Walter Peak Garden to Table Experience

Queenstown has a climate with four distinct seasons however, being located in an alpine environment means the weather can be changeable. A guide for the temperatures you can expect is as follows: Summer (December-February) 19-29 Celsius, Autumn (March-May) 15-25 Celsius, Winter (June-August) 5-10 Celsius, Spring (September-November) 9-15 Celsius.

Please allow an additional 30 minutes to find parking for your vehicle prior to your check in time.  

There is limited free street parking available in the streets surrounding central Queenstown. There is paid parking available in the Man Street and Church Street parking buildings plus pay and display parking at the Boundary Street and Ballarat Street carparks.

Boundary Street and Ballarat Street carparks are suitable for motorhomes. Please allow 15 minutes to walk to the RealNZ office from there.

Queenstown is around a 2.5 hour drive from Te Anau or around 1hr 15 minutes from Wanaka. For more travel locations please refer to our Driving Times webpage.

The TSS Earnslaw is scheduled to operate every day of the year, except when she undergoes annual maintenance. During the survey period, the TSS Earnslaw will not be operating and Walter Peak Farm experiences will only be accessible via the Spirit of Queenstown.

All prices and transactions on the RealNZ website are in New Zealand dollars (NZD).  This is specified on the Terms & Conditions page.

When informed in advance about guests with hindered mobility, we make every effort to accommodate their needs -  including assigning seating in proximity to main areas. However, please note that all our vessels have at least one sea sill that guests will need to navigate, and none have fully accessible bathrooms onboard. Accessible bathrooms are available at the Milford terminal. Below is a summary of each boat's accessibility:

Milford Sound Signature Cruise boats

• Milford Haven: The Haven is wheelchair accessible via ramps, suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters under 90 cm wide. There is an accessible bathroom onboard. An outdoor viewing area is available on the main deck, though this requires stepping over a sea sill and space may be limited for turning. Seating is assigned on this vessel.
• Milford Mariner: The Mariner is not recommended for wheelchair users, as there are no ramps and guests must climb approximately 20 stairs to board. Guests with limited mobility may still be accommodated, provided they are able to manage stairs. Sea sills are present when accessing the outdoor decks, and bathrooms are located upstairs on the main deck and outside areas.

Milford Sound Classic Cruise boats

• Sovereign: The Sovereign is our most accessible vessel, featuring wider ramps of 150 cm that can accommodate mobility scooters. There is an accessible bathroom on the main deck, though ramps are required to reach it due to high sea sills, with crew assistance available once onboard. Seating is assigned for guest comfort, and the bar is located on the main floor. Buffet selection and coffee service from the upper deck can be assisted by crew or companions.
• Monarch: The Monarch is not suitable for wheelchair users, as there are no ramps and guests must step over a sea sill when boarding. Guests with limited mobility may potentially be accommodated, but stair use is required to access bathrooms, which are located upstairs or downstairs.

Milford Sound Premium Cruise & Business Class boat

• Sinbad: The Sinbad has no ramps, and guests must step over a large sea sill to board. Guests with limited mobility may be accommodated, though some mobility is required to navigate the vessel.

For more information, or to request a specific boat for your cruise, please contact us at 0800 65 65 01 or [email protected].

Some experiences at Walter Peak are wheelchair accessible and safe for impaired mobility.  

The TSS Earnslaw our vintage steamship, and our Spirit of Queenstown modern catamaran which transports guests to Walter Peak, are wheelchair accessible but do not have accessible toilets. 

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Dining experience is wheelchair accessible, and the restaurant is designed to be safe and accommodating for those with limited mobility. Please note that access from the wharf to the restaurant involves an inclined gravel path, which may be challenging for some wheelchair users, especially when unaccompanied.

Walter Peak Farm Tour involves travelling, without a vehicle, around the farm which has gravelled paths. Unaided wheelchair users will not be able to travel around the farm, and aided wheelchair users may struggle at times. Those with impaired mobility will need to assess how confident they are walking on gravel paths and for short distances with frequent stops.  

Walter Peak Garden to Table Experience is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with impaired mobility, it involves walking a distance along the peninsula over uneven tussock ground before planting a native tree in the ground.

To ensure we can provide the best support possible, we kindly ask that you inform us of any accessibility requirements at the time of booking. While our team is always happy to help where possible, staff assistance cannot be guaranteed at all times, so we recommend traveling with someone who can assist if needed.

Your comfort and safety are important to us, and we appreciate your understanding in helping us make your visit as enjoyable as possible.

Our staff are trained to deal with incidents and in case of an emergency you should listen to their instructions. We have a portable defibrillator on each of our overnight cruise boats (Milford Mariner, Milford Wanderer and Fiordland Navigator).

In addition to this we also have portable defibrillators at the following locations:

• Milford Sound Visitor Terminal
• RealNZ Visitor Centre, Manapouri
• Cavern House (Te Anau Glowworm Caves)
• Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant, Walter Peak
• TSS Earnslaw Vintage Steamship
• Stewart Island Ferry (Bluff - Oban - Bluff)

Please note that the TSS Earnslaw, the Spirit of Queenstown, and Walter Peak are cashless and we reserve the right to refuse cash as a means of payment when purchasing products or services at these locations.