrong with a handy dandy Nalgene — BRING more water than you think you need. I recommend at least 2 liters of water.
- Hat for shade (I wasn’t wearing one and regretted it!)
- Light layers – it was windy on the lookout point, and I utilized a windbreaker to keep warm
- Sunscreen – I use this sunscreen for my face, and this one for my body
- Snacks to keep you going!
- (Typically, I recommend a small tripod, but NOT for this one! Unless you are going at the usual time, I bet there will be someone around to help you with photos. And taking the time to set up a tripod can negatively impact other people’s experience.)
Getting to the Trailhead
There is a dedicated parking area for the Roy’s Peak Lookout Hike. It’s only a 7-minute drive (7.5 km) from downtown Wanaka on Mount Aspiring Road. The trailhead is easily found on GoogleMaps, which is how we routed there. There is not much around along the drive beside fields, livestock, and beautiful views of Lake Wanaka. The trailhead parking will be on the mountainside of the road and should be pretty obvious.
Other things to do on the South Island of New Zealand
There was so much to explore on this first trip to the South Island! I cannot wait to go back to explore more, but in the meantime, here’s what I got up to on this trip:
- Outdoorsy Things to do in Wanaka
- Mount Cook Day Trip with Hooker Valley Track
- Milford Sound Day Trip and Cruise
- Te Anau Scenic Helicopter Ride
- Bungee Jumping from the Kawarau Bridge
- Outdoorsy Things to do in Queenstown
Overall Thoughts: Roy’s Peak Hike
We did the Roy’s Peak Hike on the first evening we reached the South Island. It seems crazy to squeeze the hike into a travel day, but I think the other days were cloudy and even windier. The lightning at Roys Peak Lookout was phenomenal, and I think we lucked out. It was also silly to do it right when we arrived because we were tuckered out the next day! It’s a relentlessly uphill hike with little reprieve. That said, it was a gorgeous view, and I am so glad we went!
Since it is so beautiful from the lookout, don’t expect to have a moment alone in nature. Instead, mentally prepare for others to be around (with tripods). However, if you know what you’re getting into, bring enough water and snacks. This hike packs a punch that makes all the sweating worthwhile. If I go back, I’d probably try to do this hike for sunrise.
It was so fun to revisit and write about this hike! Although I made sure to confirm details with my travel partner and current trail reports, the memories came flooding back when I looked back through my photos. I cannot wait to go back to New Zealand and hike more along the South Island – which tracks should I check out next?
Happy Travels,
Hanna
