The heart of it all

Embark on an epic journey to one of the most delicious destinations in New Zealand.

Queenstown’s Lake Whakatipu has a deeply arresting beauty. Formed by ancient glaciers and protected by the Remarkables, Cecil Peak and Mount Earnslaw, the lake’s gently shimmering surface and crystalline waters reflect the surrounding snow-crowned summits.

One of the most memorable ways to experience the tranquillity of the lake is aboard the TSS Earnslaw with RealNZ, stopping at the unique dining location of Walter Peak. The oldest carrying steamship in the Southern Hemisphere – it’s celebrating its 110th birthday this month – was once in service to the communities of Lake Whakatipu. These days, its kauri timber decks offer visitors a vantage point from which to explore the glacial-cut lake, with Queenstown’s dramatic mountains as its backdrop, on a 90-minute return voyage.

An on-shore excursion to Walter Peak High Country Farm reveals a vast station that was settled in the 1860s. Today, the farm welcomes guests to its lakeside gardens and historic Colonel’s Homestead, built in 1902, for a feast cooked over fire, courtesy of head chef Mauro Battaglia.

His food pays homage to the homestead and its legacy of high-country agriculture. “We take excellent care of the area and it’s about cooking well and fresh.” Guests can enjoy a gourmet selection of locally sourced meat – the flame-licked marinated lamb is a perpetual crowd favourite – and seafood cooked on a wood-fired barbecue. “Farms in New Zealand have this primordial style of cooking over fire so reflecting that makes sense.”

Walter Peak’s gourmet buffet is the high point of a cruise that’s all about absorbing the jaw-dropping magnificence of this pristine natural environment.