Wanaka is famous for its many wonderful walking and hiking tracks. As hiking lovers, we didn’t want to miss the chance during our holiday in South Island. We chose Isthmus Peak because it could be completed within a day which fits our travelling schedule and of course, after seeing so many breathtaking views that people shared online made us really excited!
A note to take when planning for your hiking trip in Wanaka is to check whether the tracks are open. We were initially thinking of doing either Roy’s Peak or Isthmus Peak and we then realised that Roy’s Peak will be closed during our time there (early November) for lambing season. So do look up on the official website for the latest information before you go.
ISTHMUS PEAK TRACK
Distance: 16km
Duration: 6 to 8 hours (round trip)
Elevation: 1,386m
Difficulty: Difficult – Long and steep elevation
For preparation, I’d recommend the usual gears: hiking boots, walking sticks and sun screen. The trail is mostly unsheltered so can get quite hot at times. Wind breaker is highly recommended because the wind gets really strong as you go higher up, and additional layers to keep you warm at the peak. Bring some snacks to keep your energy going, plenty of water and a bag for trash if needed.
Getting to the Starting Point
The starting point of the trail is about 30 minutes’ drive up north from Wanaka town centre. There is a parking area near to the starting point, located on the opposite side of the road. No admission fee needed for hiking Isthmus Peak – something great about travelling in New Zealand as most attraction are free to visit!
OFF WE GO
For the first 1km or so, it is mainly going through a forest area and the track can be quite steep for a start.
You will eventually come a large rock section, it’s a short stretch but very steep, you might even need to get on your hands to get more stability. The hiking stick will come in handy here.
After crossing the rocky section, you will enter the lush green farm area where you’ll find many cows and sheep giving you a curious stare.
Just keep to the foot path and enjoy the greenery here. The trail is pretty flat and quite easy to walk on (just that you need to pay extra attention to avoid stepping on cow droppings).
After crossing the farm area, the real hike begins. This section onwards is unsheltered so sunblock/shades are highly recommended. The terrain is mostly sand and stones which is not difficult to walk on a dry day. The most challenging part of this hike is actually the constant elevation all the way up to the peak. You will encounter countless zig zag paths which gives you the false impression that the peak is after the next turn, but that’s not really the case.
As you ascend, the view indeed gets better and better. Since the trail is not covered by trees, you get an unobstructed view of the beautiful lake and snow-capped mountains on the other side.
At the last leg of the hike, you will come to a sign to take a right turn to Isthmus Peak and you are probably less than 40 minutes from the peak. It was very (super) windy and cold as you approach the peak, definitely recommend bringing extra layers and a wind breaker.
Top of the Mountain
The final leg was pretty challenging due to the strong wind, every step takes extra effort when you are hiking against the direction of the wind.
And finally! We come to this magnificent view, just like in the postcards. You will see Lake Wanaka on one side and Lake Hawea on the other side, surrounded by the beautiful mountain ranges. We were blessed with a clear sunny day, the lake was so so blue, glittering under the sun. It was the moment that we felt that all our hard work were well paid-off.
After enjoying our little moment at the top, we started to make our descend. Going down was much easier and quicker, though a hiking stick will be extremely helpful as some parts may be quite steep. We were lucky enough to witness sheep herding on our way down, probably not an everyday sight for us who have always lived in the city.
Personally, this was quite a challenging hike because of the constant elevation. The wind at the top was also an added challenge as it was so strong that you need to spend more energy to make each step forward.
Having said that, we truly enjoyed the entire journey of the hike because the view along the way just gets even better as you go higher up. The trails were also proper and well laid, with clear signage along the way. Highly recommend this if you want to catch a sight of Wanaka’s amazing view from the top!