One of the other really nice things about Queenstown is the T.S.S. Earnslaw, an old steamship built in 1912, the same year as Titanic. Every day she plies the waters of Wakatipu between Queenstown and remote Walter Peak Station carrying supplies and tourists.
The Earnslaw is immaculate, lovingly maintained by its owners Real Journeys. Part of the main deck is opened so that passengers can look down into the engine room which is also very tidy. This old ship burns through one tonne of coal per hour and cruises at about 12 knots. She may not be the fastest afloat on the lake, but she surely is the most elegant.
There are several trips per day that dovetail with farm tours, horse trekking, and meals at Walter Peak. On the farm tours you're invited to feed the animals which include sheep, deer, and highland cattle. The farm tour incorporates demonstrations of sheepdog mustering and also sheep shearing.
The horse treks take about an hour to complete, following a circuit to a scenic spot for a photo opportunity. Kirwin's little feet couldn't quite reach the stirrups so Zonk went on her own. Here she is, kitted with a genuine Driza-Bone to keep the wind off.Imagine sitting in Walter Peak's patio restaurant, looking back toward Queenstown. You sip on buttery chardonnay, your belly pleasantly full of fresh local fare, and let the sun gently warm your face. The clear blue waters of Wakatipu lap at the shore, lulling you into a tranquil bliss. La dolce vita at its best.
Kirwin and Zonk were here on 18-Dec-2008.
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