Walter Peak Eco Experience

Guests at Walter Peak’s Eco Experience select native trees to plant, surrounded by lush gardens and breathtaking mountain scenery.

Fall in love with nature Walter Peak Eco Experience Book now

Two people toast with wine glasses at a rustic outdoor table, surrounded by scenic green hills and a sunny countryside.

Local & homegrown produce Enjoy A Light Lunch Book now

A couple explores Walter Peak’s Eco Experience greenhouse, harvesting fresh vegetables and enjoying a hands-on sustainable experience.

Explore the market garden From Garden To Plate Book now

Guests participate in tree planting at Walter Peak’s Eco Experience, set against a stunning lake and mountain backdrop.

Walk along the reforested peninsula Plant A Native Book now

Panoramic views of Queenstown & Lake Whakatipu Lakeside Setting Book now

Home / Experiences / TSS Earnsla… / Walter Peak Eco Experience

Take a short cruise across Lake Whakatipu to one of Queenstown’s most secluded eco destinations, Walter Peak High Country Farm. Be welcomed by our rural team, who will take you to explore the sprawling gardens and tell you all about the grown produce and native plants.

Your choice of return lake cruise aboard either the TSS Earnslaw or the Spirit of Queenstown
Explore our expansive market garden and see how produce goes from garden to plate
Walk along the reforested peninsula and plant a native seedling (optional)
Learn about native wildlife and conservation in New Zealand with your knowledgeable host
Enjoy a high-country tea selection made up of homegrown and local produce

Book now

Situated on picturesque Lake Whakatipu’s southwestern shores, Walter Peak High Country Farm is an idyllic place to spend a few peaceful hours. The Walter Peak Eco Experience allows you to immerse yourself in nature, learn more about New Zealand conservation, and contribute to biodiversity, only a short cruise from Queenstown.

After your 45-minute journey across Lake Whakatipu, you’ll be welcomed by our rural host on the shore, who’ll give you a tour of the diverse Restaurant Garden and showcase Walter Peak’s native plants. At this point, you’ll have your own part to play in Walter Peak’s Land Restoration Project by planting a native tree or shrub on the stunning peninsula.

Finish off the experience with a walk to the rustic Walter Peak buildings for a delicious light lunch made up of homegrown and local produce. Stroll through the lakeside gardens before you cruise back across Lake Whakatipu onboard the iconic TSS Earnslaw.

Extra Information

The tour is suitable for all ages
A licensed café on board the TSS Earnslaw provides great refreshments

Departure Location

RealNZ Visitor Centre on Steamer Wharf, 88 Beach Street, Queenstown

If you have pre-purchased tickets, please meet us in front of the TSS Earnslaw, Steamer Wharf Dock

What to bring

Sensible Shoes/boots (non-slip)
Warm clothing/jacket
Sunscreen/sunglasses
Camera
Personal medication including for asthma and allergies

About the TSS Earnslaw

The TSS Earnslaw is an integral part of Queenstown’s pioneering history and to this day a Queenstown icon.

She was commissioned by New Zealand Railways to service the communities around Lake Whakatipu. Launched in the same year as the Titanic, the TSS Earnslaw’s maiden voyage was on 18 October 1912.

Soon known as The Lady of the Lake, she provided an essential link between the isolated farming communities along the lake and the outside world. At 48 metres long, she was the biggest boat on the Lake and carried passengers, sheep, cattle, mail and supplies.

Nearly scrapped in 1968, she was rescued and purchased by ReaNZ and put to work once again carrying passengers around the Lake. Since then the TSS Earnslaw has been painstakingly restored to its original condition – everything you see is pretty much like it was 100 years ago. Today, the TSS Earnslaw is the only coal fired steamship in operation in the southern hemisphere, making her one of the most unique experiences in the world.

The TSS Earnslaw has featured in several movies including a cameo in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as an Amazon River Boat. Parts of the trawler SS Venture in Peter Jackson’s King Kong were inspired by the TSS Earnslaw. Famous composer Ron Goodwin composed a piece of music inspired by the rhythm of the TSS Earnslaw’s engines.

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About Walter Peak High Country Farm

Walter Peak High Country Farm, on the south-western shores of Lake Whakatipu, is steeped in history. Its sheltered bays were used as camping sites by Māori travelling to the Mararoa and Oreti Rivers on Moa hunting and pounamu (greenstone) gathering expeditions.

European settlement commenced in the 1860s with initial farming attempts by Von Tunzelman. Stock deaths, snowstorms and lack of money eventually forced him off the land.

Following a quick succession of owners, Walter Peak Station was taken over in the late 1880s by the Mackenzies. This family is credited with developing many of the principles of successful high country farming during their 80 years working the property.

At its peak, the station was one of New Zealand’s most famous with 170,000 acres, 40,000 sheep and up to 50 fulltime employees. The original homestead block of Walter Peak Station is now known as Walter Peak High Country Farm.

Over time various permanent homes were established and these included the Colonel’s Homestead with its beautiful lakeside gardens. Originally built in 1902, it was carefully reconstructed in 1977 following an accidental fire.

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In case you haven't found the information you were looking for, we've put together some of the most common questions our customers ask about our trips. If you need more specific answers, please contact us directly.

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What is the weather like in Queenstown?

Queenstown has a climate with four distinct seasons however, being located in an alpine environment means the weather can be changeable. A guide for the temperatures you can expect is as follows: summer (December-February) 19-29 Celsius, autumn (March-May) 15-25 Celsius, winter (June-August) 5-10 Celsius, spring (September-November) 9-15 Celsius.

Where is the car parking in Queenstown?

Please allow an additional 30 minutes to find parking for your vehicle prior to your check in time.

There is limited free street parking available in the streets surrounding central Queenstown. There is paid parking available in the Man Street and Church Street parking buildings plus pay and display parking at the Boundary Street and Ballarat Street carparks.

Boundary Street and Ballarat Street carparks are suitable for motorhomes. Please allow 15 minutes to walk to the RealNZ office from there.

How long does it take to travel to Queenstown?

Queenstown is around a 2.5 hour drive from Te Anau or around 1hr 15 minutes from Wanaka. For more travel locations please refer to our Driving Times webpage.

Does the TSS Earnslaw operate every day?

The TSS Earnslaw is scheduled to operate every day of the year (except when she undergoes annual maintenance). During the survey, the TSS Earnslaw and Walter Peak High Country Farm experiences will not be operating.

Online transactions/prices are conducted in what currency?

All prices and transactions on the RealNZ website are in New Zealand dollars (NZD). This is specified on the Terms & Conditions page.

What happens if there is an emergency?

Our staff are trained to deal with incidents and in case of an emergency you should listen to their instructions.
We have a portable defibrillator on each of our overnight cruise vessels (Milford Mariner, Milford Wanderer and Fiordland Navigator).
In addition to this we also have portable defibrillators at the following locations:
•    Milford Sound Visitor Terminal
•    RealNZ Visitor Centre, Manapouri
•    Cavern House (Te Anau Glowworm Caves)
•    Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant, Walter Peak
•    TSS Earnslaw Vintage Steamship
•    Stewart Island Ferry (Bluff - Oban - Bluff)

What happens if my travel is disrupted by COVID-19?

If your travel plans are disrupted by COVID-19, our standard cancellation policy applies. This includes flexible cancellation options designed to accommodate unexpected changes. To ensure you are fully covered for any unforeseen circumstances, we strongly encourage you to obtain travel insurance. Travel insurance can help cover any costs incurred from having to cancel or reschedule your trip due to COVID-19, giving you peace of mind.

For more details on our cancellation policy and the specific terms and conditions, please refer to our Terms and conditions page or contact our customer service team.

Accepted Payment Methods

Please note that the TSS Earnslaw, the Spirit of Queenstown, and Walter Peak are cashless and we reserve the right to refuse cash as a means of payment when purchasing products or services at these locations.