Cruise Aboard the TSS Earnslaw

One lovely old relic of the gold rush days is still in use: The TSS Earnslaw. Now in service as a cruise ship, this classic old steamer–she was built in 1912 and is the oldest still-operating passenger steamship in the Southern Hemisphere–offers excellent 90-minute scenic cruises on Lake Wakatipu. It's a great experience, with the occasional whiff of coal and the blast of steam whistle adding a true authenticity to the experience.

A highlight of the journey is heading down to the boiler room area, where you can watch the stoker in action feeding coal into the furnace. Along the way, you'll also be rewarded with spectacular views over the lake toward the surrounding mountains, as well as the attractive shoreline setting around Queenstown.