Sunrise at Mount Iron, Wanaka, New Zealand

Sunrise at Mount Iron: An Easy Hike in Wānaka

by

Last Updated on December 15, 2022 by Jon Algie

By now you probably know that Roys Peak is the best sunrise hike in Wānaka, but what if you don’t have the time, stamina or will to walk uphill in the dark for three hours. Mount Iron is the answer. It’s definitely not as impressive as Roys Peak (or Isthmus Peak) but at only 90-minutes return it’s a far easier and more relaxing option. Considering watching the sunrise at Mount Iron? Keep reading for more info!

Mount Iron

The Mount Iron Track is one of the shorter hikes in the Wānaka region, but it’s still a fairly demanding uphill journey to the top. Having said that, if you’ve done a bit of walking in New Zealand you shouldn’t have any problems. The track wraps around the front of Mount Iron and overlooks the town, with the lake and mountains in the background.

It’s basically right in town, meaning you don’t have the “at one with nature” kind of feel that you get on other Wānaka hikes. This is a good thing if you don’t have your own transport, as you could walk to the start of the track from town.

READ MORE: 18 of the Best Things to Do in Wānaka

Sunrise over Wanaka from Mount Iron, New Zealand

Sunrise at Mount Iron

We thought we were a little late for sunrise (after sleeping in longer than planned) but we timed it perfectly — the sun peaked out from below the clouds just as we arrived at the top. The view from up there is great — you’ll see green fields, rolling hills and glimpses of Lake Wānaka.

It’s obviously not in the same league as Roys Peak but it’s still worth doing if you’re in town for a few days. There are a few stunning hikes in Wānaka and Mount Iron is easy enough that you can do another one on the same day (we hiked the Rocky Mountain Track straight after).

View from the Mount Iron Track, Wanaka, New ZealandView of Wanaka from the Mount Iron Track, New Zealand

Other Walks in Wānaka

The four most popular hikes in and around Wānaka (and the best, from what I can gather) are Roys Peak, Isthmus Peak, Diamond Lake / Rocky Mountain and Rob Roy Glacier. If you only have a day or two I’d suggest doing Roys Peak one day and maybe combining Rocky Mountain and Rob Roy Glacier on the other day. Isthmus Peak is great as well but it’s probably the hardest of the lot.

READ MORE: 10 of the Best Walks in Wānaka

Stunning view of Lake Wanaka from Roys Peak, New Zealand

Getting to Mount Iron

The Mount Iron car park is located on the main road leading into Wānaka (just after Puzzling World when driving into town). You could walk if you have to but obviously having your own transport is preferable.

Planning a trip to the South Island? Check out our Wānaka travel guide!

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Instagram profile

Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.