Quick Links
One of the most famous Instagram locations in New Zealand is Roys Peak overlooking Lake Wanaka with awe-inspiring views of Mount Aspiring and other peaks of the central South Island. Getting to the peak is a picturesque hike through alpine meadows and tussocks grasslands (like those seen in Lord of the Rings' Middle Earth).
The Roys Peak Track is one of the many hiking trails of Wanaka that one shouldn't miss while in New Zealand. Wanaka is also one of the chief skiing locations of the Southern Hemisphere (and a chance to escape the heat of summer of the Northern Hemisphere).
Roys Peak Track - One Of The Most Visually Stunning In New Zealand
The Roys Peak Track is one of the more popular trails (called "tracks" in New Zealand). The track winds and zigzags its way up along a steep 4WD track from the car park and then along a hiking trail to Roy's Peak summit.
Along the trail, climb from the picturesque alpine Lake Wanaka through farmland and then up through the tussock tops all the way to the 1,578-meter (5,180-foot) summit. The trail is well-formed and offers some of the most breathtaking of any New Zealand trail.
Hikers are rewarded with spectacular views of Lake Wanaka, the lake's island, its bays, and the snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps.
The trailhead is at the Roys Peak Track car park on Mount Aspiring Road. Note that this is a very popular trail made famous by Instagram, and parking can be limited in the summer months.
If Instagram traveling is one's thing, then few places in New Zealand will get more likes and envious followers as photo ops on Roys Peak overlooking Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring National Park.
Planning A Hike Up Roys Peak Track
Hikers (called "trampers" in New Zealand) need to be reasonably fit as the trail is quite steep.
- Length: 16 Kilometers or 10 Miles Out and Back
- Elevation Change: 1,228 Meters or 4,000 Feet
- Duration: 5-6 Hours Return
- Closed: 1 October to 10 November Each Year
The Roys Peak Track is open most of the year except for a month in the spring (1 October to 10 November) every year. It is closed for lambing (there is substance to New Zealand's reputation for having a lot of sheep). The trail passes through privately-owned farmland, so be respectful and stay on the trail and close all the gates along the way.
While the trail is open in the winter, hikers need to be able to use alpine equipment like ice axes and crampons in the winter months. Hiking the trail is not recommended in the winter.
Nearest Towns:
- Wanaka: 6 kilometers (4 Miles)
- Queenstown: 68 kilometers (42 Miles)
As with many trails in New Zealand, dogs are not permitted.
Be prepared for the hike; there are no services or water along the trail. A hat and sunscreen are a must in New Zealand - the hole in the ozone layer makes ultraviolet radiation worse. The weather in New Zealand is also highly changeable, so always be prepared for adverse weather regardless of how the day is starting out (or what the weather forecast is).
Lake Wanaka & Mount Aspiring National Park - Some Of New Zealand's Most Iconic Landscapes
Lake Wanaka is New Zealand's fourth-largest lake and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It is popular for fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, camping, skiing, and a range of adventure tourism activities. It has been the setting of many famous movies like The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and the 2020 Disney movie Mulan.
- Altitude: 278 meters or 912 feet above sea level
- Size: 192 km2 (74 sq mi)
Lake Wanaka is in the heart of the Otago Lakes District and is the gateway to the eye-watering Mt Aspiring National Park. It was formed by glacier erosion during the last ice age and sits in an u-shaped valley.
Mount Aspiring National Park is known as one of New Zealand's most dramatic. The peak of Mt Aspiring rises to a height of 3,033 meters (9,951 ft) and is popular with mountaineering, rock climbing, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities.
The national park is a wonderful mix of remote wilderness, soaring snow-capped mountains, and beautiful river valleys. See the hiking trails in Mount Aspiring on the New Zealand Department of Conservation website.