The 6 Best Farm Visits in New Zealand

1.Queenstown Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 950 reviews · 3h 30m · from $80Our pick

Cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw steamship or Spirit of Queenstown catamaran. At the farm, guides such as Josh and Ashley introduce you to sheep, alpacas, cattle, farm dogs, and working sheep demonstrations before afternoon tea. Allow 3.5 hours.

“An excellent day out for our family. The steam boat ride was relaxing and enjoyable. The kids loved looking around the boat at how it worked. The farm visit was lovely. Got to feed and interact with lots of animals. A great afternoon tea provided. My father and I are coeliac and we had separate meals provided of an excellent quality, highly recommend!”

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2.Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 576 reviews · from $117

Cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak High Country Farm aboard the vintage TSS Earnslaw or modern Spirit of Queenstown. Enjoy a buffet dinner at Colonel’s Homestead, then watch working dogs, sheep herding, and shearing before returning across Lake Wakatipu. The four-hour outing includes commentary, dinner, and the farm show, but drinks cost extra.

“Fantastic evening, 45 min cruise to the farm where we had a great bbq meal and watched a show of sheep herding and shearing. Then a 45 min trip back with the sun setting behind the boat - highly recommend!”

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3.Queenstown Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 439 reviews · from $83

Take a 3.5-hour round trip from Queenstown across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Ride the 1912 TSS Earnslaw when operating, or the Spirit of Queenstown during maintenance. Meet sheep, alpacas, cattle, goats, and farm dogs, watch a sheepdog demonstration, stroll the gardens, and enjoy afternoon tea.

“Was such an amazing experience. Our daughter absolutely loved it and the farm show was so exciting. Loved everything about it”

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4.Authentic Kiwi Farm Experience at the Agrodome

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 270 reviews · 2h 30m · from $38Best value

Spend 2.5 hours at Rotorua’s 350-acre Agrodome, where a lively farm show covers sheep shearing, sheepdogs, cow milking, and 19 sheep breeds. Then ride an all-weather trailer with a guide such as Jack, Sarah, or Jamie, feed farm animals, visit the nursery, and taste honey and kiwifruit juice.

“So much fun! The show was great, but the real treat was the farm tour and getting to get close and personal with the animals. The sheep, alpacas and deer were all amazing. Sarah, your guide, was very informative and gracious with us. Highly recommend!”

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5.Agrodome Farm Experience including Farm Show and Farm Tour – Rotorua

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 197 reviews · from $40

Spend about two and a half hours at Rotorua’s 350-acre Agrodome, combining the famous one-hour Sheep Show with an all-weather tractor tour. Meet 19 sheep breeds, watch shearing and sheep-dog work, then hand-feed sheep, alpacas, deer, cattle, llamas, ostriches, and pigs. Guide Jack is known for adding plenty of humor and useful farm facts.

“My partner and I went to the Agrodome during our week-long trip in NZ. We highly enjoyed seeing the different breeds of sheep (especially me as I am a knitter and have been able to knit with wool yarn from a few of these breeds). It was alRead more”

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6.Sheep Farm Day Trip from Christchurch + Lunch and Winery visit.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · from $183Top rated

Travel from Christchurch with a local guide such as Simon, visit Glenafric Working Sheep Farm near Amberley, watch sheep shearing, meet trained farm dogs, and enjoy a grazing platter with ocean views. Finish with wine tasting at Georges Road Wines, plus short stops at Christchurch Botanic Gardens and Amberley.

“This experience is a must do, it is a perfect day trip from Christchurch and should be a top priority for anyone in the area! Simon was a wonderful guide and had loads of information to share about New Zealand, the area, the farm, and the winery.”

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