Moderate to hard hiking with stunning views from Roy’s peak and along the way. The trail itself is in good condition and easy to walk on, but it's the elevation that makes it hard. Parking lot on the bottom of the hill is big. The trail goes through private property and has a $5NZ fee. Bring cash as you'll have to add it into a box. There are sheep and cattle on the trail.
Tip: go on a CLEAR day. Sunrise is extremely popular so be aware of large crowds. We hiked at sunset and there were maybe a handful of people up there so that's a good alternative if you want to avoid crowds. As a bonus, we had some incredible star gazing on our way down!
Distance: 15.9 km (9.9 mi)
Elevation: 1,284m (4,212 ft)
Difficulty: hard