It can be, especially for a celebration, but the restaurant is a popular buffet rather than intimate fine dining.

Evening Sailing · Lake Whakatipu

Walter Peak BBQ Dinner Cruise

Q: What time does the Walter Peak dinner cruise leave?

Evening sittings depart in the late afternoon and early evening, with the exact times shifting through the year as daylight does. Pick your departure at checkout — the sitting and the vessel are both fixed when you book, not chosen at the wharf.

Q: Will it be dark when I get to Walter Peak?

It depends on your departure and date. Summer evenings offer more daylight; winter evening sailings may cross after dark. If scenery and gardens matter most, choose the lunch sitting . Time in the gardens depends on the itinerary and conditions.

Q: Is the dinner menu different from lunch?

Both are buffet-style Gourmet BBQ meals at Colonel’s Homestead. Individual dishes change seasonally. Read our menu guide and confirm dietary requirements before travelling.

Q: Does the dinner cruise cost more than lunch?

Compare your selected date, vessel and departure. Prices can differ between options; do not assume lunch and dinner always cost the same.

Q: Is the farm show included on the evening sailing?

Yes. A rural host works the farm dogs after the meal on every BBQ sitting. In the darker months it happens under lights, which reads differently from watching dogs work a whole paddock in daylight.

Q: What should I wear for an evening crossing?

A warm layer, always. Lake Whakatipu is consistently colder than town and the temperature drops hard once the sun is off the water, even in January. Non-slip shoes are recommended on both vessels.

Q: Are drinks included with dinner?

No. There is a licensed bar on board and at the homestead, but drinks are paid for separately. Both vessels are cashless, so bring a card rather than notes.

Q: Is dinner served on the TSS Earnslaw?

No. Dinner is served ashore at Colonel’s Homestead at Walter Peak. The ship has a café and licensed bar.

Q: Is the cruise included?

Yes. The Gourmet BBQ package includes the return lake cruise, dinner and farm demonstration.

Q: How long does it take?

Allow around 3½–4 hours for the complete experience, including the return cruise. Check the times for your selected departure.

Cruise to Walter Peak for dinner at Colonel’s Homestead, a farm demonstration and the return crossing to Queenstown.

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From $99 per person Free cancellation

4.8 / 5 3,197+ Reviews
3.5 hours Duration
Wood-Fired BBQ Buffet
1912 Steamship Option
Free Cancellation

A TSS Earnslaw dinner cruise combines a lake crossing with dinner ashore at Colonel’s Homestead at Walter Peak High Country Farm. Allow 3½–4 hours for the return cruise, Gourmet BBQ and farm demonstration. Select the steamship option if the Earnslaw is essential to your evening.

Book Your Experience

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Select your preferred date and time. Instant confirmation — free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

What Happens

Board at Steamer Wharf in central Queenstown; follow your voucher’s check-in instructions.
Cruise across Lake Whakatipu on your booked vessel.
Walk from the Walter Peak jetty through the grounds to Colonel’s Homestead.
Enjoy a buffet-style Gourmet BBQ dinner.
Watch the farm demonstration.
Cruise back to Queenstown.

Dinner is not served aboard the Earnslaw. The ship has a café and licensed bar, but the main meal is at Walter Peak. The Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ package includes the return crossing and farm show.

Dinner vs Lunch

Choose dinner for couples, celebrations and an evening excursion. Choose the lunch sitting for daylight, photography, gardens and easier family timing. Both use the same buffet format; seasonal dishes and ticket prices can vary, so compare the options for your date.

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Is It Worth It?

It makes most sense if you already want to experience the Earnslaw and would otherwise pay for dinner separately in Queenstown. Read our full verdict on whether the Gourmet BBQ is worth it. The package turns dinner into an evening excursion rather than a normal restaurant reservation.

For couples it can feel like an occasion, but expect a popular buffet restaurant rather than intimate fine dining. If animals matter more than the meal, consider the Walter Peak Farm Tour instead; our farm tour guide explains the different format.

Practical Tips

Book ahead for summer dates and weekends, particularly if you need a specific vessel or sitting.
Smart-casual clothes work for dinner, but bring warm layers and practical, non-slip shoes for the lake crossing.
Check which vessel operates on your date, including any maintenance substitutions.
Leave the whole evening free rather than arranging another timed activity afterwards.
Check in at the RealNZ Visitor Centre at Steamer Wharf, 88 Beach Street, at the time shown on your voucher. Allow extra time to park in town and walk to the wharf.

When dinner is the better booking

Longer summer evenings give you more opportunity to enjoy the lake and grounds in daylight. Dinner works especially well when the cruise and meal are your main evening activity. Check your actual departure against sunset: an evening ticket does not guarantee a golden-hour crossing or a return under stars.

When it is not

Winter evenings offer less daylight. If seeing the mountains, gardens and farm surroundings is a priority, choose lunch or a daytime farm visit. Time to walk the gardens depends on the itinerary and conditions; do not assume either guaranteed access or a blanket winter closure.

What you get either way

The buffet is served at Colonel’s Homestead, rebuilt in 1977 after a fire. Expect a seasonal selection of grilled meats, salads, vegetables, breads and desserts. See the Gourmet BBQ menu guide for the food format and dietary planning.

Drinks are extra and the vessels are cashless, so bring a payment card. Tell RealNZ about allergies or other dietary requirements before travelling and confirm what the kitchen can accommodate.

Which boat for an evening sailing

Choose the TSS Earnslaw option within the BBQ cruise listing for the heritage steamship experience. Spirit of Queenstown is the modern catamaran alternative. The operator gives crossing times of around 45 and 35 minutes respectively. Both go to Walter Peak; check the precise vessel and sitting before paying.

Our vessel comparison and which-cruise guide help with the wider choice. If access is a concern, discuss boarding, stairs and facilities with the operator for your chosen vessel.

Details checked on 23 September 2026 against RealNZ’s Gourmet BBQ information. Confirm the current departure and menu when booking.

The Experience

What the Evening Sailing Gives You

The same farm, the same buffet — and the part of the day the lunch sitting never sees.

Highlights

Take a return cruise across scenic Lake Whakatipu on your vessel of choice
Enjoy a gourmet BBQ buffet made from local and homegrown produce
Dine lakeside on the shore of Walter Peak High Country Farm
Enjoy a skilful farm dog show about life on a working farm
Savor morning or afternoon tea at the charming old woolshed on the farm

What's Included

Round-trip cruise across the lake and back to Queenstown
Gourmet BBQ lunch or dinner
Farm demonstration
Commentary onboard

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How the Dinner Cruise Works

Four steps from Steamer Wharf to the last boat home.

Pick Your Sitting and Your Vessel
Evening departures run in the late afternoon and early evening, and the vessel — TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown — is fixed when you book. Check availability for the vessel you want.
Check In at 88 Beach Street
Thirty minutes before departure at the RealNZ Visitor Centre on Steamer Wharf. No parking at the wharf; walk down from town.
Cross Lake Whakatipu
The crossing takes around 45 minutes on the TSS Earnslaw or 35 minutes on Spirit of Queenstown. Daylight depends on the date and departure time.
Dinner, Then the Farm Show
The wood-fired buffet runs at the Colonel's Homestead, and a rural host works the dogs afterwards. Then return to Queenstown on your booked crossing.

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Photo Gallery

Lake Whakatipu at the End of the Day

The water, the light and the station the evening boat is heading for.

The Colonel's Homestead at Walter Peak High Country Farm, its red roofs and cupolas rising above lakeside rose and hydrangea beds — The Colonel's Homestead — the only building at the far end of the lake, and where the BBQ is served

Cecil Peak catching low golden light above Lake Whakatipu, with pines silhouetted in the foreground — Cecil Peak at golden hour, the view from the evening crossing

A shingle beach on Lake Whakatipu in autumn, poplars turned gold against the steep grey flanks of the Walter Peak range — Autumn on the western shore — the quietest weeks on the lake

Deep blue Lake Whakatipu under scattered cumulus, tussock-covered mountains running down to the water on both sides — Looking down the lake towards Walter Peak Station on a clear summer afternoon

A gravel farm track curving through matagouri and tussock towards a fresh-snow-covered peak in the Southern Alps — High-country farmland behind the station after the first snow

Cloud tearing across a snow-dusted summit above Glenorchy, with beech scrub and a farm road below — Weather moving through the head of the lake — why the cruise timetable can change

Lunch, Dinner, or Skip the Buffet?

All three cross the same lake to the same jetty. What changes is the light and the meal.

Feature	SAFEST CHOICE Lunch Sitting	Dinner Sitting	Farm Tour, No Buffet
The meal	Wood-fired BBQ buffet at the Colonel's Homestead	The same wood-fired BBQ buffet, evening service	Morning or afternoon tea in the old woolshed
Daylight on the farm	✓ All year	Depends on date and departure; less daylight in winter	✓ All year
Lakeside gardens	✓ Usually time to walk them	Depends on daylight and time before reboarding	✓ Usually time to walk them
Farm demonstration	✓ Working dogs and shearing after the meal	✓ Working dogs, under lights in winter	✓ Dogs, shearing and the farmyard walk
The crossing	Around 35–45 min each way, depending on vessel	Around 35–45 min each way; daylight varies	Around 35–45 min each way, depending on vessel
Best for	Families, first visits, anyone travelling in winter	Couples and long summer evenings	Anyone who came for the animals, not the food
Free cancellation	✓ Up to 24 hours before	✓ Up to 24 hours before	✓ Up to 24 hours before
Indicative USD price (6 September 2026 snapshot)	From $99 per person	From $99 per person	From $82 per person
	Check Dates	Check Dates	View Options

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Guest Reviews

What Evening Guests Say

4.8/5 from 3197 verified GetYourGuide guests

Ratings and review counts are the tour operators' live figures on GetYourGuide and may shift slightly day to day.

"The activity was absolutely fantastic! Everything from the cruise and stunning views to the delicious food and overall experience was amazing. We had such a great time and thoroughly enjoyed every moment!"

"Loved it, the boat ride was beautiful, food was incredible and the show was really insightful as well. Only thing doing the 5pm booking was it did get dark relatively quickly once we arrived at Walter peak station so after you ate you couldn’t really explore that much - if you wanted to view things on the way to / from Queenstown I’d suggest an earlier trip but we loved it as we were in a food coma by the end and was a lovely end to the night !"

"Perfect! Amazing food, boat history and spectacular views on the way to the farm."

"The food was amazing. The singer on the boat was the perfect fit for the experience. The staff were friendly and accomodating. Worth the trip!"

"went as a young family for a gourmet BBQ lunch. the food was exemplary. the cruise short enough to be enjoyable but not draining. being able to view the steam ship in operation is exciting for the kids. would highly recommend"

"Fantastic day with the Earnslaw ! We throughly enjoyed ourselves and the lunch was beautiful with lots of options. Would highly recommend this cruise"

"Exquisite views, amazing food, and lovely trip over the lake in an incredible old steamer ship. The only thing that could have made the day perfect was an extra half hour so that dining & show wasn’t so rushed."

"Such a unique and beautiful experience! We were a little overwhelmed by the number of people lining up to board the boat, but once onboard, we still had plenty of our own space and never felt crowded. We were warmly welcomed by the amazing staff on the island and had our own table, which made the whole experience feel like a special date. The views were absolutely spectacular! Everything was so well organised, and the home-style food was incredible. The meat and vegetables were especially delicious. We also loved watching the sheep show and getting to meet Mia, the beautiful Border Collie. The history behind the steam boat was fascinating and really added to the experience. Overall, this was such a fantastic tour and excellent value for money. We absolutely loved it and would highly recommend it!"

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Book the Evening Crossing

Choose a dinner departure and your preferred vessel for the return lake cruise, Gourmet BBQ buffet and farm demonstration. Check the selected option’s times and cancellation terms. Starting from $99 per person.

Check Evening Availability