TSS Earnslaw Queenstown: Dinner Cruise Review
The TSS Earnslaw dinner cruise is one of Queenstown’s most iconic experiences — a century-old steamship, a lakeside BBQ at Walter Peak, and incredible mountain views in every direction.
I joined the TSS Earnslaw dinner cruise in early 2025, and it completely lived up to the hype. The food was far better than I expected, the service was warm, and sailing back across Lake Wakatipu at sunset was unforgettable.
In this TSS Earnslaw dinner cruise review, I’ll share exactly what it’s like, what to expect from the buffet, and how to get the best seats — plus tips if you’re thinking of booking it for your own Queenstown trip.
TSS Earnslaw Dinner Cruise – Quick Verdict
⭐ Experience: Scenic lake cruise + gourmet BBQ dinner
⏱️ Duration: 3.5 hours round trip
💰 Worth it? Absolutely – beautiful scenery, great food, fun atmosphere
🧭 Tip: Book the dinner cruise (not lunch) for sunset views, and make sure you pick the TSS Earnslaw option rather than the catamaran – they sometimes appear as two options for the same tour.
I paid for my own ticket on the TSS Earnslaw Dinner Cruise – no sponsorships here – so this is a completely genuine review of what it’s really like.
✈️ From bucket-list stops to local gems, you’ll find everything I’ve written about NZ on my New Zealand travel page.
Boarding the TSS Earnslaw
You need to go to the check in point about 30 minutes before boarding to get a boarding pass, but you don’t need to join the boarding queue until later.
People start queuing more than 30 minutes before departure, but you don’t really need to join them straight away. You’ll end up standing around in a long queue for no real reason, unless you want one of the inside table seats on the ship (which I don’t think are the best way to enjoy the cruise anyway).
I had a glass of wine at a restaurant at Steamer Wharf so I could still see the queue and only joined it about 10 minutes before boarding, which worked fine.
Once on board, it’s tempting to rush for a seat, but it’s worth taking some time to walk around. The engine room is open to view, so you can watch the crew shovelling coal into the furnace (although not the easiest thing to get a good photo of!).
If you’re sitting outside, the area near the furnace has some very warm seats, which is useful on cooler days. There’s also a bar and toilets on board.
The crossing takes around 40 minutes, with some commentary over the PA about the history of the ship.
Don’t miss the TSS Earnslaw experience – book your cruise and dinner now!
Arrival at Walter Peak & BBQ Buffet
Once you disembark, there’s a short walk up to the restaurant area. If you want one of the tables closer to the lake, don’t dawdle – head straight up to the seating area as tables are assigned on arrival.
Drinks: There’s water on the table, but other drinks need to be ordered separately. Staff take your order at your table and return later to take payment.
Food: The BBQ buffet is self-serve, but the staff will let you know when it’s your turn to go up for the first time. After that, you can return as many times as you like. The best approach is to try a little bit of everything rather than overloading your plate on the first round. Each dish has a sign next to it with pictures indicating any allergens.
What food is on offer?
- Cold options: Seafood (salmon, prawns, mussels), salads, cheeses, cured meats.
- Hot options: Pork, venison, chicken, lamb, fish of the day. Meat is cooked simply, and because it’s self-serve, you can pick exactly which pieces you want – for example, rare or well-done cuts. Various sauces are available, including mustard, BBQ, salsa verde, and chimichurri.
- Vegetarian options: There are several vegetarian dishes, both cooked and in salads. Vegetarians would be fine, though it might be trickier for vegans.
- Tip: Skip the bread and go easy on carbs to leave more room for everything else.
For me, the roast pork with crackling was a standout.
Desserts:
There were several desserts on offer. Options when I visited included:
- Sticky toffee pudding
- Mochaccino mousse
- Chocolate and cherry dessert
- Ice cream and sorbet
The sticky toffee pudding came in a mini saucepan with toffee sauce, which I could have happily just drunk.
Farm Show at Walter Peak
After eating, there is a farm show and time to walk around the area. A 15-minute warning is given before the farm show, which is held in a covered amphitheatre, so rain isn’t an issue but it can get cold.
The show includes:
- Information about the station and wool production
- A sheep shearing demonstration, explaining why shearing is essential for the animals’ health – for example to prevent heatstroke
- A working dog demonstration featuring a New Zealand Heading Dog, a breed derived from the border collie – these dogs are bred for working on steep hills rather than flat land.
At the end, you can take a piece of wool from the shearing demonstration, ask questions and meet the dog.
Gift Shop & Return Journey
Before reboarding, there’s time to look around the gift shop, which sells wool products, clothing, lanolin-based skincare, souvenirs, and children’s books and toys.
On the way back, listen for the ship’s whistle, which sounds five minutes before departure – if you’re not already on board when you hear it, head straight to the boat.
Booking Your Cruise
There are a few ways to experience the Earnslaw — cruise only, lunch cruise, or dinner cruise — but if you want the full atmosphere, choose the dinner cruise. The sunset views and BBQ at Walter Peak are what make it special.
If you are visiting in the height of summer I do recommend booking in advance as it is a popular activity.
You can book your cruise on the RealNZ website, and you’ll find tourism sites all over Queenstown that can book a slot for you as well.
The TSS Earnslaw dinner cruise costs around $200NZD for ages 16+, around $100 for ages 5-15, and free for children 4 and under.
If you want to book online, I would be very grateful if you use this link to book TSS Earnslaw on Viator which will give me a small commission to help me run this website.
Top Tips:
- When booking, check you are picking the TSS Earnslaw steamship and not the catamaran version. They often appear as two options of the same experience.
- Be in the first half of people to leave the boat at Walter Peak if you want a dinner table with a view of the lake
- Walk around the ship instead of just grabbing an inside seat on the ship and staying in one place.
- Try a little bit of everything at the buffet rather than overloading your plate
- Go light on carbs to make the most of the meats and seafood
- Dress for the weather, especially for the farm show
- If you are visiting in winter you might want to consider the lunch cruise so you can still see the scenery on the boat trip before it gets dark.
Feeling stuck trying to turn your Queenstown research into an actual plan?
My Queenstown Trip Planner brings the key decisions together in one place, including where to stay, what to book, how to organise your days, and what’s actually worth prioritising. It includes a 36-page guide, printable checklist, editable planner, and custom GPT bonus.
See what’s inside the Queenstown Trip Planner
FAQs: TSS Earnslaw Dinner Cruise
How long is the TSS Earnslaw dinner cruise?
The full experience takes around 3.5 hours, including the 40-minute lake crossing each way, the BBQ dinner, and the short farm show at Walter Peak.
What’s included in the TSS Earnslaw dinner cruise?
Your ticket covers the return steamship cruise, a buffet dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm, and the farm demonstration. Drinks are extra, and you can buy them at the restaurant bar.
Is the TSS Earnslaw dinner cruise worth it?
Yes — it’s one of the few Queenstown activities that combines local history, scenery, and great food in one evening. The sunset return is especially beautiful, so it’s well worth booking if you’re visiting for the first time.
When is the best time to do the TSS Earnslaw cruise?
The dinner cruise runs year-round, but the summer and autumn months (November to April) offer the longest daylight and the best lake views. In winter, you might prefer the lunch cruise for brighter conditions.
Can vegetarians or vegans eat at Walter Peak?
Vegetarians should be fine — there are several salads and cooked dishes — but vegans may have limited choices. I recommend contacting the provider to check what options are available before booking.
Where can I book the TSS Earnslaw dinner cruise?
You can book directly with RealNZ or through trusted partners such as Viator and GetYourGuide. Just check that the booking is for the steamship and not the catamaran – they often appear as options on the same webpage.
👉 Check prices and availability here
What should I wear on the TSS Earnslaw Dinner Cruise?
You don’t have to dress up, other than making sure you aren’t cold. I did this in late Summer and I was a bit chilly at the outside farm show and on the return cruise as it got dark. Make sure you have a warm layer with you.
Final Thoughts – TSS Earnslaw Cruise
I really enjoyed my TSS Earnslaw trip and wish I had done it sooner. I’m partial to combined mountain and lake views, and this is one of the few ways to get those views at the opposite end of Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown itself.
This experience is well worth it. If you’re doing the dinner cruise, skip lunch—there’s a lot of food, and even with small portions, I was completely full. The staff all seemed enthusiastic to be there and were very welcoming, and overall I had a great time.
The combination of a scenic boat ride, great food, and an engaging farm experience makes this a memorable way to spend an afternoon or evening in Queenstown.
Wondering how to fit the TSS Earnslaw into your schedule? Check out my guide to 5 days in Queenstown!
If you are looking for more information to help plan your Queenstown trip, have a look at the best things to do in Queenstown and where to stay in Queenstown. You might also find it helpful to work out how many days you’ll need in Queenstown, and the best day trips to take from Queenstown.
This post is part of my Queenstown Travel Guide, with all my best local tips in one place.
