11-15-16

Bob & I started our day (11/10) taking a FAST boat ride on the famous Shotover jet boat. We had front row seats & tightly clung the handlebar for this crazy tour. Speeding up & down the Shotover River close to the cliffs while spinning donuts was fun!

We took another boat ride later in the day but this one was much more relaxing!

This is the TSS Earnslaw...a vintage steamship from 1912.

Or was it The Titanic?

We got on the boat in Queenstown & took it across Lake Wakatipu for an evening cruise & dinner at Walter Peak.

The steam ship still operates by shoveling coal into the fire oven to power the boat. Fascinating to see the process up close.

On the other side of the lake was Walter Farm...it's a beautiful property with a large ranch house, barns & sheep grazing all over Walter Peak mountain area. Walter Farm has been a working sheep farm (by the Mackenzie family) since the late 1880's. Today the farm owners partner with the steamship to bring guests over & treat them to an amazing dinner & show.

We were so impressed with the green grass & manicured landscaping. The buffet dinner was huge & delicious. Such a neat setting to sit inside the ranch house with views of the grounds & lake.

After dinner we were treated to a sheep herding show. It was impressive to see the farmer instruct his 2 herding dogs to get the sheep high on the mountain & bring them into the corral.

Good doggies!

I fell in love with Bell...the herding dog who looked just like our Harley! I will post more photos of Bell tomorrow (she was special)! :-)

We were also shown how to a sheer a sheep.

The farmer was done in no time & the wool came off in 1 full piece! 

I've never seen a sheep sheered & was surprised to learn if you put a sheep on it's butt it will be compliant while you sheer.

This whole evening was fantastic! We highly recommend the TSS Earnslaw Steamship with Walter Farm experience!