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.

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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.

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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.

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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 Anxiousness and Anxiety: Visualize that it is possible to introduce one natural prep work into your day-to-day diet plan, which could confirm to be the key to winning the fight for a calmer life for people with depressive problems. What if the inclusion of this preparation, created on the basis of a progressively well-known as well as examined chemical substance of plant beginning, is not only possibly extremely efficient, yet is not related to the threat of adverse effects regular of medicinal medicines? Is it also possible? Where’s the catch? Do you need to know more? Read this article In this write-up we will cover: What is depression? THC distinctions Anxiety and the endocannabinoid system What is anxiety? 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The endocannabinoid system consists of a neurotransmitter called anandamide (AEA). Anandamide is a natural chemical that is naturally produced in the human mind. Its production is boosted by e.g. physical activity, and to a lower level by the supposed work with the body (massage therapy!). Its resources are “made use of” to maintain the correct functioning of the body, including in the field of mental wellness. As shown in this research study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580381 high levels of anandamide are connected with a decreased threat of developing psychotic signs. A high level of anandamide is additionally associated with a favorable impact on the decrease of anxiety as well as anxiety signs. 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  2. CBD for Stress And Anxiety and also Anxiety: Envision that it is feasible to introduce one all-natural preparation right into your daily diet plan, which can verify to be the key to winning the fight for a calmer life for people with depressive conditions. What if the incorporation of this preparation, developed on the basis of a significantly widely known and tested chemical compound of plant beginning, is not only possibly very efficient, however is not connected with the threat of side effects normal of medicinal drugs? Is it even feasible? Where’s the catch? Do you want to know even more? Read this post In this article we will cover: What is depression? THC and also CBD cannabinoids – differences Anxiety and the endocannabinoid system What is depression? Main interpretations recommend that depressive conditions, additionally understood colloquially as clinical depression, are identified by: abrupt clinical depression of a person’s state of mind, in the unfavorable instructions, of modest to solid strength of the intensity of the experienced modifications, for greater than a few weeks. There might be several reasons for the occurrence of changes. It likewise happens that it is tough to recognize any unquestionable reason. We very commonly discovered the declaration that it is a world condition of the 21st century – it impacts both older and younger people. Our education is trivial for depression, not to mention our earnings – it can influence anyone. Therapy of anxiety comes down to: pharmacotherapy, psychiatric therapy and also psychoeducation, phototherapy, electroconvulsive therapy and more natural activities associated with the concentration of physical activity and the intro of significant adjustments in the day-to-day diet regimen. It is as part of natural techniques of dealing with and counteracting clinical depression that the incorporation of cannabis prep work with cannabinoids normally taking place in the plant in the everyday diet plan is acquiring increasingly more popularity in the world. Cannabidiol CBD, found in e.g. CBD oil or full-spectrum hemp oil, appears in countless scientific research studies as a potentially effective cannabinoid in the treatment of anxiety. Significantly, it is a 100 all-natural chemical compound of plant origin. Interestingly, clinical depression is amongst the 3 most common mental disorders in which clients resort to CBD hemp prep work such as CBD oil, full range hemp oil with CBD or CBD capsules. Records from consumers and also their favorable opinions on the efficiency of e.g. CBD oil or full spectrum hemp oil with all-natural CBD are expanding at an extraordinary rate. THC and also CBD cannabinoids – differences The main cannabinoids in the marijuana plant are THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) as well as CBD (cannabidiol). They reveal antagonistic impacts, which implies that CBD lowers the results of THC. What are these impacts? THC has an envigorating impact, causes a sensation of bliss, influences cognitive functions, however additionally kicks back. Large, regularly taken in doses of THC are taken into consideration harmful to the human brain. Too much consumption of THC can cause psychosis, absence of inspiration, and also also long-term negative adjustments in cognitive feature. Both THC and also CBD impact the endocannabinoid system in the body. Their activity, as already discussed, is contradictory. Cbd-a-thc-in-the-endocannabinoid-1 system When writing images, CBD slows down the exhaustion of anandamide sources, and also THC quicken this process. Nonetheless, this does not indicate that THC is just a dangerous cannabinoid and ought to not be in the prep work whatsoever. On the contrary. Its little existence in hemp prep work is also essential in order to obtain the so-called result. synergy. THC completely range hemp oil is present in such a low as well as, significantly, lawful amount. This quantity is so small (less than 0.2) that it does not cause drunkenness. Working together, THC and also CBD have higher possibility than either particle performing alone. What is anandamide (AEA)? What is its value for individuals struggling with anxiety? Continue reading! CBD, Depression as well as the endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid system is a crucial system responsible for the regulation of fundamental human physiological processes, such as energy administration, neurohormonal as well as neuroimmune links, motor activity, mood and motivation, and also fat metabolic rate. The endocannabinoid system includes a natural chemical called anandamide (AEA). Anandamide is a natural chemical that is normally generated in the human mind. Its manufacturing is stimulated by e.g. exercise, and to a minimal level by the so-called work with the body (massage therapy!). Its resources are “made use of” to maintain the correct performance of the body, consisting of in the field of psychological wellness. As displayed in this research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580381 high degrees of anandamide are connected with a decreased risk of creating psychotic symptoms. A high degree of anandamide is additionally related to a favorable result on the reduction of depression and stress and anxiety signs and symptoms. This system is still not completely comprehended, yet it seems rational that a strongly clinically depressed mood in a private time period for a particular instance, and also with the synchronised lack of activities targeted at its improvement, causes a concentration of the increase of adverse thoughts. As depressive problems create, they can develop into much more harmful kinds of conditions, e.g. psychosis, misconceptions or schizophrenia. Decreasing this process as rapidly as feasible may turn out to be crucial in the effective therapy of mental illness of human functioning.

    Reply
  3. CBD for Stress And Anxiety and also Clinical Depression: Visualize that it is possible to present one all-natural prep work into your everyday diet, which could confirm to be the key to winning the fight for a calmer life for individuals with depressive conditions. What if the incorporation of this prep work, created on the basis of an increasingly widely known as well as checked chemical compound of plant origin, is not just possibly really efficient, however is not related to the risk of side effects regular of medicinal medications? Is it even feasible? Where’s the catch? Do you want to know even more? Read this post In this article we will certainly cover: What is clinical depression? THC as well as CBD cannabinoids – differences Clinical depression as well as the endocannabinoid system What is depression? Main definitions recommend that depressive conditions, also understood colloquially as anxiety, are characterized by: sudden anxiety of an individual’s state of mind, in the adverse direction, of modest to strong intensity of the strength of the knowledgeable adjustments, for more than a couple of weeks. There might be several factors for the occurrence of changes. It also happens that it is challenging to recognize any unquestionable reason. We extremely usually stumbled upon the declaration that it is a world condition of the 21st century – it impacts both older and younger individuals. Our education and learning is trivial for anxiety, not to mention our revenues – it can affect any individual. Treatment of anxiety comes down to: pharmacotherapy, psychiatric therapy and also psychoeducation, photo-therapy, electroconvulsive therapy and also even more all-natural activities connected to the aggravation of physical activity and the introduction of considerable adjustments in the daily diet. It is as part of all-natural techniques of fighting and counteracting depression that the inclusion of cannabis preparations with cannabinoids normally occurring in the plant in the daily diet plan is gaining increasingly more popularity worldwide. Cannabidiol CBD, located in e.g. CBD oil or full-spectrum hemp oil, appears in various scientific researches as a potentially efficient cannabinoid in the treatment of anxiety. Importantly, it is a 100 all-natural chemical compound of plant origin. Interestingly, depression is among the 3 most typical mental disorders in which people resort to CBD hemp prep work such as CBD oil, complete spectrum hemp oil with CBD or CBD pills. Reports from customers as well as their favorable point of views on the effectiveness of e.g. CBD oil or complete spectrum hemp oil with all-natural CBD are growing at an extraordinary rate. THC as well as CBD cannabinoids – distinctions The primary cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). They reveal antagonistic impacts, which implies that CBD minimizes the impacts of THC. What are these results? THC has an intoxicating impact, triggers a feeling of euphoria, influences cognitive functions, yet additionally unwinds. Big, regularly taken in doses of THC are taken into consideration hazardous to the human brain. Excessive consumption of THC can bring about psychosis, absence of inspiration, and also also permanent negative adjustments in cognitive function. Both THC as well as CBD impact the endocannabinoid system in the human body. Their activity, as already pointed out, is inconsistent. Cbd-a-thc-in-the-endocannabinoid-1 system When composing photos, CBD reduces the exhaustion of anandamide resources, and also THC accelerate this procedure. Nonetheless, this does not indicate that THC is only a harmful cannabinoid as well as should not be in the preparation in all. On the contrary. Its tiny presence in hemp preparations is even required in order to obtain the supposed effect. synergy. THC in full range hemp oil exists in such a marginal as well as, notably, lawful quantity. This quantity is so tiny (less than 0.2) that it does not create drunkenness. Collaborating, THC and CBD have better possibility than either molecule acting alone. What is anandamide (AEA)? What is its importance for individuals experiencing anxiety? Continue reading! CBD, Clinical depression and the endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid system is a key system responsible for the guideline of standard human physiological procedures, such as power administration, neurohormonal as well as neuroimmune connections, motor task, mood and also motivation, and fat metabolism. The endocannabinoid system includes a natural chemical called anandamide (AEA). Anandamide is a neurotransmitter that is naturally produced in the human brain. Its manufacturing is promoted by e.g. physical activity, as well as to a minimal degree by the so-called deal with the body (massage therapy!). Its sources are “used” to maintain the proper performance of the body, including in the field of psychological health and wellness. As displayed in this research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580381 high levels of anandamide are related to a lowered danger of establishing psychotic signs. A high degree of anandamide is also associated with a positive effect on the decrease of anxiety and also anxiousness signs. This device is still not completely recognized, yet it seems sensible that a highly depressed state of mind in a private amount of time for a particular situation, and also with the synchronised lack of actions targeted at its renovation, causes an increase of the increase of negative thoughts. As depressive disorders develop, they can become even more harmful types of disorders, e.g. psychosis, deceptions or schizophrenia. Slowing down this procedure as swiftly as feasible may turn out to be crucial in the effective therapy of mental illness of human functioning.

    Reply

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