Cruise across Lake Whakatipu, then sheepdogs, shearing and animal feeding at the high-country farm. Great with kids, and worth a closer look before you book without them.
This tour
RealNZFarm tour + lake cruise
3.5 hours (about 45 minutes on the water each way)
The farm tour is the classic Walter Peak day: about 45 minutes across Lake Whakatipu, then a guided farm visit with a sheepdog demonstration, sheep shearing when the weather allows and animal feeding, and afternoon tea before the boat back. The whole trip runs about 3.5 hours including both crossings, and its product page confirms free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
It is also the experience where expectations decide the review. One family sums it up as a great day out for the kids; some adults without children describe the very same programme as small-scale. This page lays out what happens ashore, what the critical reviews say, and the boat detail worth checking before you pay.
The farm tour ticket
Each card lists the time ashore, the duration and what is included. Open one for the full product details.
RealNZ
Farm tour + lake cruise
The classic: sheepdog demonstration, sheep shearing (weather permitting), feeding the animals and afternoon tea, 3.5 hours including both crossings.
Duration: 3.5 hours (about 45 minutes on the water each way)
The classic combination: a cruise across Lake Whakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm, then a guided farm experience with a sheepdog demonstration, sheep shearing (weather permitting) and animal feeding, followed by afternoon tea before the boat back. The crossing takes about 45 minutes each way.
One thing to check at booking: the crossing runs either on the catamaran Spirit of Queenstown or on the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw. If riding the steamship is part of the appeal for you, pick the TSS Earnslaw option deliberately. Note that during the ship's annual maintenance (18 May to 27 June 2026) all crossings run on the Spirit of Queenstown.
Departure point
RealNZ Visitor Centre, 88 Beach Street, Queenstown. The boat to Walter Peak leaves from here.
Know before you go
Two boat options at booking: catamaran Spirit of Queenstown, or the steamship TSS Earnslaw. Choose deliberately if the steamship matters to you.
Sheep shearing is weather-dependent; the farm programme is adjusted on rough days.
Afternoon tea is a light refreshment stop, not a meal replacement.
The boats are cashless, and parking near the wharf is limited, so plan to arrive on foot or be dropped off.
Details as RealNZ publishes them on the GetYourGuide product page.
What happens ashore
After the crossing, the visit runs as a guided programme on the lakeside farm. One reviewer lists feeding donkeys, goats, Highland cows, sheep and pigs; the sheepdog demonstration comes up in several reviews, and sheep shearing runs when the weather allows. On rough days that part simply does not happen. Afternoon tea rounds off the visit before the return sailing. Plan your meals around it: the afternoon tea is a light refreshment stop, not a lunch substitute.
Group size, timing, and who this is for
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Large groups and loose timing
One reviewer puts the group at around forty people, moving together from feeding to tour to show, which can leave only moments close to each animal. Another describes the afternoon as loosely timed, with no clear announcement of when the next part starts. And two reviewers from Australia and New Zealand, used to farms, question the value, in words as blunt as “there are much better farm experiences available”. None of this contradicts the five-star reviews: it is the same programme, seen from different expectations. If close-up animal time in a small group is what you are after, this is not that.
Two more expectation-setters from the reviews: sheep shearing depends on the weather (two five-star reviewers separately mention missing it), and the visit is compact rather than a working-farm deep dive. Adults travelling without children who mainly want the lake and a meal may be happier with the gourmet BBQ lunch; ship-first travellers with the cruise only.
Catamaran or steamship
The crossing runs either on the catamaran Spirit of Queenstown or on the steamship TSS Earnslaw. You choose at booking, and the difference is easy to miss in the checkout. If the steamship matters to you, pick a TSS Earnslaw departure deliberately. During the ship’s annual survey, 18 May to 27 June 2026, all crossings run on the catamaran; the farm programme itself continues as normal. Details on the timetable and maintenance page.
★
In short
Book the farm tour if you are travelling with children, or if a first, easy look at a high-country station is exactly what you want. Eat before or after, because the afternoon tea is a light stop. Go in knowing the groups can be large and the shearing depends on the weather. If either of those would spoil it, the comparison page walks through the alternatives.
The farm tour against the other variants
Sorted by number of reviews. Tap a column header to re-sort.
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Experience
What's in it
Rating ↕
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Book
Gourmet BBQ + lake cruise
Cruise both ways, BBQ at the Colonel's Homestead, lunch or dinner · 3.5 h
Walter Peak fares in this table come live from GetYourGuide and include taxes and booking fees. The amount at checkout also depends on the boat and the departure you pick. “What’s in it” is a short version of the listing title. The product page has the full list of inclusions for each Walter Peak variant.
Families, farm folk and first-timers on the farm tour
Real traveller reviews from GetYourGuide.
★ 4.8
(1,171 reviews)
★★★★★
“Fantastic experience! Excellent entertainment onboard the steam boat, knowledgeable guide and delicious afternoon tea.”
Rhiannon · Australia · September 2026
★★★★★
“The trip on the Ennislaw was a delight. On board singer/pianist a surprise and delightful. Josh took us round the farm, was informative, engaging and great at managing some of the slightly unrulier guests. … the whole excursion was well organised and yet never rushed.”
Ann · United Kingdom · September 2026
★★★★★
“Lovely scenic trip across the lake on the steamboat TSS Earnslaw, then landed over at Walter Peak Farm. … I went for the farm tour - got to feed the animals - donkeys, goats, Highland cows, sheep, pigs…. Followed by a delicious afternoon tea in the cafe - best sweet scones I’ve ever had! Ended the activity with a farm dog show …”
Erin · Australia · July 2026
★★★★★
“All round Great farm tour, shearing/dog show and afternoon tea. Our kids had a great day out. The boat cruise over is an added bonus on an amazing old boat with great views around the lake.”
Nathan · Australia · August 2026
★★★★★
“Awesome experience! Shame the weather didn't cooperate so we didn't see the sheep get sheared, however, the whole experience was great and the food was delish.”
Melinda · New Zealand · September 2026
★★★★★
“The piano performance was fantastic!! I enjoyed a lot, but I wish I could see the sheep shearing.”
Hisayo · Japan · September 2026
★★☆☆☆
Critical review
“The farm in itself is very nice and well kept. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The biggest issue is the clear money grab system. The group is way too big (40ish) to fully enjoy the animals (3 or 4 at a time). … you feel like a flock of sheep going from this to the tour to the show with no time to fully immerse into anything.”
Elea · Australia · September 2026
★★★☆☆
Critical review
“Loved the sheep shearing and herding,But, the whole day was very disorganised. … We were not given an idea on when anything was going to happen. We nearly missed the farm tour as we had got bored having a tea for an hour! After that the tour was very sweet and the show excellent. We needed a proper organiser”
Juliet · United Kingdom · January 2026
★★★☆☆
Critical review
“The cruise is nice but the animal farm experience is not worth it. Would have been better off just doing a cruise, there are much better farm experiences available.”
Verified traveler · Australia · December 2025
★★☆☆☆
Critical review
“The animals were good. It really was not an exciting tour for an Aussie. … I think $200 to ride a boat for 15mins, see a couple of animals barely get to interact with them, eat a basic high tea and watch a sheep get sheared and a dog rounding up cattle is a bit rich maybe bringing the price point down a little bit.”
Verified traveler · New Zealand · August 2025
The five-star reviews praise the steamship crossing, engaging guides, the animals and the afternoon tea. The critical reviews raise four points. Groups can be large (one reviewer puts the group at around forty), which leaves little time close to the animals; the afternoon can pass with little sense of when the next part starts; sheep shearing and parts of the show depend on the weather and are not guaranteed; and two reviewers from Australia and New Zealand who know farms question the value. If any of those would spoil the visit for you, weigh them before booking.
Quotes from the GetYourGuide pages of the Walter Peak products. Long reviews are shortened (marked with …), the wording is unchanged, and names are cut to first name and country.
FAQ
What animals do you see on the Walter Peak farm tour?
One reviewer lists feeding donkeys, goats, Highland cows, sheep and pigs, plus the sheepdog demonstration and, weather permitting, sheep shearing. The animal contact happens in a guided group, so expect moments with each animal rather than unhurried one-on-one time.
Is sheep shearing guaranteed?
No. Shearing runs when the weather allows, and reviews from otherwise delighted guests mention missing it. If seeing a sheep shorn is the one thing you are coming for, know that no departure can promise it.
How big are the groups?
This is a large-group operation. One critical reviewer puts the group at around forty people moving through the programme together, which left that reviewer little time close to the animals. Small-group animal time is not what this product sells.
Is the farm tour good for adults without children?
Sometimes, with the right expectations. The programme is built around close, easy animal contact, which is exactly what children respond to. Some adults without children describe it as small-scale and petting-zoo-like. If that might be you, the BBQ lunch or the cruise-only ticket may fit better.
Is food included in the farm tour?
Afternoon tea is included (one reviewer singles out the scones), but it is a light refreshment stop, not a meal. If you want a proper meal at Walter Peak, the gourmet BBQ experience is built around exactly that.
Can I cancel the farm tour?
Yes. The product page confirms free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Weather cancellations on the day are rebooked or refunded by the operator.
Will the crossing be on the TSS Earnslaw steamship?
Only if you book it. Crossings run on the catamaran Spirit of Queenstown or on the TSS Earnslaw, and the choice is made at booking. From 18 May to 27 June 2026 the steamship is in its annual survey and all crossings run on the catamaran, while the farm programme continues as normal.
