Is the TSS Earnslaw Worth It?
The TSS Earnslaw costs NZ$129 for 90 minutes on a 1912 coal-fired steamship. Who gets their money's worth, who should take the cheaper scenic cruise instead, and when Walter Peak is worth adding.
For most first-time visitors to Queenstown, yes, the TSS Earnslaw is worth it, as long as the ship itself interests you. You pay NZ$129 for 90 minutes on a coal-fired steamship from 1912, with the engine room open to passengers. If you only want to see Lake Whakatipu from the water, there are cheaper boats.
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Quick verdict
You pay for the vessel more than for the view. On board you can walk the decks, stand above the twin engines while the stokers feed the fireboxes by hand, and look round the photo displays on the way across. The lake scenery comes with it; the ship is what you cannot get elsewhere.
The TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu (from US$70 on GetYourGuide, 4.7/5 from more than 1,400 reviews) suits you if you:
- like history, engineering or old ships
- want something in Queenstown you cannot do anywhere else
- are visiting for the first time
- are travelling with several generations, since nobody needs to be fit or adventurous
- plan to go on to Walter Peak for the farm or a meal
You may get less from it if:
- you care only about the scenery
- you are on a tight budget
- old ships and machinery leave you cold
- you want an adrenaline activity; Queenstown’s jet boats and bungy suit that better
TSS Earnslaw vs cheaper lake cruises
The Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise is the cheaper way onto the lake: from US$46 against US$70 for the Earnslaw on GetYourGuide (about NZ$79 against NZ$129), with a 4.8/5 rating from about 400 reviews. It is also 90 minutes long, on a modern boat with big windows, and it follows a different route, through Queenstown Bay, past Kelvin Heights and the Frankton Arm. Take it if the view is what you want. Take the Earnslaw if you want the ship.
The Spirit of Queenstown is a different comparison. RealNZ uses the modern catamaran on Walter Peak departures, where it crosses in about 35 minutes against the Earnslaw’s 45. On those trips the catamaran option is often a little cheaper than the Earnslaw one, though the gap varies by listing and date. The bigger difference is character: panoramic windows and a quicker crossing, or the engine room and the 1912 saloons. Our TSS Earnslaw vs Spirit of Queenstown page goes through the differences.
Is Walter Peak worth adding?
For many visitors, yes. On a cruise-only ticket you stay on board while the ship turns at the farm wharf. Adding Walter Peak gives the trip a destination: you get off, spend time at the high-country farm and catch a later sailing back.
- Families: the Queenstown Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Tour (from US$82, 4.8/5 from more than 1,100 reviews; NZ$139 with RealNZ) adds sheep, a sheepdog demonstration and morning or afternoon tea in the old woolshed. Plan on about 3½ hours.
- Couples and food lovers: the Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise (from US$99, 4.8/5 from more than 3,100 reviews; NZ$175 with RealNZ) adds a buffet lunch or dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead and the farm dog show. Plan on 3½ to 4 hours.
The farm tour costs NZ$36 less than the BBQ; take the BBQ if a sit-down meal matters more to you than time with the animals. Our farm tour vs Gourmet BBQ comparison sets the two side by side.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A working 1912 steamship, still coal-fired | Costs more than the Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise |
| The engine room is open to passengers | The cruise-only sailing lasts about 90 minutes |
| Lake Whakatipu and mountain scenery | The heritage layout has fewer big windows than a modern boat |
| Leaves from the wharf in central Queenstown | The outside decks can be cold, even in summer |
| Combines with the Walter Peak farm, BBQ and horse trek | Out of service for her annual survey (18 May to 26 June in 2026) |
During the survey weeks, cruise-only sailings on the Earnslaw stop and Walter Peak trips cross on the Spirit of Queenstown. Check the vessel named on your booking option if you travel in late May or June.
Is it good for families?
Yes, especially if your children like boats or machinery. They can watch the stokers through the engine-room rails and see the gauges and the flywheel turning. The Walter Peak Farm Tour is usually the stronger family combination, because the sheep, the working dogs and the tea and scones keep younger children busy once the novelty of the ship wears off.
Is it good for couples?
Yes, especially with the Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ. The 7pm summer dinner sailing, from about November to February, is the one to choose if you want the return crossing in the evening light. Our evening cruise guide explains which sailings come closest to sunset.
Best season
- Summer (December to February): the warmest decks and the longest days, with sailings as late as 9pm.
- Winter (July to mid-September): snow on the mountains around the lake, but only three midday sailings a day and cold decks.
- Spring and autumn: milder than winter, quieter than peak summer and with more sailings than the winter months.
Frequently asked questions
Is the TSS Earnslaw worth the price?
Yes, if the historic ship is part of why you are going. At NZ$129 for 90 minutes, you are paying for the engine room and the 1912 steamship as much as for the scenery.
Is there a cheaper lake cruise in Queenstown?
Yes. The Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise costs from US$46 (about NZ$79) for 90 minutes on a modern boat. On Walter Peak trips, the Spirit of Queenstown options can also cost a little less than the Earnslaw’s.
Should I add Walter Peak?
Usually, if you have half a day and the farm or a meal appeals to you. The farm tour starts from NZ$139 and the Gourmet BBQ from NZ$175, against NZ$129 for the cruise only.
Can you see the engines?
Yes. The engine room is open to passengers on every sailing, and you can watch the stokers shovelling coal from the walkway above.
Is the TSS Earnslaw overrated?
It can feel expensive if historic transport does not interest you. If it does, nothing else on the lake is quite like it.
Ready to compare tickets? Our TSS Earnslaw tickets and prices guide lists every option, and the complete TSS Earnslaw guide covers the ship from boarding to the return crossing.
Cross the Lake. Eat by the Fire.
The Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ is rated 4.8/5 by more than 3,100 guests. A 45-minute crossing each way, a wood-fired buffet at the Colonel's Homestead, and a working farm demonstration — with free cancellation up to 24 hours before you sail.
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