Isthmus Peak
Leica M10 + Leica Summarit 50mm f/2.4 | 1/2000 @ f/2.4, ISO 200
When we started looking at places to go and things to see and various hikes across New Zealand, we both zeroed in on Roy’s Peak. If you’re on Instagram, you’ve seen it: this incredible vista overlooking a lake surrounded by mountains with an almost perfect outcropping that you can walk out on and with a wide angle lens it looks like you’re on top of the world.
The Instagrammable Roy’s Peak
So when we saw it was right by Wanaka, we were stoked that WE’D get to be Instagram famous and take pictures from the iconic lookout. That was, until, we discovered that Roy’s Peak was closed from Oct. 1 to Nov. 10 for lambing. Sheep are EVERYWHERE and you hike through areas that sheep are grazing and in the spring certain trails are closed down for the farmers and unfortunately, this was one of those times. Time to pivot and our next choice was nearby Isthmus Peak.
Isthmus Peak was hardly a step down from Roy’s Peak when you compare it by the numbers. At 3,675 feet of elevation gain over the 9.5 mile loop, it’s 429 feet less vertical gain and 0.2 miles shorter than Roy’s Peak. What we didn’t know was how much of a step down it would be when you compare the payoffs. It’s high up, yes, but can anything match that panoramic Roy’s Peak view?
Turns out, Isthmus Peak can. It didn’t take more than maybe 15 minutes before this was the view…
Leica M10 + Leica Summarit 50mm f/2.4 | 1/750 @ f/4, ISO 200
And the incredible thing is, this is your view the entire way up. All 3,675 feet of vertical gain, you have the most incredible view of these soaring snow-capped mountains and bright blue lakes with rolling hills of green.
Leica M10 + Leica Summarit 50mm f/2.4 | 1/750 @ f/5.6, ISO 200
And that’s a good thing because after maybe 30 minutes, it became very clear that there were no breaks, no flat sections, nothing but a constant 14% grade that was made doable by just looking out at where you were.
A picture of me taking the photo posted above. TRIPPY, MAN…
It’s stunning. Every single inch of this grueling, leg and lung burning hike is jaw dropping and if we said “I cannot believe this view” once we said it a thousand times. We had already experienced New Zealand’s infinite beauty at Abel Tasman and even just driving everywhere was jaw dropping but Isthmus Peak was when it really hit us how truly spectacular this country is and what a beautiful place this was.
3 frame panorama: Leica M10 + Leica Summarit 50mm f/4.5 | 1/1000 @ f/2.4, ISO 200
Upon reaching the summit, we were elated mostly because we’d finally reached the summit and no longer had to climb any further but also because we’d finally reached the payoff: the 360-degree panoramic view, which somehow was more spectacular than what we’d experienced the entire hike up. We pulled out the JetBoil and made a packet of noodles and put jackets on as the wind was blowing the thin air that was much colder now at altitude and just soaked up the views of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea on either side of us.
Leica M10 + Leica Summarit 50mm f/2.4 | 1/500 @ f/2.4, ISO 200
The hike down was obviously much faster with gravity on our side and much easier and the cows we’d passed who were hanging out a few feet off the trail were now ON the trail near the bottom which made for a little off-path adventure that got a little dodgy as we were sure one of the cows was going to charge us. Once we reached the van we made the short trek to Wanaka and wolfed down more food than we’d eaten the 2 days prior and gushed over the hike as our legs screamed for rest.
Were we bummed that we couldn’t hike Roy’s Peak? I guess, but the feeling of missing out was quickly erased as we fell in love with Isthmus Peak and realized that we perhaps had found the hidden gem just around the corner from the spot where people would line up by the dozens to take their picture atop Roy’s Peak.
If you find yourself in New Zealand near Wanaka and you’re looking for a hike, we cannot recommend this hike strongly enough; it will most certainly push the bar for beautiful and challenging hikes to a whole new level you never knew existed. If you want to train for it, put that treadmill incline on 14 for 5 miles and just hold any of these photos in front of your face; that should get you through it :)