Walter Peak Farm Tour: Cruise and Activity Options

Farm animals and the guided visit

The guided farm product includes the return cruise on the selected vessel, morning or afternoon tea, the farm tour and a nature guide. The farm programme introduces animals such as sheep, deer, cattle and alpacas, with supervised contact. Working dogs demonstrate gathering sheep. These are farm activities, rather than a wildlife-spotting excursion.

Sheep shearing is promoted in the farm programme, but it should not be treated as a fixed event on every departure. Choose this visit for its overall focus on farm life. BBQ meals and horse riding belong to separate packages, so the guided farm ticket should not be read as a combination of all the activities described on this page.

Walter Peak Horse Trek: riding time and suitability

The horse product includes a return cruise on the selected Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown option, a nature guide, tea, coffee, scones and muffins, and 40 to 45 minutes of horse trekking. The product duration of 3.5 hours includes the crossing and other parts of the outing; it is not the time spent riding. Additional food and beverages bought onboard are separate from the included refreshments.

Riders must be at least 7 years old and 120 cm tall, and weigh no more than 95 kg. Children under 14 require a responsible adult companion. Participants need to mount and dismount independently and maintain balance. Riding is not recommended during pregnancy, and relevant medical conditions should be disclosed. Guides may change or stop the ride because of weather, horse behaviour or suitability.

Wear long trousers and closed non-slip shoes. Helmets and rainwear are provided for the riding programme. Choose this experience only when its requirements fit the participants; meeting the age threshold alone does not cover all the suitability criteria. The meeting point depends on the vessel option, so follow the location given for the selected booking.

Ships, duration and departures

The Earnslaw journey takes 45 minutes each way; Spirit of Queenstown takes 35 minutes each way. Farm and horse bookings have ship options. The BBQ inclusions describe a return cruise without identifying a particular vessel. Choose the ship and activity together if travelling aboard the historic steamship is a priority. The history guide explains its transport role.

Queenstown departures use Steamer Wharf on Beach Street, with the visitor centre at 88 Beach Street. Use the meeting instructions attached to the selected product. The horse trek can have different meeting points according to the option. The cruise-only sightseeing product is a separate round trip with commentary and does not include the farm visit ashore.

Plan by the total product duration and its booked return rather than combining a crossing time with an assumed open-ended farm stay. For clothing and seasonal considerations, read the visit timing guide. Both ships lack accessible toilets, and gravel paths on the farm can require assistance.

E-bike and walking access: keep the journeys separate

Older material describes electric farm bikes: the announcement dates from 2016 and the brochure from 2018/19. Treat those as historical activities rather than a current farm bike booking. Bicycle transport for the Around the Mountains route is another product, with a separate purpose from local farm activities.

DOC describes access to Beach Point by boat or on foot or mountain bike along Mt Nicholas Road from Walter Peak Station. That access description is specific to the campsite route, rather than a general invitation onto farm paddocks or a summit route. The Walter Peak to Mavora Lakes cycling section is 50 km and Grade 3, with fords and farm traffic. Plan it as a cycling journey, not an easy short farm walk.