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
1,186 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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!
Excellent experience
Akeasha B,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Exactly as promised. Definitely boom this steamship and not the newer boat. A different, fun experience. Go see the coal / engine room as well. There are some nice spots to sit below outside and feel the breeze and take in the beauty. It was lovely. If you want to see the farm animals, be sure to finish lunch then head out back to the farm before the sheep show. Time flies buy and there’s lots to see. The trip was closer to 3.5 hours all in. It was a great time.
Great views great food
R420LKjohnf,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had great weather for the trip across the lake to the farm station with great views. The BBQ lunch exceeded all expectations. The choice and quality of the food was excellent
Slow Wait on Drinks ,took...
Jack B,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Slow Wait on Drinks ,took 15 minutes to get two drinks and the boat had almost reached Walter peak station, was only one person infront of me with an order and It seemed like they were over run. For A classy boat like itself the service was no where near as good as the earnslaw team. Highly recommend the earnslaw
Pleasant lake ride and lunch
reji,,Jan 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00It was a pleasant way to cross the lake and arrived just in time for the buffet. Be sure to take as much photos whenever you can because right after lunch it’s straight to the farm show then back to the boat. Barely had time to browse in the gift shop. Beautiful views of the lake during lunch as we were right on the balcony overlooking the waters. The meats were great, and the veggies tasty. Drinks were paid for separately. The farm show was entertaining and my kid definitely enjoyed watching the dog herd the sheep. The ride back is as pleasant. Inside the TSS ship you can roam around and see the steam engine up close, find historical photos, and order snacks or drinks. It was overall pleasant And recommended when winding down from all the bustles of the town or maybe just looking for a relaxing activity.
Beautiful Steam Ship
Richard B,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Impressive steam ship maiden voyage 1912. Food other end just Ok nothing special felt to me like a buffet at a cruise ship and waited 10 mins in buffet queue. Enjoyable overall but probably not quite 5 stars.
BBQ lunch is a must!
HsienJui Y,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The 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!
Worth the money
Kelly T,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was excellent from beginning to end! The food was amazing the ship was fun. Loved the farm show as well. Lots of fun.
From NZ$159.00
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