Zoom around in crisp alpine air
As well as farm tours the Walter Peak High Country Farm in Queenstown now offers electric motorbike trail rides.
Where/what is it?
Queenstown tour company Real Journeys’ has launched an electric motorbike trail ride on Walter Peak farm. To get to Walter Peak board the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship on Queenstown’s lakefront and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to the Walter Peak homestead. There you’ll be kitted out with overalls and given a quick skills test on the electric motorbikes.
The lightweight bikes have silent motors and are super user-friendly. The guided tour takes you racing through rolling farmland, under the towering peaks above. Then power up ‘‘The Hill’’ and across the undulating tracks towards the lakeside peninsula at Beach Point reserve.
Stop for photos along the journey, with such stunning scenery at every turn it would be rude not to. The experience is roughly an hour, depending on how many stops you make along the way.
Why go?
Is there anything more quintessentially Kiwi than riding through a paddock of merino sheep with snow capped mountains as the backdrop? I think not. New Zealanders don’t typically take up experiences that we view as touristy, but it’s high time we did. Fill the lungs with crisp alpine air and venture into Walter Peak on E-bike for a thrilling trip.
Insider tip
The homestead’s restaurant at Walter Peak puts on a mean barbecue lunch. Time your cruise to arrive for lunch.
On the way
Explore the Earnslaw’s engine room that’s open for viewing. Get up close to the giant steam engines of the 104-year-old ship, built the same year as the Titanic. If that doesn’t interest you hang out on the Earnslaw’s deck and take in the views of Lake Wakatipu from the water. On the cruise back to Queenstown gather around the piano. The onboard pianist is renowned for breaking out a sing-along.
How much?
The classic Kiwi experience will set you back $159 per person. That includes the Walter Peak electric trail bike tour, return cruise aboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw, and a visit to the Colonel’s Homestead for tea and scones.
Best time to go
The tours run from November to April and are closed for the winter months. So schedule it in the diary for spring. – Laura Baker
The writer travelled courtesy of Destination Queenstown.