Walter Peak Garden to Table Experience
The quieter Walter Peak trip: the TSS Earnslaw crossing, a guided walk through the restaurant garden and orchard, a native tree to plant and shared garden platters. Price, timing and how it compares with the BBQ and Farm Tour.
The Walter Peak Garden to Table Experience is the quieter, nature-focused alternative to the better-known Gourmet BBQ. You still cross Lake Whakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw, but instead of a large buffet you walk Walter Peak’s kitchen garden, orchard and native restoration areas with a horticulturist, taste the seasonal produce, plant a native tree or shrub and then sit down to shared garden platters.
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At a glance
| Current price | From NZ$169 with RealNZ; from US$99 on GetYourGuide |
| Total duration | About 3½ to 4 hours |
| Cruise included? | Yes, return on the TSS Earnslaw |
| Main focus | Gardens, produce and conservation |
| Kitchen garden tour | Yes, with a horticulturist |
| Native planting | Yes, a tree or shrub from the nursery |
| Food | Shared garden platters |
| Best for | Garden lovers, food lovers and conservation-minded travellers |
| Accessibility | Not suitable for wheelchair users or impaired mobility (RealNZ); uneven tussock ground |
Our pick on GetYourGuide is the Walter Peak Garden to Table Experience (from US$99, 4.85/5 from 16 reviews). That rating is high but comes from a small number of reviews, so read the recent ones before you decide. RealNZ’s own booking pages have shown NZ$169 for adults, and the GetYourGuide price moves with the exchange rate, so check your date on the calendar for the current figure.
What happens on the day
The trip runs in this order:
- A 45-minute cruise from Queenstown on the TSS Earnslaw.
- A guided visit to the restaurant garden and orchard, tasting produce from the vegetable beds.
- A walk through the native restoration areas.
- Planting a native tree or shrub.
- Shared garden platters made with that day’s harvest.
- A stroll through the lakeside gardens and the return cruise.
RealNZ says to allow about four hours for the whole trip, and the GetYourGuide listing gives 3½ hours, so plan on 3½ to 4 hours from the Queenstown wharf and back.
What makes it different
Garden to Table is about where the food comes from, and the meal is smaller than the BBQ buffet.
You see where some of the ingredients grow, and your host shows you how Walter Peak is replanting native vegetation on the station. The rural host and the horticulturist are with you for most of the visit, which makes it feel more like a small guided walk than a sightseeing stop. Our guide to the homestead and gardens covers the history of the grounds you walk through.
Is it a full lunch?
Think of it as a generous shared platter, or a substantial high-country tea, and not a large buffet. RealNZ lists honey florentines from the station’s own bees and vegetable fritters straight from the garden among the dishes.
If you have a big appetite, the Gourmet BBQ will probably suit you better. Our Gourmet BBQ menu guide lists what the buffet serves.
Garden to Table vs Gourmet BBQ
Choose Garden to Table for gardens, seasonal produce, conservation and a slower visit.
Choose the Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise (from US$99, 4.82/5 from 3,208 reviews) for a bigger meal, a broad buffet and a celebratory sit-down lunch or dinner.
Both start from US$99 on GetYourGuide, so let what you want to do ashore decide it. The BBQ has a far longer review record; Garden to Table has the quieter day.
Garden to Table vs Farm Tour
Choose Garden to Table for plants and food.
Choose the Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Tour (from US$82, 4.80/5 from 1,149 reviews) for animals and sheepdogs, and with younger children. Our family guide to the TSS Earnslaw and Walter Peak with kids explains why the Farm Tour usually wins with small children.
Accessibility
The visit involves outdoor walking on uneven ground, and guests have described planting their tree on a steep slope. RealNZ says Garden to Table is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with impaired mobility, because of the uneven tussock terrain. The Gourmet BBQ is the more accessible choice; our Walter Peak accessibility guide compares every option.
Best season
Spring and summer are the easiest seasons for seeing the gardens in full growth.
Autumn is harvest time, and the walking is cooler.
Winter is quieter, with less growing in the beds.
Our best time to visit guide covers weather and daylight across the year.
Frequently asked questions
Is the TSS Earnslaw included?
Yes. The return cruise on the TSS Earnslaw is included, subject to the operating schedule.
Can you plant a tree?
Yes. Each guest plants a native tree or shrub as part of the station’s restoration work.
Is it suitable for children?
Older children interested in nature and food may enjoy it. Younger children usually prefer the Farm Tour, with its animals and sheepdogs.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
No. RealNZ says it is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with impaired mobility, because the visit crosses uneven tussock ground outdoors.
Is it worth it?
Yes, if you are interested in gardens, conservation and where your food comes from. If the meal is the main reason for the trip, book the Gourmet BBQ, and check dates early in summer, because the Earnslaw sailings fill first.
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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