Is the TSS Steamship cruise on Lake Wakatipu really worth it?

👉Opinions about the TSS Steamship in Queenstown are mixed online, with many people feeling that the activity is not cost-effective and rather boring. 💁🏻‍♀️In fact, you only know if something suits you after you've experienced it. As our kids had never been on an 🚢 old steamship, we decided to give it a try, and the experience exceeded our expectations! Compared to Queenstown's extreme activities, this gentle and relaxing option is very suitable for family trips! 📍Boarding location: TSS Earnslaw - RealNZ ⏰Available times: Pure cruise from 9 am to 7 pm on the hour, ➕ lunch at 11 am, 12 pm, 13 pm, ➕ dinner at 17 pm, 19 pm. 🎫Ticket prices: Pure cruise 400+, half price for children over 5. ➕ lunch average 600+ per person, 200+ for children over 5. ➕ dinner average 700+ per person, 400+ for children over 5. ❤️The TSS Earnslaw steamship is a vessel full of historical charm. It has been sailing on this beautiful lake since the early 20th century and is still the only coal-fired steamship in operation in the Southern Hemisphere! 🌟We booked the 🕑 17 pm slot, which is a bit more expensive than the afternoon ones. The whole journey is about 3 and a half hours. The ship slowly leaves the dock, the lake surface shimmers, and the distant mountains are faintly visible! 🚢The ship has two levels, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. The upper level has better views by the windows. The interior is quite retro, and I took my child to tour the entire ship, where we could see the ship's structure and operating principles, which the kids found fascinating! After the tour, you can choose to sit in the cabin and gaze at the lake in tranquility, or sit outside and enjoy the breeze and watch the 🌊 waves. It's really pleasant and not boring at all! 🌟After sailing for about 30-40 minutes, we arrived at a farm on the opposite shore. Before dining, you can stroll around nearby, and there are many cute 🦆 ducks by the lake. It's worth mentioning that the trip also thoughtfully provides children with drawing paper and crayons, so they can create while enjoying the lake view! 🍖The restaurant has a retro vibe, with an all-you-can-eat BBQ dinner. I especially loved the lamb chops and steak, super delicious! After dinner, you can watch a sheep shearing show, and there's even a live sheepdog herding 🐏 show, which the kids found very interesting. They couldn't resist touching the sheared wool afterwards🤩