Wanaka is one of my all-time favourite places in New Zealand! Not only is the town itself a really chill and peaceful place but the Hikes in Wanaka are absolutely stunning. My guide will cover 6 out of the many beautiful hikes in this region so you can decide which are best for you.

Top Tips for Hikes in Wanaka

• Weather changes fast in this region — pack layers even on a clear morning, conditions at altitude can shift quickly
• NZ sun/UV is stronger than people expect — wear suncream even on overcast days
• Cell service is patchy or non-existent on most of these trails — tell someone your route and expected return time and download offline maps using maps.me
• Check DOC track alerts before heading out — for closures (lambing/fawning season), avalanche risk, or river crossing conditions
• Bring more water than you think you need — no water sources on most of these trails
• Proper footwear matters — several of these involve scrambling/steep sections where trail runners won’t cut it

Rocky Mountain Summit

Statistics on Rocky Mountain Summit Hike:
Distance: 7-8km (depending which way you loop around)
Elevation: 500m
Type: 2x loops: Eastern Loop and Western Loop to chose from
Length: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

The trail head is about 20 minutes drive outside town, not far from the Roy’s Peak car park. When we went in March 2026, the car park was pretty full but we only saw around 15 people whilst on the trail which is very reasonable.

Most people go up the steeper Eastern Loop and down the more gradual Western Loop through the native forest. We accidentally went the other way and I didn’t regret it because my knees don’t mind steep descents and my lungs thanked me for the more gradual ascent. Which ever way you decide to go, you will be met with great views and very few crowds.

During this hike, you will also go past the diamond lake lookout and Lake Wanaka view point. But I would strongly recommend going all the way to the summit for the best views!

Roy’s Peak

Statistics on Roys Peak Hike:
Distance: 16km return
Elevation: 1300m elevation gain
Type: out-and-back trail
Length: 6-7 hours
Difficulty: Hard (Long hike with a lot of elevation gain but not technical)

The car park for this hike is a 10 minute drive from town. This is the most famous hike in the area. It involves a lot of elevation gain but it’s not technical and impossible to get lost. I think it’s totally worth it for the epic 360 views. The famous lookout point is around 15-20minutes before the peak itself.

Please note that because it is a popular hike, it is often busy and people can even be queuing at the lookout point during sunrise. But, as the weather during sunrise when we were doing Roy’s Peak was terrible, we went mid/late afternoon and only saw 3 other people, so it’s not always busy. If you want to an experience with similar views and guaranteed fewer crowds, then Isthmus Peak will be the hike for you.

Isthmus Peak

Statistics on Isthmus Peak Hike:
Distance: 16km return
Elevation: 1180m elevation gain
Type: out-and-back trail
Length: 6-7 hours return  
Difficulty: Hard (similar to Roy’s Peak)

This trailhead is a 25 minutes drive outside of Wanaka itself on Lake Hawea. As I mentioned earlier, it is similar, if not slightly easier than Roy’s Peak but with fewer crowds. It is getting more and more famous though so this might change in the coming years.

Rob Roy Glacier

Statistics on Rob Roy Glacier Hike:
Distance: 10.4km return
Elevation: 500m elevation gain
Type: out-and-back trail
Length: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate (do not attempt in winter due to avalanche risks)

This is one of the hikes in Mt Aspiring National Park. It is a 1 hour drive from Wanaka but the majority of it is on unpaved road and requires you to cross multiple fords. Therefore it is strongly recommended to use a 4×4 for this journey. I have heard of people doing it in normal cars but definitely not after recent rainfall as the fords can get quite deep.

You will park at Raspberry Flat Car Park for this hike. It is a relatively straightforward hike to the upper lookout where you will see Rob Roy Glacier, Mt Aspiring Peak and Bridal Veil Falls. But please note that there is an avalanche risk in the upper lookout from May-November so please check the conditions before you go.

Brewster Hut

Statistics on Brewster Hut Hike:
Distance: 6km return
Elevation: 950m elevation gain
Type: out-and-back trail
Length: 5 hours
Difficulty: Hard: an incredibly steep and technical climb!

As with Rob Roy Glacier, this hike is in Mt Aspiring National Park. We did not attempt this hike as we didn’t have the time but the photos look absolutely stunning. I would recommend staying overnight in the hut to break-up the journey and make the most of the beautiful views. That’s what my husband and I will do when we come back. Please note, that you have to cross the Haast River on foot right at the start of the hike and then, it is a steep and pretty technical climb involving lots of scrambling: you gain almost 1000m elevation in 3km.

Mt Iron Loop

Statistics on Mt Iron Loop:
Distance: 4.5-5km return
Elevation: 250m elevation gain
Type: Loop trail
Length: 1.5-2.5 hours return 
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

You can access this hike from Wanaka itself and it is not difficult at all- lots of people come up here to walk their dogs or go for an evening stroll. It’s not as ‘wild’ as the other hikes since the view looks over Wanaka town itself, but it’s beautiful nonetheless.

How to get to the Trailheads

Other than the Mt Iron Loop which is accessible from Wanaka itself, you will need your own car (or pay for expensive taxi’s). Make sure you check out my guide if you need help deciding if it’s best to hire or buy your own car or campervan. If you decide to hire a campervan, Motorhome Republic is your best option as it is a comparison site that allows you to compare lots of companies to decide which kind of campervan is best for you. If you’re not a big camper and would prefer a hire car, I would recommend airportrentals.com.

Do note, for the Rob Roy Glacier Hike, I would recommend a car with 4wd as it is unpaved road with lots of ford crossings- which can get pretty deep after rainfall.

Where to Stay

If you are camping here, make sure to check all my recommendations to see which suits your needs the most. Of all the campsites in the area though, Hampshire Holiday Parks- Glendhu Bay, is my top recommendation. It is on the lakefront, clean, reasonably priced and near the start points of Roys Peak and Rocky Mountain Summit.

If you would rather stay in a hotel, here are my recomendations:

Premium: Edgewater Hotel

Mid-range: Oakridge Resort Lake Wanaka

Budget: The Brownston Hostel

Whichever of these 6 Hikes in Wanaka you end up doing, I am sure you will have a wonderful time! Make sure to stay safe, bring plenty of water and wear appropriate gear/footwear for the hike. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below. If you want more tips on NZ travel make sure to check out my New Zealand Page or my One Month New Zealand Itinerary.

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