On Tuesday, we rode the TSS Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High
Country Farm. Queenstown is located on Lake Wakatipu which is the second longest
lake in New Zealand. (52 miles long)
The TSS Earnslaw was built in 1912 in Dunedin and dismantled, and brought by train
to Queenstown and re-assembled. It is 168 feet long and 24 feet wide. It weighs
330 tons. The TSS Earnslaw undertakes approximately 2,000 trips per year.
It is one of the last remaining coal fired passenger-carrying vessels in the Southern
Hemisphere. It uses about a ton of coal an hour while under way. It has to take on
coal twice a day to keep the two engines running. Two full time coal shoveler keep
the boilers full of coal.
It worked primarily as a cargo ship servicing farming communities, and was capable of
carrying 1,500 sheep and 30 cattle on her decks. It currently carries a maximum of
350 passengers on daily scheduled excursions.
The captain at he wheel of the TSS Earnslaw
Reg taking some pictures as we pull out of Queenstown.
The captain also provides narration on the trip to the farm.
We leave Queenstown on our way across the lake.
Walter Peak Farm consists of about 350 acres today raising mostly
sheep. Here one of the sheep dogs herds some sheep for the manager
of the farm.
One of the guests feed a merino sheep, known for its
high quality wool, and used in high fashion clothing.
We were really surprised when we ran into three of Reg;'s cousins.
Millie, Tille and Sillie!
Ouch!
I think one of the guests was feeling a little "horny"
The farm manager demonstrates sheering a sheep
The sheep was not very happy about this
Finished!
Joel and lunch with the TSS Earnslaw on it's way back to pick us up
Walter Peak High Country Farm
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