TSS Earnslaw and Walter Peak with Kids
Which Walter Peak trip to book with children, which boat to cross on, what to do with babies and pushchairs, the best season and what to pack for a family half-day on Lake Whakatipu.
Walter Peak is one of the easiest Queenstown half-days to book with children, because the activity changes every half hour or so. You board a historic steamship, cross Lake Whakatipu, meet the farm animals, watch the sheepdogs work, sit down to tea, wander the gardens and cruise back. Nobody has to sit still for three hours looking at mountains.
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The best family option
With younger children, book the Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Tour (from US$82, 4.80/5 from 1,149 reviews on GetYourGuide). It gives them animals, working dogs and a farm demonstration, with morning or afternoon tea in the old woolshed, and the whole trip takes around 3½ hours including both crossings.
With older children or teenagers who care about food, the Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise (from US$99, 4.82/5 from 3,207 reviews) can suit the family just as well. You pay about US$17 more per person and swap the farm walk for a full buffet lunch or dinner, with a short sheepdog and shearing show after the meal.
If your group splits between the two, our Farm Tour vs Gourmet BBQ comparison sets them side by side on price, time and what you do ashore.
Is the TSS Earnslaw good for kids?
Yes. Most scenic boats give children a window and not much else. The Earnslaw, a coal-fired steamship from 1912, gives them something to watch inside the vessel as well as out:
- the working steam engines
- the historic machinery
- the engine-room area, where you can watch the stokers shovel coal
- the lake and mountain views from the open decks
Keep small children close on the open decks and on the stairs down to the engine room, which are steep and busy when the boat is full.
TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown?
Choose the Earnslaw if your children like machines or boats and this is your first visit to Queenstown. The crossing takes about 45 minutes each way.
Choose the Spirit of Queenstown, a modern catamaran, if younger children would be happier with the shorter crossing of around 35 minutes, or if the historic ship does not matter much to your family. The catamaran version of the farm visit, the Walter Peak Farm Tour and Lake Cruise (from US$82, 4.75/5 from 35 reviews), has a smaller review base than the Earnslaw listing, so read the recent reviews before you book. Our TSS Earnslaw vs Spirit of Queenstown guide compares the two boats in more detail.
The Farm Tour with kids
The Farm Tour includes the farm animals, the working dogs, a farm demonstration and morning or afternoon tea. Hosted animal feeding is often offered at the holding pens, but it is not in RealNZ’s published list of inclusions, so treat it as a bonus.
This is usually the best option for preschool and primary-school children. Our walk-through of the Farm Tour covers each stop in order.
The Gourmet BBQ with kids
The buffet works well for older children and teenagers because everyone chooses their own food and can go back for more. It also helps with fussy eaters, since nobody is stuck with a set plate.
With younger children, the BBQ lunch is usually easier than dinner: you are back in Queenstown in the afternoon, well before bedtime, and the dinner sailing gets back after dark for much of the year. Our BBQ lunch vs dinner guide compares the two sittings.
Babies and pushchairs
The boat works with very young children, but the farm has gravel paths and outdoor, uneven ground. If you are bringing a pram, the Spirit of Queenstown is easier to board than the Earnslaw, whose stairs are steep.
A sturdy pushchair or a child carrier is more practical there than a lightweight city stroller.
Arrangements for infants can change, so check the current rules with RealNZ before you travel with a baby.
Multi-generational families
Walter Peak suits grandparents, parents and children on one trip, because nobody has to do anything high-adrenaline.
If someone in the group has limited mobility, the Gourmet BBQ may be easier than the Farm Tour, since it involves less walking: the buffet is served at the lakeside homestead, close to the jetty. Neither boat is fully step-free, so ask RealNZ about access before you book.
Best season with kids
Spring and summer are the easiest seasons for a family visit.
Spring is when the farm is busiest, and in summer you get long daylight and milder conditions for being outdoors.
Winter can still be a good trip if the children are dressed warmly, because much of the farm visit is outside. Our best time to visit guide goes through the year month by month.
What to bring
- closed, practical shoes
- warm layers
- weatherproof outerwear
- sunscreen
- a hat and sunglasses in summer, a warm hat and gloves in winter
- snacks for very young children, if they need them
Frequently asked questions
Is Walter Peak good for kids?
Yes. The trip mixes a boat ride, animals, a sheepdog demonstration and food, so children are rarely asked to sit and watch scenery for long.
Which experience is best for children?
The Farm Tour, for most younger children. Teenagers who enjoy food often prefer the Gourmet BBQ.
Is food included?
Yes on both. The Farm Tour includes morning or afternoon tea; the Gourmet BBQ includes a full buffet lunch or dinner.
Can children feed the animals?
Hosted animal feeding is often part of the Farm Tour, but RealNZ does not list it as a guaranteed inclusion.
Is the trip too long for children?
The full trip takes around half a day, about 3½ hours for the Farm Tour, but it breaks into several different activities: the crossing, the farm, the food and the return cruise.
Should families book ahead?
Yes, especially during New Zealand school holidays and in summer, when sailings fill up first. Check your date on the booking calendar before you plan the rest of the day.
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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