Wanaka Region

The Two Peaks Worth Getting Out of Bed For

The Wanaka Region has two hikes that keep coming up for good reason. Roys Peak gets the Instagram traffic and honestly the views are nuts, but it's become a single-file queue up and back with up to an hour's wait just to get a photo that looks like no one else is there. Isthmus Peak is my preference. Still a solid grunt, still no shade, but maybe 5-10% of the Roys Peak crowd on a given day. Both are worth it on a clear day.

Seriously, Just Go Early

For either peak, early is everything. I'm talking 3 or 4am early. No shade, growing crowds as the day moves on, and the best light is gone by mid-morning anyway. It sounds extreme but you'll thank yourself on the way down when you're passing the queue heading up. A head torch start is totally worth it. If an alpine pre-dawn isn't your thing, the sunset option on Isthmus works well too, especially if you're camping nearby at Kidds Bush.

The Rob Roy Glacier track over in the Matukituki Valley is a quieter option again. The access road is long, winding, and can close after rain, which has kept it off the algorithm. That's part of the appeal. Budget most of a day for it and don't rush the drive in.