Queenstown Cruises, Farm Experience & Cycle Trail

Southern Discoveries offers scenic cruises on their luxury, modern catamaran, Spirit of Queenstown, into untouched wilderness across spectacular Lake Wakatipu and all the way to Mt Nicholas High Country Farm. Sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery of The Remarkables mountain range, Cecil Peak, Bob’s Cove and Mt. Earnslaw and up the lake towards Glenorchy township. Hop off at Mt Nicholas High Country Farm for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes visit to a truly authentic, family-run merino sheep farm as you soak in the surrounding panoramic views in one of New Zealand’s most rugged and remote high country farms. Take a half day cycle trip on the Station 2 Station Cycle Trail, the perfect half day, independent cycling trip experiencing the best that Queenstown has to offer.

Spirit of Queenstown Scenic Cruise

Cruise into untouched wilderness on our Spirit of Queenstown Scenic Cruise to discover Lake Wakatipu’s hidden gem – Mt Nicholas. Sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery of The Remarkables mountain range and up the lake towards Glenorchy township. Take panoramic photos from our open-top viewing deck accompanied by a lively and informative commentary from your skipper.

Queenstown’s longest lake cruise; cruise further and see more of Lake Wakatipu
Spectacular views of the Southern Alps
Stop at Bob’s Cove to view flora and fauna up close
Large, tall viewing windows and comfortable indoor seating
Spacious outdoor decks with panoramic 360-degree views
Have your photo taken with the skipper in the open wheelhouse
Enjoy a snack or refreshing beverage from our on board café
Purchase a family pass (2 Adults + 2 Children) and save up to $19

Mt Nicholas Farm Experience

Relax in tranquility on a real working farm with breathtaking views of middle earth.

Hop off Spirit of Queenstown at Mt Nicholas High Country Farm for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes visit to a truly authentic, family-run merino sheep farm. Mt Nicholas produces the highest quality wool for world-renowned clothing company Icebreaker. Soak in the surrounding panoramic views in one of New Zealand’s most rugged and remote high country farms.

Everything you need to know

Join your guide on a tour of the farm, in a stunning mountain location on the lake edge
Follow the journey of merino wool in a fun, interactive and hands-on environment – from mustering sheep through to the creation of Icebreaker clothing
Watch sheep being moved by the farm guide and dog
Meet working animals used on the farm and learn about daily family life
Journey deep into the heart of New Zealand’s high country in our 4WD vehicle, and sit back as the landscape unfolds around you
Enjoy a freshly prepared Ploughman’s Lunch in the woolshed
Purchase a family pass (2 Adults + 2 Children) and save up to $20

About Merino Wool

Mt Nicholas is home to 29,000 merino sheep set on 100,000 acres of breathtaking terrain – an extraordinary landscape surrounded by mountains, thousands of glaciers, ice-carved fiords, forests, alpine lakes and vast snowfields.

The farm is one of a handful of family-owned high country stations on Lake Wakatipu, and supplies wool exclusively to the world-renowned Icebreaker clothing company.

Merino wool comes off the back of one of the world’s toughest animals which has learned to thrive in this extreme environment. Most breeds of sheep struggle to survive in this rugged high country, but these extraordinary animals grow a fleece that is luxuriously soft, yet strong enough to cope with anything nature throws at it. Their high-tech coat of exceptionally fine wool is light and breathable in summer, and highly insulating in winter.

That means they can survive temperatures that can soar to 35-degrees in summer or plummet to minus 20-degrees in winter, when mountains are blanketed deep in snow

Station 2 Station Cycle Trail

The perfect half day, independent cycling trip experiencing the best that Queenstown has to offer. Enjoy a Spirit of Queenstown cruise to Mt Nicholas High Country Farm, stopping at Bob’s Cove to view flora and fauna up close and spectacular views towards Glenorchy, Mt Earnslaw, the Southern Alps and The Remarkables mountain range.

Disembark the vessel and journey between Mt Nicholas and Walter Peak (high country farms) located on the western shores of Lake Wakatipu as you cycle along a quiet country road through open farm land.

Breathe in the fresh mountain air, watch the landscape unfold and take in the panoramic alpine views while cycling 14 kilometres along a remote but public, shingle road to Colonel’s Homestead at Walter Peak. There’s an option to add on a BBQ lunch at Walter Peak before boarding the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw for the return cruise to Queenstown.

Everything you need to know

Cruise to Mt Nicholas on Spirit of Queenstown and return from Walter Peak on TSS Earnslaw
Quiet back country road through gentle, rolling terrain
Cycle map and water bottle included
Bring your own bike or choose to hire one of ours
Optional Farm Experience at Mt Nicholas Station
Optional BBQ lunch at Walter Peak

You don’t have to be an athlete

GRADE: Easy
RIDE TIME: 1 hour 30 minutes
DISTANCE: 14 kilometres