THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Ride across rolling high-country terraces and return by historic steamship on this half-day Walter Peak experience from Queenstown. Beginner-friendly rides, small groups, and country-style tea make this a compact way to sample Otago’s lake and mountain scenery.
Ride across rolling high-country terraces and return by historic steamship on this half-day Walter Peak experience from Queenstown. Beginner-friendly rides, small groups, and country-style tea make this a compact way to sample Otago’s lake and mountain scenery.
You step off the steamer onto a windswept peninsula and the lake breathes across your face. Wave-lapped shorelines of Lake Wakatipu unfurl beneath the Remarkables; sheep graze on terraced pastures while guides saddle steady horses for a slow, scenic ride. The boat — the historic TSS Earnslaw or its modern counterpart depending on schedule — cuts the water and sets the tone: relaxed, deliberate, and utterly local.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by RealNZ · Queenstown, Otago
You step off the steamer onto a windswept peninsula and the lake breathes across your face. Wave-lapped shorelines of Lake Wakatipu unfurl beneath the Remarkables; sheep graze on terraced pastures while guides saddle steady horses for a slow, scenic ride. The boat — the historic TSS Earnslaw or its modern counterpart depending on schedule — cuts the water and sets the tone: relaxed, deliberate, and utterly local.
Walter Peak High Country Farm sits on glacially carved ground; moraines and steep lake-formed valleys frame the farmland and the distant alpine ridgelines. The steamship that ferries visitors is part of Queenstown’s early-20th-century transport heritage, and the farm experience reflects high-country pastoral life: sheep, working dogs, and simple country tea traditions like freshly baked scones and cakes.
The horse trek itself is beginner-friendly, following peninsular trails and gentle terraces to a lookout above the lake. Expect grassy tracks, occasional muddy patches after rain, and open exposure on ridgelines where wind can pick up. Guides provide helmets and basic instruction; group sizes are small, keeping the pace unhurried and photo stops frequent.
Practical guidance: arrive early at Steamer Wharf to check in, wear long trousers and closed-toe shoes, and bring a waterproof layer and sun protection. There’s a 95 kg weight limit and a minimum age/height requirement; the full excursion lasts roughly 3.5 hours including round-trip cruise. This half-day combo pairs easy horsemanship with a classic Queenstown cruise — an accessible way to experience high-country scenery without a full-day commitment.
easy.
3–4 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels; you should be comfortable mounting/dismounting and able to sit in the saddle for up to an hour.
No — the trek is beginner-friendly with guides giving instruction and choosing calm horses; however, riders should be able to follow basic directions and sit upright for the ride.
Minimum age is 7 years and minimum height 120 cm; maximum weight limit is 95 kg — these are enforced for safety and saddle fit.
Depending on scheduling and season you may travel on the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship or the modern Spirit vessel; operators will confirm at booking or check-in.
Trips can be cancelled if weather is unsafe; wear waterproof layers and expect trail conditions to be muddy after rain — check cancellation policy for refund windows.
Walter Peak operates as a working high-country farm and pairs with the TSS Earnslaw service, a steamship heritage route that has served Queenstown visitors since the early 1900s.
The farm-tour model supports local agriculture while encouraging visitors to stay on marked paths, avoid feeding wildlife, and carry out waste to protect fragile shoreline and pasture ecosystems.
RealNZ operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step off the steamer onto a windswept peninsula and the lake breathes across your face. Wave-lapped shorelines of Lake Wakatipu unfurl beneath the Remarkables; sheep graze on terraced pastures while guides saddle steady horses for a slow, scenic ride. The boat — the historic TSS Earnslaw or its modern counterpart depending on schedule — cuts the water and sets the tone: relaxed, deliberate, and utterly local.
You step off the steamer onto a windswept peninsula and the lake breathes across your face. Wave-lapped shorelines of Lake Wakatipu unfurl beneath the Remarkables; sheep graze on terraced pastures while guides saddle steady horses for a slow, scenic ride. The boat — the historic TSS Earnslaw or its modern counterpart depending on schedule — cuts the water and sets the tone: relaxed, deliberate, and utterly local.
Walter Peak High Country Farm sits on glacially carved ground; moraines and steep lake-formed valleys frame the farmland and the distant alpine ridgelines. The steamship that ferries visitors is part of Queenstown’s early-20th-century transport heritage, and the farm experience reflects high-country pastoral life: sheep, working dogs, and simple country tea traditions like freshly baked scones and cakes.
The horse trek itself is beginner-friendly, following peninsular trails and gentle terraces to a lookout above the lake. Expect grassy tracks, occasional muddy patches after rain, and open exposure on ridgelines where wind can pick up. Guides provide helmets and basic instruction; group sizes are small, keeping the pace unhurried and photo stops frequent.
Practical guidance: arrive early at Steamer Wharf to check in, wear long trousers and closed-toe shoes, and bring a waterproof layer and sun protection. There’s a 95 kg weight limit and a minimum age/height requirement; the full excursion lasts roughly 3.5 hours including round-trip cruise. This half-day combo pairs easy horsemanship with a classic Queenstown cruise — an accessible way to experience high-country scenery without a full-day commitment.