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Walter Peak High Country Farm is nestled in a remote spot on the western shores of Lake Wakatipu, the only road to the farm is a rough and unsealed road into Te Anau about 2 hours away. The main transport is via the TSS Earnslaw vintage steamboat.

This picture was taken arriving at the farm from the deck of the steamboat, after a 40 min trip across the lake.

On approach to the farm you see the most beautiful gardens and charming early colonial buildings.

Realtours offer a range of activities from farmyard tours, horsetreks, barbecue lunches on the lakeside terrace or evening dining at the Colonel’s Homestead.

I chose to take in more of the farms history and went for a heritage tour with a local historian who provided our group with an amazing story of how farming started in the area and about the first family to live here, the McKenzie family who were originally from Scotland. She educated us about pioneering life which included a slide show at the homestead of early farming families and the steamship’s early cargo carrying days.

After the slide show we were taken to the bar to taste some central Otago wine and cheese tasting, plus an antipasto platter on the lakeside terrace.

A stroll around the beautifully kept gardens concluded our tour.

Highlights were a guided tour of the TSS Earnslaw with an on board historian and a visit to the Colonel’s Homestead and gardens.