Roys Peak
Looking out over Wānaka, on the next ridgeline above Roys Peak Summit.
At the end of September 2022, Niko and I tackled Roy's Peak, which had been on our list for about a year and it did not disappoint.
Starting just after 10am we made our way to the car park and began our journey. The carpark was quite full as it was the last weekend to complete the hike before it closed for a few months - lambing season. We expected to see a lot of people, however a decent amount were on their way down as we were going up, and so my motto still stands. Start the hike late, get the summit to yourself. I'll touch on this more in my summit post.
The first 2km of the track is STEEP, and although I was expecting it, it was still significantly challenging and we made plenty of stops along the way. One in particular at a beautiful picnic spot overlooking the lake, where a few station owners and their whānau members are laid to rest. There are two picnic tables here and we chatted to another couple undertaking the track and had some snacks before moving on.
It is important to note that the first section of the track is on privately owned farmland, so sticking to the track and being respectful of the land owners is imperative. As on any track, make sure that you take any rubbish with you, caring for the environment and ensuring future exploration is possible.
As we made our way up the track we were greeted with incredible views over Lake Wanaka and of the surrounding maunga of Mt Aspiring National Park, snapping many photos along the way.
As we wound our way up towards the lookout point we were greeted by many different birds. We stopped to have our lunch on a rock overlooking the lake and made friends with a small chaffinch who had come to investigate and possibly sneak some food.
The pathway winds upwards ahead of you, although this section of the track is not as steep, and there are plenty of magic spots to capture the view as well as the trail behind you. You see just how far you've come as the cars in the carpark become almost invisible in the distance. Once you reach the next stile, you are officially off private farmland and on DOC conservation land.
Making our way up to the summit, the incline slowly became steeper again as we wound our way upwards. We found a beautiful spot to take "the photo" of the lookout and lake that was much less busy and had even more incredible views. As this part of the track was so empty it felt like a secret spot that we should keep to ourselves, but also so obvious that you can get the iconic photos you see on blog posts without having to wait your turn if you just head a bit further up the trail.
Finally, we reached the snow. I love walking through the snow. It's challenging, but I always find it somewhat peaceful as I listen to the sound of snow and ice crunching under my feet. It is also very slow going. I managed to sink my foot knee deep at one point, but it was no trouble to just keep going. I do love snow. ❄️🏔️
As we reached the final part of our ascent, we stepped out onto the summit to breathtaking views of Wānaka and the surrounding snow-capped maunga.
These are the moments that feed my soul. I am so grateful for my body that carries me to these remote parts of Aotearoa so I can experience the wonders our wilderness has to offer.
