Lake Wakatipu Cruise & Walter Peak Farm: Gourmet BBQ Lunch

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/16

Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 100

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

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.

3h 30m

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.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair 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.