TSS Earnslaw Afternoon Tea at Walter Peak Farm
The Walter Peak afternoon tea is served in the farm's old woolshed, not on the TSS Earnslaw. What the farm tour includes, what the tea is like, and when the BBQ suits you better.
If you want an afternoon tea cruise in Queenstown, book the Walter Peak Farm Tour and expect a country tea at the farm, not a high tea on the boat. You cross Lake Whakatipu, walk the farmyard, watch the sheepdogs work (what you see on the farm) and then sit down to home baking in the old woolshed at Walter Peak High Country Farm.
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What is included in the farm tour
The Lake Cruise + Walter Peak Farm Tour (from US$82 on GetYourGuide, 4.8/5 from 1,148 reviews) bundles the whole outing. RealNZ lists it from NZ$139 on its own site. You get:
- a return lake cruise from Queenstown
- the guided Walter Peak farm tour
- time with the farm animals
- a sheepdog demonstration
- freshly baked morning or afternoon tea
- time in the lakeside gardens
You get morning or afternoon tea, depending on the sailing you book. If you would rather cross on a catamaran, the Walter Peak Farm Tour and Lake Cruise covers the same farm visit (US$82, 4.8/5 from 35 reviews, a much smaller review base than the main listing).
Is it a traditional high tea?
No. The tea is scones, cakes and slices, the kind of baking a high country station puts out for visitors. There are no tiered stands and no Champagne, and nobody dresses up. You eat at the farm in working clothes and walking shoes, and the setting is a woolshed with lake views. If a formal hotel high tea is what you have in mind, book one in town and treat Walter Peak as a farm visit with a good tea attached.
Can it replace lunch?
For a light eater, it can. For most people who expect a proper lunch, it will not: it is baking, with no hot food.
If the meal matters to you, compare the Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise (from US$99, 4.8/5 from 3,197 reviews). You get a full buffet at the Colonel’s Homestead plus the sheepdog show, and RealNZ lists it from NZ$175, NZ$36 more than the farm tour. Our menu guide covers what is on the buffet.
Farm tour and tea vs Gourmet BBQ
Book the farm tour if animals, children and a lighter, cheaper outing come first. It runs about 3½ hours.
Book the BBQ if you want a full lunch or dinner, are travelling as a couple, or the food is the reason for the trip. Our farm tour vs Gourmet BBQ comparison goes through the two in detail, and Walter Peak BBQ prices and what’s included sets the costs side by side.
FAQ
Is tea served on the TSS Earnslaw?
The farm tour’s tea is served at Walter Peak, not on the ship. The Earnslaw has a café and licensed bar where you can buy snacks and drinks during the crossing.
Is tea included in the Farm Tour price?
Yes. Morning or afternoon tea is part of the farm tour package.
How long does the experience take?
Around 3½ hours, including the return crossing.
Is it good for children?
Yes. The animals and the sheepdogs are the part most children remember, and the tea is an easy meal for them.
Is the TSS Earnslaw included?
A return cruise is included. Which boat you sail on depends on the departure and the listing you book, so check the vessel before you pay if the Earnslaw matters to you. If you only want the ship, the TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu (US$70, 4.7/5 from 1,418 reviews) is a 90-minute sailing that does not land at Walter Peak. Our TSS Earnslaw cruise page covers the ship itself.
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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