The 13 Best Walter Peak Farm Cruises from Queenstown

1.Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,713 reviews · 3h 30m · from $95Our pick

Take a 45-minute cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown. Enjoy a generous BBQ buffet, lakeside gardens, and a lively sheep-shearing and farm-dog show featuring working dogs such as Echo and Kim.

“We are so happy we booked this tour for our last day in Queenstown. The food was amazing - could not have asked for anything better. I am a vegetarian and had such a full plate to eat and my husband says the meats were cooked to perfection. The service of the workers both on the steamboat and at the farm were fantastic. I can’t recommend this enough!”

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2.TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,255 reviews · 1h 30m · from $68Best value

Spend 90 minutes aboard Queenstown’s TSS Earnslaw, a coal-fired Edwardian steamship. Walk the decks, visit the wheelhouse and museum, watch stokers feed the fire, and enjoy Lake Whakatipu’s mountain views. Commentary is in English, with drinks and snacks available to buy onboard.

“The only disappointment in the tour is the number of tourists, some of whom didn't behave properly. :)”

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3.Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,196 reviews · from $98Top rated

Cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak High Country Farm, ideally aboard the vintage TSS Earnslaw. Enjoy a chef-prepared BBQ buffet, lakeside views, and a live sheep shearing and sheepdog show before returning across Lake Wakatipu. The trip lasts about 3.5 hours and costs $98.67 per person.

“The lake view during the cruise was quite beautiful, and the BBQ lunch was nice! They got all kinds of meat, so don’t miss it if you are a meat lover!”

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4.Queenstown Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 950 reviews · 3h 30m · from $80

Cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw steamship or Spirit of Queenstown catamaran. Your guide leads a farm visit with sheep, alpacas, cattle, working dogs, and live shearing and herding displays, followed by fresh morning or afternoon tea.

“An excellent day out for our family. The steam boat ride was relaxing and enjoyable. The kids loved looking around the boat at how it worked. The farm visit was lovely. Got to feed and interact with lots of animals. A great afternoon tea provided. My father and I are coeliac and we had separate meals provided of an excellent quality, highly recommend!”

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5.Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 576 reviews · from $117

Sail from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the vintage TSS Earnslaw or modern Spirit of Queenstown. Enjoy a generous barbecue buffet, then watch working dogs herd sheep and a farm demonstrator shear one before returning across Lake Wakatipu.

“Great ride across the lake and an absolutely amazing buffet spread. Get there EARLY! Huge line already at 4:30 and seats fill up on the boat.”

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6.Queenstown Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 439 reviews · from $83

Cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw, or Spirit of Queenstown during maintenance. Meet sheep, cattle, goats, deer, alpacas, and farm dogs, watch a sheepdog show, tour the gardens, and enjoy afternoon tea. Guides such as Joe and Quinn bring the farm visit to life.

“Loved the open space and the guided tour. Feeding the bulls was a lovely experience and so was the beautiful scenic view from the cruise!”

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7.TSS Earnslaw Lake Wakatipu Steamship Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 302 reviews · from $71

Board Queenstown’s historic TSS Earnslaw for a 90-minute return cruise toward Walter Peak. Watch stokers feed the coal fires, visit the small museum, enjoy captain’s commentary, and buy snacks or drinks while Central Otago’s mountains slide past.

“It is interesting steamer boat. Friendly staff off/on board. Book through Viator doesn't have the option to get off at the farm for morning tea. It just the ticket stay onboard for 1.5 hours ride.”

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8.Glacier Explorer & Earnslaw Burn Helicopter Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 175 reviews · from $378

Take a 50-minute helicopter flight from Queenstown over Skippers Canyon, the Rees Valley and Mt Aspiring National Park. See icefalls, alpine lakes and the Earnslaw Burn hanging glacier, then land on a glacier or nearby alpine site when conditions allow. Pilots such as Alfie, Jeremy and Alice provide commentary.

“This was one the highlights of my visit to New Zealand! Loved it and would recommend it to anyone! 👍”

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9.Walter Peak Horse Trek & Queenstown Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 151 reviews · from $134

Sail across Lake Whakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown, then ride for 40 to 45 minutes through Walter Peak farmland with an English-speaking guide. Small groups of up to six make this a calm, personal introduction to horse trekking, followed by tea, scones, and muffins.

“Spectacular place, guide was awesome. All around a good time”

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10.50-Minute Glacier Explorer & Earnslaw Burn Flight, Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 139 reviews · from $446

Take a 50-minute helicopter flight from Queenstown over Skippers Canyon, Earnslaw Burn, alpine lakes, and Mt Aspiring National Park. Land on a snowy glacier for about 10 minutes, with pilot commentary, headsets, and hotel transfers included. Flights carry no more than six people.

“Our pilot Michael was amazing. The whole experience was unforgettable, but landing on the glacier and mucking around in the snow was si much fun.”

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11.Half Day Walter Peak Horse Trek and Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 101 reviews · from $142

You’ll cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown, enjoy tea and baked treats at the farm, then take a gentle, beginner-friendly horse ride with a small group of up to six. Guides such as Matt, Tegan, Paddy, or Benny may lead the trek.

“Extremely well organized and the steamship and and horseback riding were a lot of fun. It is great for beginner horse riders. Well seasoned riders will not enjoy the horse experience, but it is perfect for those who do not get to ride horses.”

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12.Lake Cruise to Walter Peak Farm with BBQ Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 66 reviews · 3h 30m · from $95

Cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the Spirit of Queenstown, then enjoy a wood-fired BBQ buffet at Colonel’s Homestead, a farm demonstration, and time in the lakeside grounds. Jo leads the sheep-shearing show, while Jacob helps look after lunch. Allow 210 minutes.

“Short boat trip across the lake with great views. BBQ buffet was spectacular. We had a front view table of lake outside. Farm show was also good. Great day had by all.”

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13.Queenstown Lake Cruise to Walter Peak Farm with BBQ Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · from $98

Sail from Queenstown across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Enjoy a locally sourced BBQ buffet at Colonel’s Homestead, hear an English-speaking guide, watch a sheep-shearing and farm demonstration, then cruise back. The 3.5-hour trip includes lunch or dinner, but drinks cost extra.

“The cruise itself is funtastic and the buffet lunch is wonderful, the food is delicious and all fresh especially the veggies the experience is one of a kind”

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