Ben Lomond and Roys Peak are two of the most popular hikes in the Lakes District. And in a perfect world, you’d do both.
But if you can only do one the Ben Lomond vs Roys Peak debate begins. Which one do you choose?
Roys Peak on the top. Ben Lomond on the bottom.
That’s going to depend on a whole lot of variables, but I’ll give you my thoughts followed by a bunch of FAQs to help you decide which is right for you.
FWIW, I’ve hiked both Ben Lomond and Roys Peak (those links are my individual writeups on each) multiple times so have a reasonable basis to judge them.
MY THOUGHTS ON BEN LOMOND VS ROYS PEAK
That is a pretty good viewpoint on Roys Peak
If I could only do one of them for the rest of my life, it’s a no-brainer. Ben Lomond is the best.
Why?
- The hike is more interesting
- There are various routes to get to the summit
- You get 360-degree views from the summit
- You can start the walk from Queenstown
- It’s not as popular
But, if you really want that Roys Peak photo and suffer from FOMO (I do), then I’m not going to be able to convince you to do Ben Lomond instead of Roys Peak.
COMMON QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN ROYS PEAK OR BEN LOMOND
The mighty find toilet close to the Ben Lomond saddle.
How far is each hike?
Ben Lomond: From the base of the Tiki Trail to the summit, return is 15km. If you catch the gondola up and start from there, it’s 11km.
Roys Peak: To the famous viewpoint (most people do this), it’s 13km return. To the true summit of Roys Peak it about 16km return.
Which is harder Ben Lomond or Roys Peak?
Ben Lomond. Especially if you’re hiking from the bottom and not catching the gondola. The part between the Gondola and the Ben Lomond Saddle is on easy terrain but the section from the saddle to the summit is technical.
What is the highest summit?
Ben Lomond summit: 1,748 metres above sea level.
Roy Peak summit: The actual summit is 1578 metres above sea level, but most people get to the viewpoint which is about 1400 metres above sea level.
What’s the elevation gain of Ben Lomond and Roys Peak?
Ben Lomond: From the Tiki Trail to the summit return, it’s about 1500 meters total. If you skip the Tiki Trail and get the gondola, it’s about 1100 metres.
Roys Peak: There’s about 1000 metres of elevation gain to the famous viewpoint, and 1200 metres to the summit of Roys Peak.
The view walking own from Roys Peak
Is it worth doing both?
Yes. Those that live in the area for at least a couple of months find that they eventually do both Ben Lomond and Roys Peak. Not only because they are must do hikes, but so they can decide for themselves which one they prefer.
That said, if you’ve got limited time on your itinerary, it’s going to be a tough choice. If you’re planning to spend at least two days in both Wanaka and Queenstown I’d say it’s worth doing both. But if for example, you’re only visiting Wanaka to do Roys Peak having already done Ben Lomond, don’t feel like you have to. There are plenty of other amazing hikes to do throughout New Zealand.
Are they both open year-round?
Ben Lomond is open year-round, though for a lot of winters, it’s not accessible unless you have the appropriate experience and gear such as ice axes and crampons.
Roys Peak is closed for lambing from the 1st of October to the 10th of November each year. And there’ll be times throughout winter when it’s not safe to hike.
Roys Peak on the other hand is much the same all the way up.
Sunrise from the summit of Ben Lomond in October.
Which one has the best sunrise?
I’ve only been to Ben Lomond for sunrise, and it was epic. But it seems like Roys Peak is more known for being THE sunrise hike to do…and that way you beat the crowds. If you only want to wake up early once, go with Roys Peak (it’s also easier terrain).
What has the best views?
If you’re looking for the photo that’s going to get the most Instagram likes, you have to get that view from the famous viewpoint.
But, the 360-degree views from the summit of Ben Lomond are simply INCREDIBLE. You can’t beat them.
Looking up towards Ben Lomond
What’s the easiest one to access?
Ben Lomond. If you’re staying in Queenstown itself, then you can simply walk from your accommodation to the start of the trail (or to the gondola). If you need to drive to Queenstown to start the hike, parking can be a hindrance, but you’ll be able to find a carpark within 15 minutes of the start of the track no worries.
Roys Peak is also easy to access, being only a 10-minute drive to the carpark. But you can’t walk to the start of the trail. The carpark is massive, but over the holiday period, it can get full leaving you scrambling to park on the roadside.
Are dogs allowed on Ben Lomond or Roys Peak?
No. There’s a full ban on dogs on both tracks.
Can I hike them safely in winter?
In short, yes. There are definitely periods in winter where there’ll be hardly any snow all the way to the summit making it relatively easy to get to the summit. But if there’s been a decent amount of snowfall, then things will get icy and dicey. So much so that you may need an ice axe and crampons to get to the summit. Roys Peak also has some avalanche terrain above 1000 metres.
If you’d like to hike these in winter, I’d suggest visiting the local DOC centers to get the latest advice. And if you do end up going in the winter, be prepared to turn back.
The Brow Peak hike is pretty awesome too.
Are there any other good Ben Lomond and Roys Peak alternatives nearby?
Ben Lomond: I really enjoy getting to Brow Peak which you can access from Arrowtown. There’s also the hike to Mount Dewar via Atleys Track or Devils Creek Track which are both awesome and off the beaten path.
There are so many awesome hikes and walks in the Queenstown area though.
Roys Peak: The most popular alternative is Isthmus Peak, which some will say is better than Roys Peak. If you think Roys Peak might be a bit hard, then the Rocky Mountain and Diamond Lake walk is another awesome option. And of course, you can continue beyond Roys Peak and complete the Wanaka Skyline Track.
Like Queenstown, there are some awesome hikes in the Wanaka Region.
Whether you do Roys Peak or Ben Lomond, you’re going to have a great time. Which one you should do ultimately depends.
If you’ve got any more questions about which one is best for you, leave a comment below or email me jub@churnewzealand.com.
Alternatively, let me know which one you prefer 😉
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.