Roys Peak Difficulty – Worth It For Sunrise?

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.

roys peak, hike roys peak, roys peak sunrise, roys peak wanaka, roys peak new zealand, roys peak track, roys peak walk, wanaka roys peak, roys peak height, roys peak hike time, roys peak difficulty, roys peak hike, roys peak photo, roys peak instagram photo, awesome photo at roys peak, roys peak weather, roys peak elevation gain, roys peak trail, roys peak walk time, roys peak track car park, travel wanaka, travel new zealand, travel nz, wanaka, hike wanaka, new zealand, nz, visit nz, travel
Hiking New Zealand’s Best Trail – Roy’s Peak

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.

roys peak, hike roys peak, roys peak sunrise, roys peak wanaka, roys peak new zealand, roys peak track, roys peak walk, wanaka roys peak, roys peak height, roys peak hike time, roys peak difficulty, roys peak hike, roys peak photo, roys peak instagram photo, awesome photo at roys peak, roys peak weather, roys peak elevation gain, roys peak trail, roys peak walk time, roys peak track car park, travel wanaka, travel new zealand, travel nz, wanaka, hike wanaka, new zealand, nz, visit nz, travel
The Roy’s Peak Viewpoint Landscape 

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.

roys peak, hike roys peak, roys peak sunrise, roys peak wanaka, roys peak new zealand, roys peak track, roys peak walk, wanaka roys peak, roys peak height, roys peak hike time, roys peak difficulty, roys peak hike, roys peak photo, roys peak instagram photo, awesome photo at roys peak, roys peak weather, roys peak elevation gain, roys peak trail, roys peak walk time, roys peak track car park, travel wanaka, travel new zealand, travel nz, wanaka, hike wanaka, new zealand, nz, visit nz, travel
Roy’s Peak Hike at Sunrise

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!

8,137 thoughts on “Roys Peak Difficulty – Worth It For Sunrise?”

  1. CBD for Stress And Anxiety as well as Clinical Depression: Envision that it is possible to present one natural prep work right into your daily diet, which could show to be the secret to winning the defend a calmer life for individuals with depressive problems. Suppose the inclusion of this prep work, created on the basis of a significantly widely known and also evaluated chemical compound of plant origin, is not only potentially really efficient, yet is not connected with the threat of side effects regular of medicinal medications? Is it also possible? Where’s the catch? Do you need to know more? Read this write-up In this write-up we will certainly cover: What is clinical depression? THC distinctions Depression and also the endocannabinoid system What is depression? Main definitions suggest that depressive conditions, also known informally as anxiety, are defined by: abrupt depression of an individual’s state of mind, in the unfavorable direction, of modest to strong strength of the strength of the skilled changes, for greater than a couple of weeks. There may be one or more reasons for the incident of adjustments. It also occurs that it is difficult to recognize any kind of absolute reason. We really typically stumbled upon the declaration that it is a civilization illness of the 21st century – it influences both older and also younger individuals. Our education is trivial for depression, not to mention our profits – it can affect any person. Therapy of depression comes down to: pharmacotherapy, psychiatric therapy as well as psychoeducation, phototherapy, electroconvulsive therapy as well as even more all-natural activities related to the aggravation of physical activity and the intro of significant changes in the everyday diet regimen. It is as part of natural methods of fighting and also counteracting anxiety that the addition of marijuana preparations with cannabinoids normally taking place in the plant in the everyday diet is obtaining increasingly more appeal on the planet. Cannabidiol CBD, found in e.g. CBD oil or full-spectrum hemp oil, shows up in numerous clinical researches as a possibly efficient cannabinoid in the therapy of depression. Significantly, it is a 100 natural chemical compound of plant beginning. Surprisingly, clinical depression is among the 3 most usual mental illness in which clients resort to CBD hemp preparations such as CBD oil, full range hemp oil with CBD or CBD capsules. Records from customers and their positive opinions on the effectiveness of e.g. CBD oil or full range hemp oil with natural CBD are expanding at an unprecedented speed. THC as well as CBD cannabinoids – differences The main cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and also CBD (cannabidiol). They show hostile effects, which implies that CBD reduces the results of THC. What are these impacts? THC has an envigorating impact, causes a sensation of bliss, influences cognitive features, yet also kicks back. Large, frequently taken in doses of THC are thought about harmful to the human brain. Excessive consumption of THC can bring about psychosis, absence of motivation, and also even long-term negative changes in cognitive feature. Both THC and CBD affect the endocannabinoid system in the body. Their activity, as already stated, is contradictory. Cbd-a-thc-in-the-endocannabinoid-1 system When creating pictures, CBD reduces the exhaustion of anandamide resources, as well as THC accelerate this procedure. Nonetheless, this does not indicate that THC is only a hazardous cannabinoid and must not be in the preparation at all. As a matter of fact. Its tiny visibility in hemp preparations is also necessary in order to get the supposed impact. synergy. THC completely range hemp oil is present in such a low as well as, notably, legal quantity. This amount is so small (less than 0.2) that it does not create intoxication. Working together, THC and CBD have greater potential than either particle acting alone. What is anandamide (AEA)? What is its value for people struggling with depression? Read on! CBD, Anxiety as well as the endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid system is a crucial system responsible for the regulation of standard human physiological processes, such as energy management, neurohormonal and also neuroimmune links, motor task, state of mind and also inspiration, and fat metabolism. The endocannabinoid system includes a natural chemical called anandamide (AEA). Anandamide is a natural chemical that is naturally created in the human brain. Its production is stimulated by e.g. exercise, and also to a minimal level by the so-called work with the body (massage therapy!). Its resources are “made use of” to preserve the appropriate performance of the body, including in the field of mental wellness. As shown in this research study: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580381 high degrees of anandamide are related to a lowered threat of establishing psychotic signs. A high level of anandamide is also associated with a favorable result on the decrease of clinical depression and anxiety signs and symptoms. This system is still not completely recognized, yet it seems rational that a strongly depressed mood in a specific amount of time for a certain instance, as well as with the simultaneous absence of activities aimed at its improvement, leads to a concentration of the influx of unfavorable ideas. As depressive conditions create, they can turn into a lot more hazardous forms of conditions, e.g. psychosis, misconceptions or schizophrenia. Reducing this procedure as quickly as possible may turn out to be critical in the effective treatment of mental illness of human performance.

    Reply
  2. I don’t even know the way I stopped up here, but I believed this publish was good.

    I don’t recognise who you might be but certainly you’re going to a well-known blogger in case you aren’t already.
    Cheers!

    Reply
  3. CBD for Anxiousness as well as Depression: Demystified Imagine that it is possible to present one natural preparation into your everyday diet regimen, which could prove to be the trick to winning the fight for a calmer life for people with depressive conditions. What if the addition of this preparation, produced on the basis of a significantly popular and tested chemical substance of plant beginning, is not just potentially very effective, yet is not associated with the threat of negative effects normal of pharmacological drugs? Is it also feasible? Where’s the catch? Do you need to know more? Read this short article In this post we will certainly cover: What is depression? THC and also CBD cannabinoids – differences Depression and also the endocannabinoid system What is clinical depression? Official definitions suggest that depressive conditions, additionally understood informally as depression, are characterized by: unexpected clinical depression of an individual’s mood, in the negative direction, of modest to solid strength of the intensity of the seasoned changes, for more than a couple of weeks. There may be one or more reasons for the event of modifications. It additionally happens that it is challenging to identify any kind of indisputable factor. We really frequently discovered the declaration that it is a world condition of the 21st century – it influences both older and more youthful people. Our education and learning is not important for anxiety, let alone our revenues – it can impact anybody. Treatment of depression comes down to: pharmacotherapy, psychiatric therapy as well as psychoeducation, photo-therapy, electroconvulsive therapy and even more natural activities related to the increase of physical activity as well as the intro of substantial modifications in the everyday diet. It is as part of natural approaches of combating and also neutralizing clinical depression that the inclusion of cannabis preparations with cannabinoids naturally taking place in the plant in the day-to-day diet regimen is obtaining more and more appeal on the planet. Cannabidiol CBD, found in e.g. CBD oil or full-spectrum hemp oil, appears in many scientific research studies as a potentially effective cannabinoid in the treatment of anxiety. Significantly, it is a 100 all-natural chemical substance of plant beginning. Interestingly, depression is amongst the three most common mental illness in which people turn to CBD hemp prep work such as CBD oil, complete spectrum hemp oil with CBD or CBD capsules. Reports from consumers and also their positive opinions on the effectiveness of e.g. CBD oil or full range hemp oil with natural CBD are expanding at an extraordinary rate. THC and CBD cannabinoids – differences The main cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). They reveal hostile effects, which means that CBD minimizes the results of THC. What are these effects? THC has an intoxicating result, creates a feeling of euphoria, impacts cognitive functions, yet also unwinds. Large, consistently taken in doses of THC are taken into consideration harmful to the human brain. Excessive consumption of THC can cause psychosis, absence of motivation, as well as also long-term unfavorable adjustments in cognitive function. Both THC and CBD affect the endocannabinoid system in the body. Their activity, as currently mentioned, is contradictory. Cbd-a-thc-in-the-endocannabinoid-1 system When composing images, CBD reduces the deficiency of anandamide sources, and also THC quicken this procedure. However, this does not indicate that THC is only a hazardous cannabinoid as well as must not remain in the prep work whatsoever. On the other hand. Its little presence in hemp prep work is even necessary in order to obtain the supposed result. synergy. THC completely spectrum hemp oil exists in such a low and also, importantly, legal quantity. This amount is so little (less than 0.2) that it does not create intoxication. Collaborating, THC and CBD have better potential than either molecule acting alone. What is anandamide (AEA)? What is its relevance for individuals experiencing anxiety? Keep reading! CBD, Anxiety and also the endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid system is a key system responsible for the policy of fundamental human physiological processes, such as power management, neurohormonal and neuroimmune links, motor activity, mood as well as inspiration, as well as fat metabolic process. The endocannabinoid system consists of a natural chemical called anandamide (AEA). Anandamide is a neurotransmitter that is normally generated in the human mind. Its production is promoted by e.g. exercise, as well as to a lower level by the supposed deal with the body (massage!). Its resources are “made use of” to keep the appropriate functioning of the body, including in the field of psychological health and wellness. As shown in this study: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580381 high degrees of anandamide are associated with a reduced threat of establishing psychotic signs and symptoms. A high level of anandamide is additionally connected with a positive impact on the decrease of depression and anxiety symptoms. This device is still not completely comprehended, however it seems rational that a highly depressed mood in a specific time period for a details situation, and with the simultaneous absence of activities focused on its renovation, results in a climax of the influx of unfavorable ideas. As depressive disorders establish, they can turn into a lot more unsafe forms of disorders, e.g. psychosis, deceptions or schizophrenia. Slowing down this procedure as quickly as possible might end up being essential in the effective treatment of mental illness of human performance.

    Reply
  4. Hi! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to look it over.
    I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will
    be tweeting this to my followers! Excellent blog and outstanding design.

    Reply

Leave a Comment