Sail the calm waters of Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw, a century-old steamship. This restored cruise is one of the last coal-fired passenger vessels in the world and takes you on a journey to explore the green scenery and blue waters of Queenstown. From farm tours, guided horse rides to delicious BBQ meals and strolls in native gardens, the cruise has a lot to offer for everyone. Read on to learn more about the activities offered along the way and how best to plan your visit to New Zealand’s adventure capital.
Step onto the TSS Earnslaw, a restored, over 110-year-old coal-fired steamship. Explore its rich history, visit the open engine room, and watch the expert crew take you on a voyage like no other.
Cruise across the waters of Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by the beautiful peaks of the Southern Alps while enjoying the live commentary. Capture stunning views and enjoy Queenstown’s most scenic cruise experience.
Visit Walter Peak Farm, where you can pet fluffy alpacas and Highland cows and dive into authentic Kiwi country charm. Upgrade your experience with a gourmet BBQ meal featuring fresh local produce.
Peek into the open engine room to see the massive steam engines at work, chat with the crew about the ship’s history, or simply breathe in the crisp alpine air from the deck. Look out for Queenstown Golf Club, Kawaru Falls Dam, Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound, Four Sisters, Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls, Lion Mountain, Copper Point, Seal Rock, and more along the way.
When choosing a Lake Wakatipu cruise, you’ll find two distinct experiences—sailing aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw or a modern boat like the Million Dollar Cruise. While both offer stunning views, the journey itself is what sets them apart.
Towering over the lake, this famous mountain range is known for its peaks and year-round snow-capped summits. A must-see for photographers and nature lovers.
The standard cruise includes a return trip across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw. You’ll have access to all public areas on the ship, including the engine room, viewing decks, and historical displays. Food and additional activities like farm tours or BBQ dining must be booked separately.
Cruise-only tickets cover the scenic 90-minute return cruise on Lake Wakatipu. If you upgrade to include the Walter Peak experience, you’ll get a guided farm tour or a gourmet BBQ meal, plus more time to explore the lakeside homestead.
Yes, the Promenade Café aboard the TSS Earnslaw offers delicious food and a bar. Please note that the café is cash-free, so be prepared to use electronic payment methods.
Absolutely! You can enhance your experience by combining the cruise with activities at Walter Peak, such as a Gourmet BBQ Dining experience, a guided Farm Tour, or the conservation-focused Eco Experience.
If your cruise is cancelled due to weather or operational reasons, you’ll be offered a full refund or the option to reschedule your booking.
Yes, the lake cruise is suitable for all ages, making it a family-friendly activity.
There is limited free street parking available in the streets surrounding central Queenstown. Paid parking is available in the Man Street and Church Street parking buildings, as well as pay-and-display parking at the Boundary Street and Ballarat Street carparks. Please allow an additional 30 minutes to find parking prior to your check-in time.
Yes, restrooms are available on board the TSS Earnslaw for passenger convenience.
Pets are not permitted on the TSS Earnslaw, with the exception of certified service animals.
Food was unbelievable. Boat trip great, unfortunate the Earnslaw was out for maintenance.
Great boat trip. Awesome meal. A little bit rushed though. Could have done with another 15-30 minutes to look around & view gift shop properly at the end.
Very happy good food and place
This is misleading. The ticket said TSS Earnslaw but the steam boat was being repaired. The ticket also said the Spirit of Queenstown but lower down the ticket, hence misleading. We would not have booked this and spent $447 if we had realised it wasn't the steam boat experience.
When boarding an amercain woman was so rude ,yelling BEHIND THE LINE, she was so rude ,frowning & gruff ,we were treated like cattle ,all the other hosts were lovely
As an avid traveler this is one of the best excursions we've done the whole thing was great value for money professionally done and I would recommend it to anyone
The whole trip was a great experience, well worth doing. On the way over to the farm the Earnslaw skipper gives you a good factual commentary about the area and the workings of the steamer. Walter Peak was a picturesque destination. The gourmet bbq lunch was great. Really enjoyed the farm show, especially informative for tourist's. Gift shop was definitely worth a look. Something for everyone.
What an amazing experience from start to finish! The boat ride, Walter Peak, the beautiful views and the food were phenomenal. Highly recommend!
The whole package. The lunch was great, with plenty of variety for all. Staff were very friendly and welcoming. The farm show was cute, as I was a farm girl 50 odd years ago.
It was a lovely experience sailing on the grand old lady of the lake the TSS Earnslaw. The views were magnificent of Queenstown, the mountain ranges and Walter Peak. Our meal was fabulous, Walter Peak Station homestead is beautiful and the staff were all lovely. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.
The four hour activity was excellent cruising across to Walers Peak in a coal driven steam boat. Watching the coal be delivered on the TSS Earnslaw prior boarding added to the experience as did viewing the engine room & reading the information boards. Chris provided a relaxful atmosphere as he sang & played the guitar on our journey. Chris was fantastic & enhanced our experience with a warm and fuzzy feeling. The gourmet BBQ was sensational, succulent meats, delicious sides & amazing desserts, all plentiful. Staff well presented, friendly & helpful. Immaculate venue with beautiful gardens. Farmer Cory and his sheepdog did a wonderful information show. Highlight of our NZ holiday and a Must Do for every traveller.
The views are amazing. The boat ride was stunning. The food was spectacular. The butterscotch steam pudding was delicious. So many goodies on the menu. Thank you so much. It was my 50 th birthday so lovely celebrating with all my friends
The booking process was painless and the disembarking of passengers from the Earnslaw and boarding of new passengers was very efficiently handled. With one exception we found staff generally helpful and kind. They worked hard, especially the man in the engine room stoking the fireboxes for the boilers. Having access to the engine room was a memorable experience and information about the Earnslaw was readily available. What impressed us most was the attention to detail including the staff coming out to wave a welcome to guests as the Earnslaw approached Walter Peak Station. Feeding 250 people was no mean feat. The food was excellent and there was plenty of it. Finally, the giftshop was well stocked and the farm show informative and we'll-presented. A Korean couple sat next to us at dinner. We asked them what they liked so far. The husband replied, "it's like heaven!" You couldn't get a better accolade than that!
Great cruise on the old steamer...... there and back!!! Just a perfect day!!! We got a great seat at the Homestead restaurant...... with a front seat view of the Lake....topped off by the best BBQ lunch we've had in ages!! The BBQ meats along with the rest of the meal were "to die for". The sheep shearing and dog demonstration was a great addition. Don't change anything. We had a glorious day!!! Thanks so much.
Cruise Lake Wakatipu on a steamship or catamaran with gourmet BBQ and a farm show at Walter Peak.
Inclusions
Exclusions
Timothy
Donna
Hanny
It was great to take my elderly father on the trip to Walter Peak station On the catamaran intercom was difficult to hear, when the history was been been told, the only dissappointment of the trip
The boat ride, the view, the farm tour and the food was all amazing. Checking in was so simple. No dramas. Just an amazing carefree afternoon. Hope to go again sometime but on the tss earnslaw boat once it's repaired. That would take the experience so much more.
Was great especially for the kids, loved how they could feed the animals
I had anticipated a BBQ Lunch, but it was nto clear until the guests were segregated that the Farm tour came only with tea. It was a bit embarassing.
Ticketing was was easy. The ship was gear. Very exciting to see the boiler room. Stoking the coal and the engines running. The farm excellent. Quinn was great. Plenty of animals to see and shearing the sheep was interesting. Kim the sheep dog was good too. Overall great experience
we were happy with the ticketing with headout. As an older couple not completely savvy with the internet an on line ticketing we found headout easy to use. the Earnslaw cruise to Walter Peak farm was awesome and my husband love going in to the engine room wher you saw the crew putting the coal into the big furnaces. The Farm tour was mainly geared for families with chidren so now we wished we had had the BBQ Lunch which we have been told is a must do. Next time .... WE enjoyed very much the dog and sheep show and the tour leader on the farm tour was very informative and happy to answer questions. all in all a good trip which we indeed would recomend
WE really enjoyed the farm tour and it was also very interesting to be able to watch the engine room of the coal fired steamer.
Everything! I booked half an hour before the experience. I received a phone call while I was waiting in line to see if I had made it to the jetty ready to board..ah yes...surprised at the followup. Like who does that, impressed team! Staff - friendly on the boat and on shore Farm tour - very informative, play time with the animals, i loved the care and safety of the animals from the tour guide (wondering if a translator would be helpful as saw an asian participant touch and pull horns when told not too). Timing was just right..not too long and not too short. Farm show - impressive, exceeded my expectations. Loved the amphitheater. Afternoon tea - wow what...loved it (the fresh scones were like my mum's homemade ones) Boat ride - added to the experience Overall a 10/10 experience and will highly recommend it to colleagues and family.
Excellent boat cruise, with the Captain providing good info. The welcome snacks at the farm were tasty, and warmly served. The shearer (guy from Wales) was absolutely brilliant. He made the visit so entertaining! The animals were adorable, especially the Scottish cattle (the male, Doogle!) and the Alpacas! The shearing demo was brilliant! Overall, a fantastic experience!
Fantastic trip! Kids & adults loved it. Great food, scenery & experience. Efficient, friendly & knowledgable team.
Various activities, food and overall experience on the cruise
Both cruise and farm tour are memorable
Very unique experience. We enjoyed the beautiful sceneries and the farm tour.
Easy to book online. Checking in was quick. Captains knowledge was informative. Music on board was lovely to listen to.
It was lovely to cruise on a historic steamer across a gorgeous lake to a beautiful farm. What's not to like?
Everything nice morning tea. Great tour guide
Boat experience and also farm tour and feeding animals
The experience on the farm was especially wonderful. The interaction with the animals, the sheep show, and the tea time were great.
Great experience great staff. Would recommend the trip as essential when in Queenstown
Great experience with amazing views and very friendly staff.
Nice lake cruise, good afternoon tea, enjoyed the farm experience
Cruise Lake Wakatipu, explore a working farm, and enjoy afternoon tea in alpine surrounds.
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Exclusions
Hayley
Joan
Prashant
Food was unbelievable. Boat trip great, unfortunate the Earnslaw was out for maintenance.
It was great to take my elderly father on the trip to Walter Peak station On the catamaran intercom was difficult to hear, when the history was been been told, the only dissappointment of the trip
The boat ride, the view, the farm tour and the food was all amazing. Checking in was so simple. No dramas. Just an amazing carefree afternoon. Hope to go again sometime but on the tss earnslaw boat once it's repaired. That would take the experience so much more.
Great boat trip. Awesome meal. A little bit rushed though. Could have done with another 15-30 minutes to look around & view gift shop properly at the end.
Very happy good food and place
Was great especially for the kids, loved how they could feed the animals
I had anticipated a BBQ Lunch, but it was nto clear until the guests were segregated that the Farm tour came only with tea. It was a bit embarassing.
This is misleading. The ticket said TSS Earnslaw but the steam boat was being repaired. The ticket also said the Spirit of Queenstown but lower down the ticket, hence misleading. We would not have booked this and spent $447 if we had realised it wasn't the steam boat experience.
When boarding an amercain woman was so rude ,yelling BEHIND THE LINE, she was so rude ,frowning & gruff ,we were treated like cattle ,all the other hosts were lovely
Cruise Lake Wakatipu with optional add-ons like a farm tour, BBQ meal, or horse trek.
Inclusions
Walter Peak Farm Tour (if option selected)
Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Meal (if option selected)
Walter Peak Horse Trekking Tour (if option selected)
Exclusions
Hayley
Timothy
Donna
everything is perfect friendly host and beautiful places
Great day. Very informative 😀😀
Good value and great service. The commentary kept us all entertained
Great little cruise around Lake Wakatipu with Captain Troy providing an exceptional experience with his knowledge and assitance throughout. SHout out also to Bri who managed the bar superbly.
The commentary was great very informative and the trip was beautiful
Scenic 90-minute cruise with breathtaking views of Lake Wakatipu and expert local commentary onboard.
Inclusions
90-minute cruise from Queenstown
Expert local guides
Live commentary
Exclusions
Horse trackingblob:https://reviews.headout.com/391eb609-af44-470e-984f-945c82e97694
Explore Lake Wakatipu aboard a century-old steamship with horse trekking at Walter Peak.
Inclusions
45-minute horse trekking tour
Nature guide
Small group of up to 6 people
Freshly baked morning or afternoon tea (homemade scones, cakes, sandwiches, and slices)
Safety helmet and wet weather clothing
90-minute TSS Earnslaw cruise across Lake Wakatipu
Live commentary on the cruise
Exclusions
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
Very easy to book on line. Very organised throughout the day, cruise lovely. Eco tour with Stephan was fantastic, lot's of interesting information about the plants, native trees and garden's of Walter Peak. Highlight was the amazing afternoon tea which was enough for two.
A unique experience. The ambience, information and hospitality onboard the Earnslaw and ashore at Walter Peak was the highlight of our Queenstown trip. Planting a native tree and dedicating it to my dearly loved father in law gave the visit a special connection. Food was amazing. Worth every dollar.
The whole experience was great ,the noise of the engine to the brilliant staff, thanks for the memories.
Interesting how they grow vegetables and delicious afternoon tea. Liked music on the Earnslaw.
Explore Lake Wakatipu aboard a century-old steamship and enjoy a unique eco experience at Walter Peak.
Inclusions
Native flora & fauna tour
Tree/shrub planting
Nature guide
Light lunch
90-minute TSS Earnslaw cruise across Lake Wakatipu
Live commentary on the cruise
Exclusions
Jane
Nicola
