The 15 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 $38

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.Shamarra Alpaca Farm Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 117 reviews · from $38Top rated

At Shamarra Alpacas, you’ll spend about an hour meeting, petting, and feeding alpacas on a hillside above Akaroa Harbour. Guides such as Jean explain alpaca care, fleece, behavior, and the differences between alpacas and llamas. You may also see newborns, enjoy light refreshments, and browse the farm shop. Drive yourself or arrange transport ahead of time.

“The tour consists of 3 ares. The first you get to pet the alpacas, the second you get to see the newborn alpacas but for obvious reasons you’re not allowed to pet them, and in the third area you are given grass in bowls and get to feed them. That was pretty cool the guide Jean was great”

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7.Sheep World Country Tour from Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 67 reviews · from $175

Travel from Auckland in an air-conditioned minivan with a guide such as Jose, Marama, Jennine, or Allan. Visit a honey centre, country and coastal stops, and Sheepworld Farm Park for sheep-shearing, sheep-dog demonstrations, and animal feeding. Hotel and port transfers, entry, a light snack, and a drink are included.

“We had a great day out with Janine! She is kind, flexible, and showed us some great sites in the country. Her recommendation for lunch was also fantastic!”

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8.Lake Cruise to Walter Peak Farm with BBQ Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 66 reviews · 3h 30m · from $95

Cruise Lake Whakatipu aboard the Spirit of Queenstown, then enjoy a wood-fired BBQ buffet at Colonel’s Homestead on Walter Peak. Your visit includes a family-friendly farm demonstration, time for the gardens, and a return lake cruise. Jo’s sheep-shearing presentation and Jacob’s attentive lunch service have added a personal touch for some visitors.

“Very relaxing trip. Great lunch. Friendly staff. Enjoyed it all.”

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

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

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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10.Lake Tekapo High Country Farm Tour (Carbon Positive)

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 26 reviews · 2 hours · from $89

Join a small-group 4WD tour from Lake Tekapo across a 50,000-acre high-country farm. Your English-speaking guide, including guides such as Andy, shares farming stories while you see Merino sheep, Angus cattle, alpacas, horses, working dogs, Irishman Creek Hut, Swan Tarn, and a private Mt. John lookout.

“fantastische uitzichten en leuke uitleg over farming in NZ. de ontvangst en het bekijken van de beestjes aan het begin is kleuterschool en mogen ze weglaten wat ons betreft.”

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11.Tekapo: Merino Sheep Shearing and Sheepdog Demonstration

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · 1 hour · from $59

At Mt Hay Station near Lake Tekapo, an English-speaking guide introduces you to Merino sheep, wool production, and farm life. Watch a fleece removed in one piece, see trained sheepdogs work with whistles, and enjoy a lively sheep race, all with Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps behind you. Ethan may lead the tour.

“Brilliant tour, I highly recommend it if you are on the edge! Ethan, our tour guide, covered a lot during the tour: sheep (their behaviour and needs), their wool (from sheering, differences in quality, all the way to packaging for further processing), herding (incl. sheepdog demonstration, whistles and how to train the dogs), and a little bit about farm management. Highly educational - and fun!”

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12.Walter Peak Farm Tour and Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 25 reviews · 3h 30m · from $80

Take the Spirit of Queenstown across Lake Whakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. An English-speaking host leads you through sheep herding, shearing, animal feeding, and the old woolshed, with morning or afternoon tea included. Guide Joe has earned special praise for clear commentary and a well-run farm show.

“Great day out with the family! Thoroughly enjoyed all of it! The views were breathtaking.”

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13.Sheep Farm Experience with Lunch & Winery

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 24 reviews · 6 hours · from $176

Travel from Christchurch to Glenafric, a 770-hectare coastal sheep and beef farm, with local guide Simon. Meet farmer James Hoban, watch shearing and working dogs, feed sheep, enjoy a generous picnic at Louise’s Lookout, then taste Waipara wines before a short Christchurch sightseeing loop.

“Simon was amazing, from the very moment we sat in the car. The farm was just gorgeous, as was the winery. Everyone we met was amazing, including Pepper!”

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14.Lyttelton Cruise Excursions: Christchurch Sightseeing with Sheep Farm

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 20 reviews · from $123

Leave Lyttelton for Christchurch gardens, Cathedral Square, Riverside Market, and the Sign of the Takahe. Then head into the country for sheep dogs, shearing, wool-making, home baking, and tea with the farm hosts. The day lasts about six hours, with a driver-guide, commentary, and cruise-friendly pickup.

“Wonderful, fulfilling tour of countryside, sheep farm experience, and Christchurch city tour. The tour guide was a great driver but should not be assigned guiding duties. Unable to hear his diminutive voice and he was unable to exude a sense of wonder that we expect from Viator Tour Guides.”

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15.Akaroa Shore Excursion: Akaroa Harbour and Sheep Farm Local Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $71

Meet your guide at Akaroa Wharf for a short, scenic tour through French-influenced Akaroa, over Summit Road, and to Barry’s Bay Cheese. The highlight is Coombe Farm, where you’ll watch sheepdogs work, see a shearing demonstration, and enjoy tea with scones. Groups are limited to 22, with port transfers included.

“The driver/guide gave us a nice overview of the area with a few scenic stops for photos and was very informative. The stop at the cheese shop was nice (tasted several types of cheese) although they weren't working at the time. It was fun Read more”

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