- Want to see a working New Zealand farm in action, not just sail past mountains — the sheepdog demonstration in the amphitheatre is the single most-cited highlight across visitor reviews
- Are traveling with kids or first-time visitors who'd enjoy hand-feeding sheep, alpacas, and Scottish Highland cattle
- Have a few hours to spare — the full Walter Peak add-on turns a 90-minute sightseeing cruise into a 3.5-hour half-day trip
- Want a sit-down meal with a view: the BBQ option turns the same cruise into a proper lunch or dinner outing
Experience the best Walter Peak Farm tours
Walter Peak Farm tours: Quick overview
- Access: Included in select tickets only
- Separate ticket: Not required — book a Walter Peak-inclusive ticket (Farm Tour, BBQ, or Horse Trek), no standalone farm entry sold
- Price difference: Approx. NZ$30-100+ more than a cruise-only ticket, depending on which Walter Peak experience you add
- Visit duration: Full Walter Peak tickets run 3 hrs 30 mins total (cruise-only is 1 hr 30 mins - 3 hrs 30 mins)
- Best time: Late-morning departure (around 12pm) for a full farmyard and sheepdog show without an evening rush back
- Physical requirements: Farm tour is on flat gravel paths; horse trek needs a 95kg weight limit and minimum age 7
Things to know before booking Walter Peak Farm tours
- Not every TSS Earnslaw ticket includes Walter Peak. The base Lake Wakatipu cruise (cruise-only) and the Million Dollar Cruise are sightseeing-only and never call at the farm. Only tickets that specifically list a Walter Peak Farm Tour, Gourmet BBQ, Horse Trek, or Garden to Table experience include the farm stop.
- There are four Walter Peak variants, and they don't overlap. The Farm Tour is the standard version: a guided walk, animal feeding, sheepdog demonstration, and afternoon tea. The Gourmet BBQ swaps afternoon tea for a full buffet lunch or dinner at the Colonel's Homestead. The Horse Trek replaces the farm walk with a 40-minute guided ride and a shorter tea. The Garden to Table experience focuses on native gardens and a light seasonal lunch rather than livestock.
- The Horse Trek carries its own restrictions: a 95kg maximum weight, a minimum age of seven, and a minimum height of around 120cm. Riders are weighed with jackets and belongings on.
- All Walter Peak tickets are timed sailings on the TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown. Book at least a few days ahead in peak summer (December-February), since the farm tour and BBQ sittings sell out on popular midday departures. Prices run roughly NZ$30-100+ above the cruise-only fare, depending on the option chosen.
Is it worth it?
What you lose if you skip it: Without a Walter Peak ticket, your cruise turns around at the lake and heads straight back to Queenstown. You won't see the working sheepdog demonstration, feed the farm animals, walk the Colonel's Homestead gardens, or eat anything beyond what's sold on board — all of it happens on land at Walter Peak, and there's no way to access the farm without disembarking there.
Walter Peak Farm ticket options explained
| Experience | Walter Peak access | Additional features | Why go for it | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise-only | No | Vessel choice only | Cheapest way to see the lake | 1 hr 30 mins - 3 hrs 30 mins |
| Farm Tour | Yes | Guided farm tour, sheepdog show, afternoon tea | Best all-round farm experience | 3 hrs 30 mins |
| Gourmet BBQ | Yes | Gourmet BBQ buffet, farm show, Colonel's Homestead dining | Best for a proper meal with the trip | 3 hrs 30 mins |
| Horse Trek | Yes | 40-min guided horse trek, tea | Best for an active, hands-on add-on | 3 hrs 30 mins |
How to best experience Walter Peak
Exploring Walter Peak Farm
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The crossing
Your Walter Peak ticket starts with the same cruise as everyone else, aboard either the century-old TSS Earnslaw steamship or the modern Spirit of Queenstown catamaran. The Earnslaw's open engine room and live piano make the crossing itself part of the experience, while the Spirit of Queenstown trades that heritage feel for a more accessible, panoramic ride.
Arrival and the farmyard
Disembark at Walter Peak High Country Farm, on the lake's western shore, where a rural host walks you through the working farmyard. You'll get the chance to hand-feed sheep, deer, and alpacas, and meet the farm's Scottish Highland cattle up close.
The sheepdog demonstration
In the outdoor amphitheatre, a trained heading dog moves a flock of sheep across the hillside on whistle commands from the shepherd. It's consistently the highlight visitors mention, even among people with no prior interest in dogs or farming — genuine working skill on display, not a staged trick.
Afternoon tea (Farm Tour ticket)
On the standard Farm Tour, wind down with freshly baked scones, cakes, and slices, served either in the Mackenzie Room or the homestead gardens depending on the day. It's homemade on-site, not catered in.
Gourmet BBQ (BBQ ticket)
On the BBQ ticket, skip the scones for a full buffet lunch or dinner at the Colonel's Homestead, a restored 1902 station house overlooking the lake. Expect wood-fired meats, salads, and dessert, with vegetarian and dietary options available.
Horse trek
Instead of the farmyard walk, Horse Trek ticket-holders meet their guide and horse near the stables after disembarking. The 40-minute guided ride is a gentle, beginner-friendly loop across Walter Peak's rolling farmland to a lookout point over Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains — no riding experience is needed, and it's capped at small groups. A 95kg weight limit and minimum age of 7 apply, and riders are weighed with jackets and belongings on before mounting. The trek ends back at the stables in time for a shorter morning or afternoon tea before the return crossing.
The return crossing
All Walter Peak tickets sail back to Queenstown's Steamer Wharf the way they came, so factor the full round trip into your day rather than treating the farm stop as a quick stopover.
Historical & cultural significance of Walter Peak and the TSS Earnslaw
Walter Peak High Country Farm has operated as a working farm since the 1800s, predating the tourist route that now brings visitors across the lake. The TSS Earnslaw that carries them there is nearly as old: launched in 1912, the same year as the Titanic, it's the last coal-fired steamship still operating in the Southern Hemisphere, and the farm visit is still built around genuine daily station work rather than a recreation of it.
Know before you go
- TSS Earnslaw and Spirit of Queenstown sailings to Walter Peak run multiple times daily, generally between late morning and early evening
- Walter Peak-inclusive tickets (Farm Tour, BBQ, Horse Trek) are 3 hrs 30 mins door-to-door; cruise-only sailings range 1 hr 30 mins - 3 hrs 30 mins
- Farm tour, sheepdog show, and horse trek times are fixed to your specific sailing — arrive at Steamer Wharf on time or you'll miss the connecting activity ashore
- The TSS Earnslaw undergoes scheduled annual maintenance for several weeks each year; the Spirit of Queenstown or another vessel covers the route on those dates
- The Spirit of Queenstown is the more accessible vessel, easier to board with prams or mobility aids
- The TSS Earnslaw's heritage design (steps, narrower doorways) can be more difficult for visitors with limited mobility
- The farmyard tour involves walking on gravel paths, which may be challenging for wheelchair users
- The Horse Trek is not wheelchair accessible and has its own age, height, and weight requirements (see next tab)
- Farm Tour and BBQ tickets: mostly flat gravel and grass paths around the farmyard and gardens — moderate walking, no stairs or climbing
- Horse Trek: minimum age 7, minimum height approximately 120cm, maximum weight 95kg (riders are weighed with jackets and belongings on)
- Horse Trek groups are kept small and the ride is beginner-friendly, but riders should be comfortable being on a horse for around 40 minutes
- Both the vessels and Walter Peak are cashless — bring a card or phone payment method for anything not included in your ticket
- Cruises are subject to weather; in poor conditions you'll be offered a reschedule or full refund
- Comfortable, closed-toe shoes and a warm layer are recommended year-round — Lake Wakatipu's weather shifts quickly
Frequently asked questions about Walter Peak Farm tours
No. The cruise-only ticket and the Million Dollar Cruise don't stop at Walter Peak. You need a ticket that specifically includes the Farm Tour, Gourmet BBQ, or Horse Trek.
Any ticket listing "Walter Peak Farm Tour," "Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ," or "Walter Peak Horse Trekking." Check the inclusions before booking — the wording differs between similar-looking listings.
If you want to see a genuine working farm and sheepdog show, yes. If you only have an hour or two, the cruise-only or Million Dollar Cruise covers the lake views without the extra stop.
No. Walter Peak is only reachable by boat from Queenstown, so a Lake Wakatipu cruise (Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown) is always part of any Walter Peak ticket.
Full Walter Peak tickets run 3 hrs 30 mins total, versus as little as 1 hr 30 mins for the shortest cruise-only sailing — about 2 hours extra ashore and on the water.
Yes, especially in December-February. Midday farm tour and BBQ sittings sell out on popular dates, so booking a few days ahead is safer than relying on same-day availability.
Partly. The Spirit of Queenstown is more accessible than the heritage TSS Earnslaw, but the farmyard's gravel paths can be difficult for wheelchair users — check with the operator if you have concerns.
The Farm Tour is a walking visit with animal feeding and a sheepdog show. The Horse Trek swaps the walk for a 40-minute guided ride, with a 95kg weight limit and minimum age of 7.
