The hardest part of a sunrise hike is always getting out of bed. Once we get out of the door it’s all uplifting from there. The caffeine kicks in, the blood starts pumping, the skies gradually glows and the sun peeks over the peaks. We are grateful we set the alarm clock in the first place.
Being early birds also means having the place to ourselves. In this instance, we enjoyed moments of solitude on the Ben Lomond summit, soaking in 360° views of Queenstown’s Lake Wakatipu. By the time we descended, the harsh sun was up and so were the rest of the world, coming our way in the opposite direction.