Roys Peak stands between Wanaka and Glendhu Bay, and as such, offers superb views over Lake Wanaka. This is a popular walk on a fine day, but it does involve a 1200m ascent, and is an exposed route in bad weather.
|Elevation||1,581 m (5,187 ft)|
|Location/List||South Island, New Zealand|
|Location Coordinates||44° 41′ 43″ S, 169° 2′ 58″ E|
|Nearest Town/s||Wanaka, Queenstown
From Wanaka, travel along the Wanaka to Mount Aspiring Road as if going to Glendhu Bay. About 6km from Wanaka, the Roys Peak track starts from a signposted carpark. There is also a toilet here.
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Our Recommended Route
If you like walking up zig-zags, you’re in for a treat! The climb up Roys Peak is pretty relentless, and it begins immediately from the carpark. The first point of interest comes after about 40-60 minutes, where there is the gravesite of Wally Alan Scaife, who owned the Glendhu Station for about 50 years. From the grave site, the track continues to sidle and zigzag up the side of Roys Peak for what will feel like an eternity. Eventually, you will enter the Stack Conservation Area, which is no longer farmed.
After arriving up on to the ridge, you will obtain sweeping views across the lake. Now all that remains is to negotiate the final stretch of zigzags past two telecommunications towers, and then finally on to the summit trig.