We spend few summer days in beautiful Otago region, absolutely stunning area of the South Island. Southern Alps showcase their beauty all year round, it doesn’t have to be any specific time to explore the local iconic hikes.
One of those is Roys Peak hike. If you haven’t heard of it, here is quick summary: distance 16km (10 miles), elevation gain 1,300 mt (4,265 feet) or simply put - steep!, challenging both - ascent and descent, so allow between 4-5 hours.
It was long on my Bucket list so when I finally was in the area, it sure was a must! I got up at 3 a.m., drove to the start of the track. The carpark was already full so I had to park quite long way far from the carpark, adding another 1 km walk to start of the track.
I won’t deny, when the alarm rang, I felt every temptation to turn it off and go back to sleep. 3 a.m. is not exactly my favorite time to get up. But I was packed and ready to go, just basic morning hygiene. Prep the night before definitely helped. Along with the idea of finally getting on that trail!
Now, when I say it is an iconic hike, it still feels as an understatement! The trail begins just outside Wānaka, steep climb through the farmland and tussock grasslands, offering stunning panoramic views over Lake Wānaka and the Southern Alps. The most photographed spot is about 30 min below the summit, yeah - that one! Just when you feel you are there, you realize you still have few more hundred meters to climb. But this spot not only helps you to catch your breath, it offers some of the most amazing ridgeline views. If you want to do it - don’t rush, take a moment to enjoy all that beauty. And if you can, make it up there for the sunrise, like I did. You will not be disappointed, it is without a doubt worth it!
So, I made it to summit in about 2 1/2 hours (including my long stop on the ridgeline) and had the best breakfast I could dream off. Fairly squashed banana and avocado on couple of pieces of Rye bread, slightly bruised fruit, and about 2 lt. of water. I had my moment thinking how good it would be to see a coffee cart up there :-)
As I sat there, I felt overwhelmed, tons of emotions. I felt tired, sticky, sweat pouring down (it was 28C/83F, hot morning, so here is another reason to start the hike at night!) but incredibly happy. Digesting not only my breakfast but also those magnificent views, I felt great energy, contentment, sense of best well-being, harmony, connection, purpose. I felt complete peace.
Sometimes in life, we can face hard-to-get-going starts, the journey may be rocky, steep, or hard to navigate. But we know that life challenges will trigger growth. They force us to dig deeper, build resilience, think differently. At times we push through discomfort (physical, mental, emotional) and we prove ourselves that we are capable of far more than we may have thought originally. And how you feel after? Pride, power, that momentum! Priceless.
What may feel hard today is often the thing that shapes a stronger and more confident version of you tomorrow. When you overcome a challenge, it reprograms your mindset. You got it! You see yourself as someone who CAN. That positive thinking shifts into other areas of your life, creating a ripple of positive thinking overall.
Try to choose courage over comfort if you can, let me know how it felt.
