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The Roy’s Peak Hike is one of the best in all of New Zealand. But what is Roys Peak difficulty and is it worth the effort? We spent 3 months traveling New Zealand in our campervan and loved our Roys Peak sunrise experience so much that it landed a spot on our recommended New Zealand travel bucket list.
Located in the heart of the South Island right near Wanaka, this incredible hike is visited by tourists from around the globe who come to experience the brilliance of the panorama views atop Roy’s Peak. There’s a reason many people call Roy’s Peak the most Instagrammable place in all of New Zealand.
We woke up pre-dawn to experience the Roy’s Peak sunrise, perhaps the best single sunrise location in all of New Zealand. The hike itself is extremely challenging, basically a stair-master for over 4 miles up. (More on that later). However, the view at the top is so much more than worth it. We haven’t seen a better sunrise in our whole lives, except maybe on top of Haleakala. It is a competition though, that is for sure.
While traveling New Zealand’s South Island, be sure to check out Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound for beautiful scenery, Mount Cook for awesome hiking, and Marlborough for wine tasting!
Now let’s discuss Roys Peak difficulty and if the hike is worth it to witness a Roys Peak sunrise.
Hike Details
- Distance: 9.7 miles out & back
- Elevation Gain: Over 4,100 feet
- Trailhead: Just outside Wanaka off of Mount Aspiring Road
Why Hike Roy’s Peak
Roy’s Peak difficulty is challenging because it is a 4,000 foot ascent. You hike that high for a reason. The bird’s eye view of the Lake Wanaka area and surrounding peaks is absolutely jaw-dropping.
About 3/4 of the way up the mountain you’ll come to a viewpoint lookout. This is the perfect place to watch the Roys Peak sunrise if you are doing the pre-dawn hike like we did. Either way, you have to stop and take a photo here, the perspective is such that your whole body can be captured within the background of the lake. It is an incredible photo opportunity.
Roy’s Peak Difficulty
There’s no way to get around it. For most people, Roys Peak difficulty is hard! Mainly because it’s a steep climb for nearly 5 straight miles!
The trail itself is really well maintained, so there’s nothing technical about it. From that perspective it’s easy. However, the steep steady climb will most likely have your legs and lungs streaming for a few hours straight.
Another thing to note about the Roy’s Peak difficulty is this hike has absolutely no shade! If you are hiking in the heat of the day that’s going to add a lot more difficulty to this hike. That’s another reason why we recommend making your ascend before the sun comes up.
We recommend hiking to the viewpoint for sunrise, and then continuing to the summit after watching the sunrise. This will save you time so you don’t have to wake up quite as early to catch sunrise. And it will break up your ascend to make it a little bit easier. Plus we think the view of sunrise is better from the viewpoint than the summit anyways.
The bottom line is, if you are planning to hike Roy’s Peak, be prepared for a good challenge. Anymore can do it if they truly put their mind to it. This hike is mind over matter! If you are a beginner hiker give yourself plenty of time to get to the top so you can take breaks as needed.
Roy’s Peak Sunrise
You’ll have to get to the Roy’s Peak trailhead at least 2 hours before dawn if you want to catch the sunrise. And that’s if you are hiking fast, at least 2 miles per hour, which is a good clip when you’re ascending 1,000 feet per mile. It would be better to reach the trailhead 2,5-3 hours before sunrise so you aren’t rushing up the mountain in the dark.
We made it to the viewpoint in a little less than 2 hours but we were booking it! Mainly because as the sun started to light the sky, we started to panic. The panic made us hike faster because there was no way we were going to miss the sunrise after all that effort.
This definitely added to our difficulty and if we were to do it again we would prefer to have 2.5 hours to make it to the viewpoint.
Bring along a headlamp or flashlight to light the way, as you’ll need some light in the pre-dawn hours. Bring some breakfast as well, and more than enough water. We recommend 2 liters each.
The other benefit of hiking at sunrise is that your return hike will feel like a whole new trail! You’ll get to enjoy the whole Lake Wanaka panorama on your return hike down the mountain. And you’ll be finished in the morning, you’ll have the entire day to chill in Wanaka and plan the rest of your New Zealand adventure!
The Roy’s Peak hike is top to bottom one of the most fantastic hikes in all of New Zealand. The Roy’s Peak sunrise brings this hike to the next level, making it one of the very best hikes on Earth.
Roy’s Peak Hike Tips
Before you jet off on this difficult climb, you want to make sure you are prepared.
What To Pack
There are a few things you will want to pack for this hike.
- Layers – especially if you are doing the hike for sunrise. You’ll be sweating on your way up, but then freezing as your waiting for the sun to come up.
- Water – this is a long and challenging hike. Pack at least 2 liters of water for this hike.
- Food – pack some food to fuel your hike. Plan to spend at least 5 hours on this hike! A snack or breakfast at the viewpoint while waiting for the sun to rise is a great idea.
- Headlamp/flashlight – if you are hiking to see the sunrise at the top you’ll need some type of light to guide your hike.
- Sunscreen – the trail has absolutely no shade and New Zealand’s sun is intense!
Parking
There is a parking lot at the trailhead, however it does fill up. Another reason to hike it for sunrise! There is a donation box at the trailhead asking for a $2 donation.
Conditions
Of course you want to hike Roys Peak when the conditions are good. Check the weather before you hike and plan for a day with no rain in the forecast. Hiking this trail in muddy and slippery conditions would be rough.
A day with minimal cloud coverage will be best for the best views. If it’s a very cloudy day there’s a good chance the summit will be in the clouds. What a bummer that would be!
Enjoy Roys Peak
We sincerely hope you enjoyed this article on the Roy’s Peak hike at sunrise. Please pin the article to Pinterest using the images below!
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Main meanings suggest that depressive conditions, additionally known informally as depression, are characterized by: sudden depression of an individual’s state of mind, in the unfavorable direction, of modest to solid strength of the intensity of the experienced adjustments, for more than a few weeks. There might be one or more reasons for the incident of adjustments. It likewise happens that it is tough to determine any unequivocal factor. We very usually encountered the statement that it is a civilization disease of the 21st century – it impacts both older and also younger people. Our education is trivial for anxiety, let alone our profits – it can impact anybody. Treatment of clinical depression comes down to: pharmacotherapy, psychiatric therapy as well as psychoeducation, photo-therapy, electroconvulsive therapy and also even more natural activities related to the surge of exercise and also the introduction of significant changes in the everyday diet. It is as part of natural approaches of fighting and combating depression that the incorporation of cannabis prep work with cannabinoids normally occurring in the plant in the everyday diet regimen is acquiring more and more popularity worldwide. Cannabidiol CBD, discovered in e.g. CBD oil or full-spectrum hemp oil, appears in many scientific researches as a potentially efficient cannabinoid in the therapy of clinical depression. Importantly, it is a 100 natural chemical compound of plant origin. Remarkably, clinical depression is among the three most common mental illness in which people resort to CBD hemp preparations such as CBD oil, complete spectrum hemp oil with CBD or CBD pills. Reports from consumers and their positive point of views on the performance of e.g. CBD oil or complete spectrum hemp oil with natural CBD are growing at an unmatched rate. THC as well as CBD cannabinoids – distinctions The main cannabinoids in the marijuana plant are THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and also CBD (cannabidiol). They show antagonistic impacts, which means that CBD reduces the impacts of THC. What are these results? THC has an envigorating impact, triggers a sensation of euphoria, influences cognitive features, yet likewise kicks back. Big, routinely eaten doses of THC are considered hazardous to the human brain. Extreme usage of THC can cause psychosis, lack of inspiration, as well as even long-term negative adjustments in cognitive feature. Both THC as well as CBD impact the endocannabinoid system in the body. Their activity, as currently discussed, is inconsistent. Cbd-a-thc-in-the-endocannabinoid-1 system When writing pictures, CBD reduces the exhaustion of anandamide sources, and THC speeds up this procedure. 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The endocannabinoid system includes a natural chemical called anandamide (AEA). Anandamide is a natural chemical that is normally produced in the human brain. Its manufacturing is stimulated by e.g. exercise, and to a lesser level by the supposed collaborate with the body (massage!). Its sources are “utilized” to preserve the proper functioning of the body, including in the field of mental health and wellness. As shown in this study: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580381 high levels of anandamide are related to a reduced risk of creating psychotic symptoms. A high degree of anandamide is also related to a favorable impact on the reduction of anxiety and anxiety symptoms. This system is still not completely recognized, however it seems rational that a highly clinically depressed mood in a specific amount of time for a certain case, and with the synchronised lack of activities targeted at its renovation, brings about an intensification of the increase of unfavorable ideas. As depressive conditions establish, they can turn into a lot more dangerous forms of conditions, e.g. psychosis, delusions or schizophrenia. Slowing down this process as rapidly as feasible might end up being critical in the reliable therapy of mental illness of human functioning.
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