Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

*Please note the TSS Earnslaw Steamship is undergoing scheduled maintenance during the period 19th May to 1 October 2025*

A return scenic cruise from Queenstown Bay, across stunning Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm on a vessel of your choice, a farm demonstration and a delicious BBQ Lunch at the Colonel’s Homestead.

The rural demonstrator will give guests an insight into life in the New Zealand high country by providing an entertaining farm show including working sheep dogs.

Enjoy a unique dining experience at Walter Peak where the menu showcases food and wine from the wider Central Otago region. Chefs prepare a tasty selection of meats on the outdoor grill, while fresh, seasonal salads and vegetables are available from the dining area of the Colonel’s Homestead. Top off lunch with a selection of delicious sweet treats and local cheeses.

Choose between sailing on the iconic 1912 TSS Earnslaw Steamship or the spacious and modern Spirit of Queenstown Catamaran.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Note: Menu items are subject to change based on chef's discretion and seasonal availability.

Note: Please let RealNZ know in advance if you have dietary requirements via messaging through Viator

Note: The TSS Earnslaw 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 To Expect

Lake Wakatipu

Return Cruise on Lake Wakatipu on the either the Vintage Steamship, the TSS Earnslaw or the Modern Catamaran, Spirit of Queenstown. Your vessel of choice will travel from Queenstown to Walter Peak. Stop at Walter Peak for lunch and a sheep shearing demonstration, before returning across the lake to Queenstown.

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Enjoy a quintessential Kiwi experience – a delicious gourmet BBQ lunch and a farm demo in a stunning lakeside setting. Your lunch starts with a cruise across Lake Whakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Once there, you can sit back on the lakeside terrace of the Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant and savor the delicious aromas as our chef has the best of local produce, sizzling away on the grill. Our lunch menu has been refreshed with the introduction of our new executive chef, so you'll have a plenty to choose from our seasonal menu - salads, vegetables, succulent meat cooked on the outdoor rotisserie or grill. If you’re vegetarian, don’t worry, you are well catered for too. Then finish your meal with a scrumptious dessert. After your lunch, you can join an entertaining farm demonstration or explore the beautiful lakeside gardens. Return cruise back to your original starting point in Queenstown, convenient to continue exploring.

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Cruise across lake Whakatipu and back to Queenstown

GST (Goods and Services Tax)

Live English commentary on board as well as interpretation handouts in English, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Thai, Korean and Chinese

Gourmet BBQ Lunch

Farm Show

Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)

Options

BBQ Dining & Modern Cruise

BBQ Dining & Modern Cruise : Cruise both ways on the spacious and modern Spirit of Queenstown Catamaran. Epic viewing platforms to take the best photos

BBQ Dining & 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

BBQ Dining & Cruise TSS/Spirit

Cruise across to Walter Peak on the historic and iconic TSS Earnslaw Steamship and return on the Modern Spirit of Queenstown

Reviews

4.76

1,171 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

996

121

Fabulous day out! Must not miss this!
ruthiepegs,,Dec 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The twin screw steam ship is a beautiful ship and of course the views are splendid The lunch was very good food and the farm visit was absolutely charming. We had good weather and it was a perfect day out! My daughter lives in queenstown and she loves this trip too even though she has done it many times
Walter Peak farm experience and lunch - amazing
Kellie M,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
A must do experience when visiting Queenstown. The lunch was one of the best buffets we’ve had, quality of the food was excellent and catered for everyone
Relaxing cruise and excellent lunch
Paul C,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Excellent entry pleasure cruise on an old steamer followed by a 5 course lunch. It is best to board early to get a good seat on the steamer and if you want quiet trip get away from the bar.
It was awesome experience...
Janet A,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
It was awesome experience unforgettable. The view was majestic, the staffs are polite. We also enjoyed the farm show.
Queenstown steamship and farm tour is a must
Rob M,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The steamship is extremely interesting and beautifully preserved. Tour the engine room to see how the coal furnace generates steam to propel the ship. The buffet at the farm is excellent with several varieties of meat, tasty salads, and an array of deserts. The farm show is also very interesting. This is a must do for anyone visiting Queenstown.
Lunch not as expected.
Douglas W,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
Nice day. Food slightly disappointing. Beef very fatty. Farm show was interesting and boat ride very nice.
Excellent Experience — Don’t Miss the Sheep Dogs
A2426OKmegant,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a great experience from start to finish. The trip across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw is a classic and well worth doing on its own — relaxed, scenic, and a great way to take in the surroundings. Walter Peak was beautiful and very well run, and the lunch was excellent. It’s a self-serve buffet with a huge range of options to suit different tastes, and the quality of the food was genuinely impressive. There was plenty to choose from and plenty to eat. Drinks aren’t included, so be prepared for the extra cost. It was cold heading across the lake because of the open doors, so bring a warm jacket. The best views are from the upper deck or outside, and they’re worth braving the cold for. Staff were friendly, everything ran smoothly, and the whole experience felt relaxed rather than rushed. Definitely worth doing if you’re in Queenstown.
Amazing experience
Z1330HFbernadetter,,Dec 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Awesome trip from the boat ride to the lunch at the farmhouse, which was amazing, excellent choice of food and very tasty, also excellent wait staff
Don’t miss this day out
Robyn R,,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
A lovely day out. A beautiful old steamship will take you to Walter’s Peak for the most delicious, generous lunch. The staff are impeccable hosts, and the chefs are fabulous. Following lunch, meet Pete the farmer who will shear a sheep for you and have his farm dogs bring in the sheep. This is a must when you are in Queenstown. A fantastic day. Thank you all.
Not as expected
Starr D,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00
BBQ was an assigned seating buffet with hundreds of people. The food was good, not great. Hectic and brief.