Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown

Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours

Mobile ticket

Start your evening cruising along the waters of Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown aboard either the iconic vintage TSS Earnslaw steamship or the sleek Spirit of Queenstown.

Step inside the charming lakeside Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant, where the enticing scent of wood-fired BBQ fills the air. Our chefs prepare a mouthwatering spread using the finest local ingredients, featuring a generous buffet of crisp salads, seasonal vegetables, and tender cuts of locally sourced meat. Don't forget the selection of desserts! With panoramic views of Lake Whakatipu and Queenstown’s alpine backdrop, the Colonel’s Homestead offers an idyllic setting steeped in colonial charm and surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds.

Your visit also includes a lively farm demonstration. Watch skilled farm dogs expertly herd sheep and get up close with friendly farm animals. If time allows, take a peaceful stroll through the lakeside gardens before boarding the vessel for your scenic return cruise to Queenstown.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Minimum age is 18 years to consume alcohol

Note: The experience is cash free and we reserve the right to refuse cash as a means of payment when purchasing products or services.

Note: The TSS Earnslaw will be undergoing scheduled maintenance 19 May to 1 October 2025, we have the modern vessel (Spirit of Queenstown) available throughout this time

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

BBQ buffet dinner

Cruise across lake on vessel of your choice (TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown)

Farm Show

Live commentary on board

Drinks

What To Expect

Begin your activity by checking in to our RealNZ Visitor Centre - 88 Beach Street, Queenstown. Board the vessel and travel across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm and return. Enjoy a delicious buffet meal before then watching the farm demonstration hosted by our specialist guides. The experience ends with the return trip across Lake Whakatipu, dropping you off at the same place you boarded in central Queenstown.

Options

BBQ Dinner and Modern Cruise

Cruise both ways on the spacious and modern Spirit of Queenstown Catamaran. Epic viewing platforms and onboard bar.

BBQ Dinner and TSS Cruise

Cruise both ways on the iconic TSS Earnslaw, a coal-fired steamship that’s been a part of the region’s history since 1912

Reviews

4.74

551 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

454

Birthday celebration
Adventure21371633812,
Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a trip I was looking forward to and was not disappointed.It had been arranged as my birthday dinner .The steam ship trip was wonderful with great sights to look at on the way or just to look at the engine room.The meal was a highlight.All the meat- pork, lamb, venison ,chicken cooked to perfection.My favourite was the abundance of seafood.I did put a small amount of salad on my plate but was too full for much.I had some dessert but would forgo this next time to eat some more of the mains.Very organised and good coming out all the time.The sheep show was great .The house and grounds at Walter peak are stunning. A must do
Iconic experience - definately for kiwis as well as overseas visitors.
W3487EOpeterg,
Nov 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The Earnslaw is an iconic steamship, and the Walter Peak Farm an iconic high country farm. As a kiwi it is easy to dismiss these things as just for "overseas tourists". Well fellow kiwis: if you haven't done this I can certainly recommend it. Not only is the Earnslaw is a wonderful old ship, you can get down into the engine room and see those original 2 steam engines cranking away up close! The dinner at the Walter Peak farm was also excellent: so much venison - I think I OD'd on that, and all the other great food. And lastly: the sheepdog demo. Again, as a kiwi, I was thinking that this was another "meh - this is for overseas visitors" moment. But no: we really enjoyed it - amazingly smart dog, and the "shepherd" (can't remember his name) was great. So: message to kiwis: go do this!
Beautiful evening on the lake
374deniseb,
Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Beautiful trip on the lake to a sheep farm. Delicious buffet dinner with many options. The farm demonstration was cute.
Outstanding place to cap off our elopement wedding day
473kylieo,
Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My husband and I booked this dinner to end our elopement wedding day and we’re not disappointed. The booking person obviously noted it was our wedding and we were allocated the best table and all staff gave us exceptional service. We loved the dinner and weren’t there for the farm show so we took our time. A fantastic way to end our day.
Highly recommended excursion with historic ship and fine food
345retob,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The trip on the steamship of 1912 was already an experience. We sat right next to the opening to the engine room and could enjoy the ride acoustically, tastefully and from the view. Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm was excellently organized and despite 230 guests we were able to enjoy the dinner very much. No queuing, no crowding, just fine food. The subsequent demonstration with sheep shears and the dog demonstration was very impressive.
Nice tour. As promised
395dbb,
Nov 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Weather was Perfect..boat ride was very good.Just luck. Food was excellent..Best Smoked Salmon I ever had Broad selection of meats and others Shearing demonstration..So-so....dog herding excellent
Won’t visit again
HannYuan,
Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00
The farm offers a really nice view and overall has a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere. The farm itself is well-maintained, and the sheep show was quite interesting and enjoyable. However, the dining experience was disappointing. Although the dining duration was supposed to be 1.5 hours, dinner was not served on time, and we still had to wait quite a while even after arriving. Everything felt very rushed because of the delay. Additionally, there was a long queue for the food, and it seemed like the restaurant crew didn’t help much to facilitate the process. Since not everyone was taking the same dishes, the queue moved slowly and became inefficient, wasting a lot of time. Overall, while the farm view and attractions were nice, the dining experience—which we were really looking forward to—was a letdown and could have been better managed.
Wonderful cruise on a...
Audrey T,
Nov 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Wonderful cruise on a historical boat topped up with a great experience at the farm. Dinner was a delightful spread and the service and show were 5 star.
Food was amazing. Views...
Pauline M,
Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Food was amazing. Views fantastic. Staff very attentive. Great commentary on board ship. Dog show was amazing.
Farm fun with a boat ride, excellent food and entertainment
Doug S,
Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The steamer ride across the lake was a lot of fun. It was very interesting to see the engine room and all that goes on down there. It’s not every day you see somebody shoveling coal into a furnace to keep the engine running. The TSS Earnslaw was built the same time the Titanic was built. Because of all the original parts, you can see many indications that it’s very old and similar to other ships of that time. When we got to the farm they took us to the dining area. The food was excellent and there was plenty to choose from. I would highly recommend his trip to anyone thinking of doing it. The sheep shearing show was very entertaining, and everyone had enjoyable time. On the ride back across the lake someone played the piano and we all sang old songs together. That went on all the way back to Queenstown.

From NZ$199.00