Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise
Overview
Available languages
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.
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.
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.
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 & Cruise TSS/Spirit
Cruise across to Walter Peak on the historic and iconic TSS Earnslaw Steamship and return on the Modern Spirit of Queenstown
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 & 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
Reviews
1,190 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
New Zealand tour Walter Peak BBQ dinner steam boat
clairewD3081JP,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The steamer boat was authentic and the staff were friendly and provided great service. The food in the restaurant was amazing! Brilliantly presented and a wide choice for all types of dietary needs. The show was really entertaining too. I would have preferred something different from the pianist on the return journey it was not singalong music as suggested by the captain!
Must do in Queenstown
oban1,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Recommend , enjoyable , relaxing. From cruise on TSS Ernshaw, to arrival at Homestead. Friendly staff, wonderful food 😋.
Do it for the dog
elijahvincent0729,,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such an awesome experience all around. The Steam Boat ride across the lake was unique and scenic. The lunch at the farm was extremely enjoyable and very diverse food. The best portion was the farm show. It’s a quick show but well done and you get to meet the farm dog which is very cool. 10/10 recommend.
Beautiful family day
Roimata P,,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very nice cruise on Lake Wakatipu. The buffet is exceptional with quality products. The service is perfect from start to finish. Walter Peak Farm is beautiful and the animals live there happy. A little paradise on earth.
The boat is quite the...
Calum B,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The boat is quite the experience. Food was amazing. Just a little rushed. Would have liked another 1/2hr in the dining room. Was very in & out.
Get there early to queue...
Randy R,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Get there early to queue up boarding, in order to get a good seat, near an open window as the steam engine heats the top enclosed deck.
Fantastic Day Out
Mark R,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The trip over was relaxing and beautiful. The meal was also wonderful and walking around the farm was a real treat.
Wonderful cruise and a stunning lunch
Shane L,,Jan 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a lovely experience on this tour. The steamship was very cool to ride on and such a unique experience. The lunch was amazing with an amazing assortment of options to choose from. They even catered to my partner who’s coeliac and informed her what she could and couldn’t have and let her start choosing from the buffet first before everyone else. The farm and restaurant is beautifully kept and the whole experience felt very well organised.
Makes for a great day trip!
Tour20647753117,,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a fun experience. The lunch was delicious and was amazing to be able to see the dog shine! The property is also beautiful and the folks whole run the whole thing are super helpful if anything is needed.
Tourism at its best and worst
127mags61,,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everyone knows QT is full of tourists and everyone does the same activities (because Trip Advisor tells them too). The Earnslaw cruise and the Walter Peak farm BBQ is no exception. That said it was a fun experience and RealNZ have the whole enterprise down pat. The TSS Earnslaw used to carry sheep from and to the farm to QT- now it carries sheep of a different kind. The cruises are packed - at least 200 per boatload so arrive early to get a seat. That said you can stand outside and still see lots. Blankets are provided on the boat. The food at the farm was very good and plenty of it. The staff herd you to your pre-designated table (maybe you can ring ahead to book a table location?) so you might get a view or you may not. The sheep dog display was a highlight for our family- even though we are from Australia and has been on farms with sheepdogs, the show was the right length and entertaining. The outing is expensive for a family of 5, but you get a cruise, a lunch and a dog show for that price. Just don’t think about it much!
From NZ$159.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Related Experiences
Operated by RealNZ