The Rob Roy Glacier Walk
I have been lazy, I loudly declared to my empty hostel room.
I had spent the last few days eating way too much crunchy peanut butter, sipping on soy flat whites and lounging around in the sun like a satisfied cat.
It was time for a sweaty and exhausting hike where I will most likely curse my own existence as well as some mountains, and end up smelling like a gym shower room. It was a favorite rite of passage for all my travel adventures.
The question now went to what Wanaka hike was right for me.
The idea of lining up to take a photo on top of a mountain did not appeal, so Roy’s Peak was off the cards. I then came across something by the name of Rob Roy’s Glacier Hike. It was called one of the best day hikes in New Zealand, I was suitably curious, so I decided to give it a go.
First I had to get to the hike. It was one hour drive from Wanaka. I am not trusted behind the wheel of a car in New Zealand, so I booked a shuttle with Ritchies.
I feel that the shuttle driver should have properly said buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
It was bumpy for around an hour. I kind of relaxed into it after a bit, I thought of it as being in one of those massage chairs that seem to be in every mall you ever go to.
The scenery was beautiful. Grand mountains, lush farmland, and many sheep!
We had a very kiwi moment where a herd of sheep decided that the road was their domain, and walked towards our oncoming shuttle. We slowed down and let the sea of wool flow around us. The tourists on board found it all very charming.
We arrived at Raspberry Creek Carpark, and everyone unloaded from the shuttle. Our driver said he would be here for the day, so there was no rush. As long as we were back by 3pm, which gave us 6 hours to complete a 4 hour hike. I thought we would be fine.
Setting off, we crossed farmland. A few disinterested cows glanced my way but I think that they found the grass a lot more interesting than my errant presence.
A wonderful kea sculpture greeted me after a while, made wholly from copper. I felt a little like Dorthy in the Wizard of Oz, but rather than encountering a tin man, I got a copper kea.
After around 15 minutes of farmland, I came to a beautiful swing bridge which crossed the rushing West Matukituki River. I proudly declared to some random fellow hikers as I crossed, that we Kiwis have the best swing bridges. I may be biased, but our swing bridges are pretty damn special.
After crossing over the rushing water, I entered a forest. I almost felt like I had been transported into a Grimm Fairy Tale, and half expected a girl in a red cloak to go skipping by to Granmas house. It was very ethereal. Ferns, fantails, and foliage were abundant, and it was a nice cover from the blaring sun overhead as I ascended about 300m over the next hour or so.
The first stop was the lower lookout of the glacier. I sat down on one of the benches and looked up. It seemed unreal, this hunkering giant glacier lording over me.
After a chocolate related snack to refuel my flagging energy levels, I continued on my merry way towards the higher lookout.
After a further 30 minutes or so of hiking, the forest opened up.
Sometimes you stare at a scene in front of you, and have to pinch yourself, or someone near you, that what you are seeing is real. As I was a solo hiking, I decided it was best to pinch myself and avoid potential assault charges.
What I saw was this. A glacier aloft, white and cold and grand. I felt small looking up at it. Flowing from the glacier were many waterfalls, which crashed down to the ground. To my left was a tall waterfall, looking like the screen of Jurassic Park, and to my right cold icy mountains.
I perched myself on a rock, brought out my peanut butter sammie and watched nature’s show. This turned out to be one of the best sandwiches of my life. Sandwiches always taste better after sweating for 3-4 hours.
How to get there: An hour drive from Wanaka. If you have a car, simply follow punch in the address and let miss google lead the way. But be warned the road is a gravelly ride and you will cross several fiords. If you are going in a rental, precede with caution, young one.
Or, you can go the route I went and let someone else drive you there.
Ritches offers return carfare, for $45.
Facilities : When I went (Feb 2019), the toilets were broken. But before you panic, there are portaloos. But before you sigh in relief, these looked like they haven’t been emptied in weeks. What I recommend, is hold your breathe, close your eyes, and think of springtime while you are in there.
Oh. There are also loos at the top of the hike.
Difficulty level: Easy. The incline was subtle. There were no extreme incline parts that made you huff and puff like a ninety year old chain smoker. It was a bit hard going down, on the knees and toes. But if you take it slow, you should be fine.
What to bring: Water, lunch, snacks, suncream, hat, camera.
Wildlife: It is a popular site for Kea. During my visit, I unfortunately didn’t meet any of these cheeky alpine parrots. If you are lucky enough to have a kea encounter, please don't feed them. Human food is bad for them, and it teaches them dependency on humans (think of what we have done to seagulls and pigeons.). On this note, I as an inexperienced and starstruck person did feed the kea on top of the Ben Loumand hike. I was promptly bitten by the kea and booed by fellow hikers. Overall, not a great experience and one I want you to miss out on.