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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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CBD for Anxiousness and also Depression: Envision that it is feasible to present one all-natural preparation into your daily diet regimen, which could confirm to be the secret to winning the fight for a calmer life for individuals with depressive conditions. Suppose the inclusion of this preparation, produced on the basis of a progressively widely known as well as evaluated chemical compound of plant beginning, is not just possibly really effective, yet is not connected with the threat of negative effects typical of pharmacological medicines? Is it even feasible? Where’s the catch? Do you wish to know more? Read this write-up In this short article we will cover: What is depression? THC and also CBD cannabinoids – differences Depression and the endocannabinoid system What is clinical depression? Main meanings suggest that depressive problems, additionally recognized informally as clinical depression, are defined by: unexpected anxiety of an individual’s state of mind, in the negative direction, of moderate to strong strength of the intensity of the seasoned modifications, for more than a couple of weeks. There might be several reasons for the occurrence of modifications. It also happens that it is difficult to determine any kind of unequivocal reason. We really commonly discovered the declaration that it is a world condition of the 21st century – it impacts both older as well as more youthful people. Our education and learning is not important for anxiety, not to mention our earnings – it can impact any person. Treatment of clinical depression comes down to: pharmacotherapy, psychiatric therapy and also psychoeducation, photo-therapy, electroconvulsive therapy and also even more all-natural activities associated with the increase of physical activity and the intro of substantial adjustments in the daily diet plan. It is as part of natural approaches of fighting and also counteracting depression that the inclusion of marijuana prep work with cannabinoids naturally happening in the plant in the everyday diet is obtaining more and more popularity in the world. Cannabidiol CBD, located in e.g. CBD oil or full-spectrum hemp oil, shows up in many clinical researches as a potentially reliable cannabinoid in the treatment of depression. Notably, it is a 100 all-natural chemical compound of plant beginning. Interestingly, depression is among the three most typical mental illness in which people consider CBD hemp prep work such as CBD oil, complete spectrum hemp oil with CBD or CBD capsules. Reports from consumers and their positive viewpoints on the performance of e.g. CBD oil or full spectrum hemp oil with natural CBD are expanding at an unmatched speed. THC as well as CBD cannabinoids – distinctions The main cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). They reveal antagonistic impacts, which implies that CBD minimizes the results of THC. What are these effects? THC has an envigorating effect, causes a feeling of euphoria, affects cognitive functions, however additionally kicks back. Huge, frequently eaten dosages of THC are thought about damaging to the human brain. Excessive intake of THC can bring about psychosis, absence of motivation, and also also long-term negative adjustments in cognitive function. Both THC and CBD impact the endocannabinoid system in the human body. Their activity, as currently mentioned, is inconsistent. Cbd-a-thc-in-the-endocannabinoid-1 system When creating pictures, CBD reduces the exhaustion of anandamide sources, and also THC accelerate this process. Nevertheless, this does not suggest that THC is only a damaging cannabinoid and should not remain in the prep work at all. On the contrary. Its small existence in hemp preparations is also necessary in order to get the supposed impact. harmony. THC in full spectrum hemp oil exists in such a marginal and also, notably, legal quantity. This quantity is so little (less than 0.2) that it does not create drunkenness. Interacting, THC and CBD have better possibility than either particle acting alone. What is anandamide (AEA)? What is its relevance for people dealing with clinical depression? Keep reading! CBD, Anxiety and also the endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid system is an essential system in charge of the regulation of fundamental human physiological procedures, such as power monitoring, neurohormonal and neuroimmune links, electric motor activity, state of mind as well as motivation, and fat metabolic rate. The endocannabinoid system consists of a neurotransmitter called anandamide (AEA). Anandamide is a natural chemical that is normally created in the human brain. Its manufacturing is promoted by e.g. exercise, as well as to a lesser level by the so-called work with the body (massage!). Its sources are “made use of” to preserve the appropriate performance of the body, including in the field of mental wellness. As received this study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580381 high levels of anandamide are associated with a lowered danger of creating psychotic symptoms. A high level of anandamide is additionally associated with a positive impact on the reduction of anxiety as well as anxiousness signs. This device is still not totally understood, yet it appears rational that a highly depressed state of mind in an individual period for a certain situation, as well as with the synchronised absence of actions focused on its improvement, causes a rise of the influx of negative ideas. As depressive disorders develop, they can become much more dangerous types of conditions, e.g. psychosis, misconceptions or schizophrenia. Slowing down this procedure as quickly as possible may turn out to be vital in the effective treatment of mental illness of human functioning.
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