Wanaka is another lovely town, just over 68 km from Queenstown, this is also home to Mount Aspiring National Park which offers a variety of stunning hikes in the area.
While Roys Peak is popular among tourists thanks to social media, Isthmus peak is another spot that I think is a bit underrated as it is quiet (okay, for now, since it’s not very popular), it offers the same view over lake Wanaka, plus lake Hawae and it is also graded as the same level of difficulty. So, here it is, let’s go on this hike with me!
How to get there?
It is a bit of a ride from Wanaka, but I promise you the trip is worth it as it is also a scenic ride that gives you a closer look at lake Hawea, the lake is breathtaking.
After about 30 minutes, you will reach Stewart Creek carpark, follow the sign on the side of the road, this is where the trail begins.
Where it all begins...
Isthmus peak is a 16 km track return, it means 8 km one way with an elevation gain of over 1000 m, so it is a bit challenging.
The whole track is well-maintained and signposted, it takes you through different kinds of terrain, and some you would find similar to many tracks in this area.
Following the dirt path, the first part of the track is quite flat and shady which was a great warm-up for me though.
It was very cloudy when we started, I thought about the worst, you know — raining, but who knows we are in New Zealand and you don’t know when the weather turns its head, LOL.
Then, we continued to follow the poles, it is all fenced as we passed the private land.
The track was gradually steeper when we were walking along the fence.
There is one rocky section that could get tricky when it is wet. We had to hold on to the rocks to climb up. Luckily, it only lasts for a hundred meters.
After a while, we found ourselves scrolling through the farmland which was quite relaxing after the climb. The sheep seemed to not mind at all, they just continued their business as usual as if we were invisible 😂.
The track starts to get wider and steeper, we were surrounded by bush and mountain ranges.
I found the journey to the ridgeline the most challenging as it is a constant uphill climb. You would see a large area of tussock which is a common terrain in New Zealand backcountry.
Don't be fooled by these...
There is one thing funny about Isthmus peak, you would never see the real summit until you get really close to it. I couldn’t remember how many times I thought I was almost at the top, but turned out it was just another hill, these jagged ranges are really tricky though.
Looking up, I tried to estimate how far I have to go on and get discouraged because it was still a long way, I kept telling myself “come on, just keep walking and you'll get there”, but it was irritating that there was always higher and rougher terrain after that, and it was not the destination yet. Yeah, I find hiking and life are quite similar. 😂
A familiar saddle?
When you see a sign that points to the Isthmus Peak track on the right, and the other way is the conservation area. The hardest part was over.
It was intriguing because the track got easier after all the climbs as we were on the way to the top, usually, it doesn’t work that way for other summits.
These jagged rocks really add a different mark from Roys peak.
Isthmus peak — 1,385 m.
The view from the top is overwhelming, the sun was up high and shining through. I couldn’t get enough of this vista, lake Wanaka and Hawea made a perfect picture with the surrounding snow-capped mountain.
It was hard to say goodbye, but we finally left the top after taking hundreds of photos and a simple but always the best meal after a hike.
The descent was much faster, maybe the only thing that slowed us down was the spectacular scenery. 😂
Though Isthmus peak was not the highest summit I have ever been to, it was still a special peak on my list. It has its own charm that I cannot compare with Roys peak. If you have time, do both and see it for yourself, you’re not going to regret it.
Isthmus peak — check it off. 😂
Have you been here or Roys Peak? Let me know in the comment.
If not, check out this post about Roys peak and its extended hike.
Thanks for reading, stay tuned!