Hiking Roys Peak for Sunrise… Is It Worth It?

Hiking Roy’s Peak for sunrise is one of those bucket list experiences you simply just have to do when you’re visiting Wānaka. At least that’s what everyone told us…

And while we hiked Roy’s Peak during our first visit to Wanaka, we didn’t actually do it for sunrise. So on our third visit to this beautiful town, we decided it was time to see if it lived up to the hype. Spoiler alert: It totally did!

So, whether you’re here for just a few days or a longer visit, we absolutely recommend doing this hike for sunrise!

In this post, we’re sharing our personal experience (including our mistakes and the questions we had beforehand) so you’ve got all the information you need before starting the hike yourself… From what time you should start the hike, and how to find the trailhead, to what to bring, we’ve got you.

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Everything you need to know about Roy’s Peak for sunrise

Although it’s daunting, there’s something magical about waking up hours before sunrise to go conquer a mountain (sorry for those who aren’t morning people).

Even just driving out to the trailhead with a warm cup of coffee (that’s going to fuel you to smash out all that elevation gain) while most people are still asleep feels so good – because you know you’re about to do something exciting…

Hiking to the top of a mountain in the dark with 50-100 different people, seeing the trail lit up by all the head torches, knowing an incredible view (and hopefully sunrise) will reward you once you’ve put in the hard work. Honestly, we can’t think of anything that feels more gratifying than that!

After doing this hike ourselves, we see what the hype is about and why this is such a popular thing to do in Wānaka.

🌄 Note: Since it is such a beautiful hike for sunrise, don’t be surprised to see 50+ people with you at the top for sunrise on any given day. It’s hands down the most popular hike near Wānaka (and potentially the South Island), but for good reason!

How early do you have to get up to catch the sunrise at Roy’s Peak?

This is one of the most important things to be on top of, because if you get up that early to catch the sunrise, you really don’t want to miss it!

When we did this hike in mid-February, we got up at 3am and started the hike at 3.49am. The sunrise was at 7:05 am that day, so that gave us just over 3 hours to get to the top. Lots of people had already started before us.

It takes roughly 3-4 hours to reach the summit, depending on how fast you hike, and you want to be at the summit at least 15 minutes before the sun comes up. (Better to be early than late, but bring warm layers. More on this in the “what to bring section” further down).

Another thing we were questioning as we hiked up was which spot we were actually supposed to catch the sunrise from..? We weren’t sure if it would be best to catch it at the famous viewpoint below the Roy’s Peak Summit or at the actual summit.

After having done this hike, we can confirm that the actual summit is where you want to be! So continue all the way to the top.

Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information, such as recent wildlife sightings and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.

Starting the hike at the Roys Peak trailhead

You will be surprised how many people actually do Roy’s Peak for sunrise. We knew it was a busy hike, but we thought there would only be a few dozen of us hiking up for sunrise – but even by the time we got there (3+ hours), the parking lot was starting to fill up.

It’s stunning for sunrise, so it does make sense, and as you’re about to start, you’ll notice little lights up the mountain with all the other people hiking with their headlamps in the pitch dark (make sure to bring one too).

This was actually the second-ever sunrise hike we did (we’ve also done Vihren Peak in Bulgaria for “July morning”), and I feel like we need a really epic sunrise in order to top those two experiences now!

If you’re debating whether or not you should do this trail for sunrise or during the day, we absolutely recommend sunrise. It gets even busier during the day, and the trail itself isn’t that beautiful, so you don’t miss out on too much while doing it in the dark.

The views of Lake Wānaka are incredible, and you’ll see those at sunrise and on your way down – but the trail itself is pretty simple, just zig-zag up the side of the mountain.

If you’re looking for a day hike as well, you can check out our post on the best hikes in Wānaka ⛰️

Making your way up the zigzags of Roy’s Peak

There are a lot of zig zags on this hike, and it’s mainly because of the crazy elevation (almost 1300 meters). The zig zags make it a lot easier on the legs, and in the pitch black, you feel like they are never-ending, even though you don’t see them. 

Speaking of, make sure you bring a head torch – otherwise, it really is challenging to see, especially in the beginning when sunrise is still 2-3 hours away and it’s pitch black.

You’ll see the little lights in the distance from other hikes that look like fairy lights moving up the mountain, but it definitely won’t be enough to guide you where to go. Don’t make the mistake that I made before and only use the flashlight from my phone to help guide me up the mountain.

Even though there are a lot of zig zags and they feel never-ending, you do gain elevation relatively quickly. After the hike, you won’t be able to tell us it wasn’t a leg burner because I’m telling you right now it is!

As you get closer to the peak, you’ll start to see a bit of morning light… Lake Wānaka will appear out of the darkness, and that’s when you’ll really notice how much elevation you’ve already gained.

Up to the iconic viewpoint overlooking Lake Wānaka

Unfortunately, the zig zags don’t stop anytime soon. I mean, they do at some point, but first you have to work for the awesome views, and this hike in particular rewards you tremendously.

After about 2 – 2.5 hours, you’ll get to Roy’s Peak viewpoint. This is where you’ve likely seen the iconic photos of people standing on the mountain with Lake Wānaka below.

It’s an incredible spot, but you will have to check that out on your way down – because you’ve got another 30 minutes or so to go still.

If you want, you can take a quick break here to drink some water before you hike the final stretch to the peak. There’s also a porta-potty you can use if you need it! 🚽

Final stretch to the Roys Peak 

If you’ve timed it well, you should have about 45-60 minutes until sunrise by the time you leave the viewpoint.

From the viewpoint, it’s about 30 minutes to the peak. That gives you 15-30 minutes to find a comfy spot and pack out your coffee or tea, and enjoy the atmosphere before sunrise starts.

Although it might be busy, depending on the day you go, there is a ton of space at the top to enjoy the sunrise overlooking Lake Wānaka. So find a spot that looks good to you, and get cozy!

Please bring some warm clothes because even in the dead middle of summer, it was still a little chilly at the top, so bring lots of layers and a hot drink to stay warm before the sun comes up.

Just like we’re suggesting you do, we brought some coffee and snacks to enjoy at the peak. And then, actually, as we sat there and the sun came up, a guy behind us proposed to his girlfriend. It was magical! 💍

Enjoy the view from the top of Roy’s Peak

Sunrise hikes are so special because not only did you work extra hard to stand at the top of some mountain, but you also get to enjoy Mother Nature doing her thing and watching the sun rise over the horizon – seeing the sky changing colours from dark blue to pink and orange.

The view from Roy’s Peak in the morning is incredible with the sun coming up and the lake right below you. You got out of bed in the middle of the night to see this, so make sure you enjoy the moment and take it all in.

Back down to Lake Wānaka

I’ll be honest and say this is the least exciting part of the whole hike. Now that you’ve seen the sunrise, you’ve got a few hours of downhill hike, and the tiredness might start to kick in.

But before you rip down the zig zags for a few hours, make sure to stop at the iconic viewpoint overlooking Lake Wānaka. Coming down, it’s about 20 minutes below the peak – and if you want to get your photo taken, you might have to stand in line for a bit.

The good thing is that in the morning, the viewpoint hopefully won’t be as busy as it gets during the day, and you may only have to wait 10-15 minutes to get your shot (it’s worth it!). During the day, you can easily wait half an hour. 

Once you’ve gotten your shot, head down the zigzags towards Lake Wānaka, and enjoy the views as you go. If you’re feeling tired and sore at this point, that’s completely normal. You might also be feeling it in your knees (we definitely did).

But stay strong for another 1.5 hours, and then you can reward yourself by hitting up one of the great cafes in town to indulge in some good breakkie and coffee.

And if you’re crazy enough and feel Roys wasn’t enough, you can go up and down Mount Iron in town (2-hour hike). Personally, we went for a nap followed by a coffee at Scroggin, but you do you! 😉

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What to bring on the Roy’s Peak hike

It’s always a little tricky with a sunrise hike because it’s going to be cold when you start, then you get sweaty, and on the way down, if you’re hiking during summer, it will get quite warm.

You’ll definitely want to bring a few layers and be prepared so you’re not too cold and then too warm later in the hike.  You can see the weather for Roy’s Peak here to give you an idea.

Packing list for Roy’s Peak trail:

• Water! There’s nowhere to fill up your water on this trail, so we brought our 1L Nalgene bottles for this one. And honestly, 1L probably wasn’t quite enough. We suggest bringing 1.5L of water each for this hike.
• A Headlamp is a must for this hike unless you want to use your phone light the whole way up (don’t recommend). It will be pitch black pretty much the entire 3 hours to the top, so having some sort of light will make a huge difference.
• Sunscreen! You might not think you need it for the hike up – but it’s not a bad idea to bring some for the way down.
• We definitely recommend hiking poles for this hike. There is a lot of elevation on Roy’s Peaks, so your knees will thank you for bringing poles!
• A power bank is good to bring, especially because it’ll be cold for a few hours as you hike up, which can drain the battery faster – and you want to make sure you’ve got enough juice to get some photos & videos at sunrise!
• Definitely bring some snacks and coffee to enjoy at the top of Roy’s Peak for sunrise. We did this and had zero regrets! (This thermos is great for keeping your coffee hot).
• Extra layers in case it gets chilly up at a higher elevation (which it does, even during the summer). For reference, we brought both a beanie and a puffer down jacket.

Wear hiking shoes

We always recommend wearing hiking shoes or trail shoes on almost every outdoor adventure we do. This is a real trek, and even though the trail is quite well-worn, you’ll want shoes with a good grip – especially during the dark when visibility isn’t great and you don’t know when that next rock is waiting to smash into your big toe.

If you don’t have any hiking shoes, we highly recommend the Newton Ridge hiking shoes from Columbia. Josie’s been using these for the past 2+ years, and she loves them! It’s been a few years now, and they are still great!

Rent a car in New Zealand

For this specific hike, a car is required since you have to make your way from Wanaka to the trailhead, which is roughly a 10-minute drive.

We’ve had a car hire here in New Zealand every time we’ve been to the country, and it makes getting around so much easier!

The earlier you book your car, the more likely you are to get a better price. We always use DiscoverCars to find our car rentals as it compares prices across the different providers, and we always end up finding the best price this way!

We’ve even seen multiple times where the price through DiscoverCars was lower than directly through the rental provider! You can check them out here.

When is the best time to hike up Roy’s Peak?

I mean, sunrise is a no-brainer! I’ve heard of people hiking up for sunset, and we’ve yet to do it, but once we do, we will definitely compare the two and let you know which one we recommend.

Hands down, I would do this hike for sunrise instead of during the day. In the summer, it can be extremely hot during the day, and you will be completely exposed. Also, there’s a very high chance you’ll be sharing the trail with +100 people (no exaggeration).

If you’re fine getting up early in the morning, then a sunrise hike up to Roys Peak is the way to do it.

If you want to go for a day hike, we actually suggest doing Isthmus Peak instead. It’s very similar to Roy’s Peak in terms of distance and elevation gain, but it’s a lot less busy, and it overlooks both Lake Wānaka and Lake Hawea!

How to get to the Roys Peak trailhead

The trailhead is a short 10-minute drive from Wanaka. You’ll be driving along Lake Wānaka until you reach a big parking lot on the left-hand side (driving from Wānaka). Even during the night, the spot will be quite obvious, and you’ll likely see a bunch of other cars there.

If you use these Google Map directions, they will lead you right to the parking lot of Roy’s Peak. Once you’ve parked, the trailhead is located right at the parking lot, so it’s super easy to find.

📍 Want to know about all the best spots in Aotearoa New Zealand?
Then check out our New Zealand Maps with +200 locations around the country that we have visited during our 10 months of living and travelling in NZ! 🗺️

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Recap of hiking Roys Peak near Wānaka

If you do this hike for sunrise, then in my opinion, it’s one of the best hikes to do in the area. We’ve done tons of hikes around Wānaka and the South Island, and I’d 100% add this one to the list.

Plan accordingly for the weather, depending on what time of year you’re doing the trek. We’re usually in New Zealand during the summer months, and even then, during the nights, it gets cold in the mountains, so I can imagine other times of year it’s even colder.

If you have any questions about hiking to the peak for sunrise, how to get there, what else to do in the Wanaka area, or anything else, feel free to DM us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below!

We hope you have an amazing time on this hike near Wanaka and exploring New Zealand, one of our favourite places in the world! Wānaka is an absolute gem, and we love sharing about this area, so we’re more than happy to share what we know!

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📍 Want to know about all the best spots in Aotearoa New Zealand?
Then check out our New Zealand Maps with +200 locations around the country that we have visited during our 10 months of living and travelling in NZ! 🗺️