Lake Wakatipu Cruise & Walter Peak Farm: Gourmet BBQ Lunch

Cross the lake to a working farm, watch sheep dogs in action, then grill-roasted meat on a lakeside terrace

A 3.5-hour return cruise from Queenstown across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where you watch a live farm demonstration and eat a gourmet BBQ lunch at the Colonel's Homestead. You choose between sailing on the 1912 TSS Earnslaw Steamship or the modern Spirit of Queenstown Catamaran. Cruise, lunch, farm show and live English commentary are all included. Dietary requirements can be arranged in advance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Lake cruise and gourmet BBQ lunch

• Board chosen vessel in Queenstown
• Cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak
• Enjoy gourmet BBQ lunch at Colonel’s Homestead
• Attend farm demonstration with sheep dogs
• Explore lakeside gardens (optional)
• Cruise back to Queenstown

The experience

The boat leaves Queenstown Bay and crosses Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak, a working high country farm on the far shore. The journey itself is the first half of the experience. You're on the water for the outbound leg, watching the lake and the mountains close in. Once you arrive at Walter Peak, the farm demonstration starts: a rural demonstrator works sheep dogs through their paces and talks through life in the New Zealand high country, the kind of working knowledge that doesn't come across in photos. It's entertaining and genuine, not a staged performance.

Lunch happens at the Colonel's Homestead Restaurant, a lakeside terrace where the chef grills meat on an outdoor rotisserie while you sit down. The menu rotates with the season and includes salads, vegetables and grilled meats cooked to order. Vegetarian options are available. Finish with dessert and local cheeses. The food is built around Central Otago produce and wine, so it tastes like the place. After lunch, you can either join another farm activity or wander the lakeside gardens before the return cruise back to Queenstown.

You choose your vessel at checkout: the TSS Earnslaw is a 1912 steamship, iconic and narrow, with a different pace and character. The Spirit of Queenstown is a modern catamaran, roomier and faster. Both include live English commentary on board and interpretation handouts in seven languages. The whole outing runs 3.5 hours from start to finish, so it fits into an afternoon without eating the whole day.

What’s included

• Return cruise across Lake Wakatipu on your choice of vessel.
• gourmet BBQ lunch at the Colonel's Homestead with grilled meats, seasonal salads and vegetables, and dessert.
• live farm demonstration with sheep dogs.
• live English commentary on board and interpretation handouts in seven languages.
• GST.

Options for this experience

2 options

Modern cruise with a BBQ dinner includedGuide in English · 11:00 and 13:00BBQ Dining & Modern Cruise: Round-trip travel on the roomy, contemporary Spirit of Queenstown Catamaran, featuring outstanding viewing decks for capturing great photos

Cruise on the TSS with a BBQ dinnerGuide in English · 11:00 and 13:00Round-trip cruise aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw, a coal-fired steamship in service since 1912, which is part of the region's heritage

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00 and 13:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by RealNZ

Is this one for you?Book the TSS Earnslaw if you want the vintage steamship experience and don't mind a narrower, slower crossing. Choose the Spirit of Queenstown if you prefer a modern catamaran with more space and a faster journey. Both include the same lunch and farm demo, so the choice comes down to the vessel itself and how you want to spend the time on the water.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What is the farm demonstration like at Walter Peak?

A rural demonstrator works trained sheep dogs through their paces and explains life on a high country farm, giving you a working sense of how the property operates. It's live and interactive, not a video or a tour of empty paddocks.

Can I choose which boat I sail on?

Yes, you pick either the TSS Earnslaw, a vintage 1912 steamship, or the Spirit of Queenstown, a modern catamaran. Both make the same crossing and stop at Walter Peak. The choice is yours at checkout.

What does the BBQ lunch include?

The lunch features grilled meats cooked on an outdoor rotisserie, seasonal salads and vegetables, and dessert plus local cheeses. The menu changes with the season and chef's discretion. Vegetarian options are available. Alcoholic drinks can be purchased separately.

How long is the whole experience?

The tour runs 3.5 hours total, including the outbound cruise, the farm demonstration, lunch and the return journey to Queenstown.

What languages is the commentary available in?

Live commentary on board is in English, and interpretation handouts are provided in English, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Thai, Korean and Chinese.

Can I arrange for dietary requirements?

Yes, let the operator know in advance through messaging if you have dietary needs, and they will work with the chef to accommodate them.