Skip to content
EN
The classic — best with children

Walter Peak farm tour

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.

The farm tour is the classic Walter Peak day: about 45 minutes across Lake Whakatipu, then a guided farm visit — a sheepdog demonstration, sheep shearing when the weather allows, feeding the animals — 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 actually happens ashore, what the critical reviews say, and the boat detail worth checking before you pay.

The farm tour ticket

Every option side by side, with the same facts for each. Open a card for the full details.

Farm tour + lake cruise
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)
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
from NZ$ 139 ★ 4.8 (1,128 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

About this experience

The classic combination: a cruise across Lake Whakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm, then a guided farm experience — a sheepdog demonstration, sheep shearing (weather permitting), feeding the animals — and 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 — and 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 — Walter Peak can only be reached by boat 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 there is no parking at the wharf — plan to arrive on foot or be dropped off.

Content taken from the operator's product page on the booking platform.

What happens ashore

After the crossing, the visit runs as a guided programme on the lakeside farm. Reviewers describe 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

!
This is a large-group operation, and the critical reviews say so.

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 delighted family 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 is genuinely weather-dependent — 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.

Which boat will you be on?

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 — and eat before or after, because the afternoon tea is a light stop. Go in knowing the groups are 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.

Photo Experience What's in it Rating ↕ Price ↕ Book
Gourmet BBQ + lake cruise Gourmet BBQ + lake cruise Cruise both ways, BBQ at the Colonel's Homestead — lunch or dinner · 3.5 h ★ 4.8 (3,162) NZ$ 175 per person Book now →
TSS Earnslaw cruise only TSS Earnslaw cruise only Return steamship cruise, engine room to view, onboard museum — no shore stop · 1.5 h ★ 4.7 (1,405) NZ$ 119 per person Book now →
Farm tour + lake cruise Farm tour + lake cruise Cruise both ways, sheepdog demo, shearing (weather permitting), feeding, afternoon tea · 3.5 h ★ 4.8 (1,128) NZ$ 139 per person Book now →
Horse trek + lake cruise Horse trek + lake cruise Cruise both ways, 40–45-min guided trek, max 6 riders per guide · 3.5 h ★ 4.6 (305) NZ$ 279 per person Book now →
Garden to Table experience Garden to Table experience Cruise both ways, tree planting, garden lunch · 3.5 h ★ 4.8 (16) NZ$ 169 per person Book now →

All prices are live from GetYourGuide and include taxes and booking fees — the number here is the number at checkout. “What’s in it” summarises the product title — check the full inclusions on the product page.

What travellers say about the farm tour

Real traveller reviews from GetYourGuide.

★ 4.8 (1,128 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 praise is consistent: 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.

Reviews collected from the tours' GetYourGuide pages. Shortened for length (marked with …), wording unchanged; names reduced to first name and country.

FAQ

What animals do you see on the Walter Peak farm tour?

Reviewers describe 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, and the critical reviews say this leaves 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 — 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.

Related on this site

Which variant fits you? →

Cruise only, farm tour, BBQ or horse trek — the trade-offs, one by one.

Gourmet BBQ instead? →

A proper meal at the homestead — as lunch or dinner.

Timetable & maintenance →

When the steamship sails — and when the catamaran covers for her.

Sounds like your kind of day?

Check the farm tour against the other variants first.

See the comparison ↑