Key facts
- Fact 01
The TSS Earnslaw was built in Dunedin by J. McGregor and Co and launched on Lake Wakatipu in 1912.
- Fact 02
The TSS Earnslaw was taken apart, carried by rail to Kingston and rebuilt there.
- Fact 03
RealNZ says the TSS Earnslaw burns 1 tonne of coal every hour, which engineers shovel into the boilers.
- Fact 04
The TSS Earnslaw takes 45 minutes each way between Queenstown and Walter Peak High Country Farm, RealNZ says.
- Fact 05
The TSS Earnslaw comes out of service for a survey each year.
The TSS Earnslaw, the steamship that sails from the Queenstown waterfront across Lake Wakatipu, runs on coal. Her operator, RealNZ, says in its guide to the ship, which we read on 29 October 2026, that engineers shovel coal into the boilers that drive the engines, and that she burns about 1.5 tonnes of coal on a return trip. RealNZ's list of facts about the ship puts it at 1 tonne of coal every hour.
Her story begins in Dunedin. She was built there by J. McGregor and Co, then taken apart and carried by rail to Kingston at the southern end of the lake, where she was put back together and launched in 1912. The Otago Daily Times reported that her 140 plates and 78 frames went to Kingston by rail, and that her maiden voyage from Kingston to Queenstown was on 18 October 1912. TSS stands for Twin Screw Steamer, and she is named after Mt Earnslaw at the northern end of the lake.
She was a working ship first. The Otago Daily Times lists livestock, wool, timber, farming and mining equipment and passengers among her loads, and she became known as the Lady of the Lake. RealNZ calls her the only coal-fired commercial passenger steamship still operating in the Southern Hemisphere. In 1998 she was listed as Category One Heritage under the Queenstown Lakes District Plan, which RealNZ says made her the first vessel in New Zealand protected by a district plan.
Coal may not last for ever. In October 2021 RealNZ said it was investigating other fuels to replace coal while keeping the ship steam powered, so the coal described here is what RealNZ says as of our check.
On board you can go down from the main deck to the engine room and watch the steam engines working; RealNZ says the machinery is the original 1912 equipment. The crossing to Walter Peak High Country Farm takes 45 minutes each way. She comes out of service for a survey each year, and while she is away RealNZ takes Walter Peak guests across on the Spirit of Queenstown instead.
Our car-free stay guide covers getting around town to the waterfront, and our family holiday guide has more ideas for a trip with children.
Questions visitors are asking
Does the TSS Earnslaw still run on coal?
Yes, according to RealNZ, which operates the TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu at Queenstown. Its guide to the ship, read on 29 October 2026, says engineers shovel coal into the boilers that drive the engines. RealNZ said in 2021 that it was investigating replacement fuels while keeping her steam powered.
How much coal does the TSS Earnslaw burn?
RealNZ says the TSS Earnslaw burns 1 tonne of coal every hour, and about 1.5 tonnes on a return trip from Queenstown. Engineers shovel the coal into the boilers, and passengers can go down from the main deck to the engine room to watch the steam engines working during the sailing.
How long does the TSS Earnslaw take to reach Walter Peak?
The TSS Earnslaw takes 45 minutes each way across Lake Wakatipu between the Queenstown waterfront and Walter Peak High Country Farm, RealNZ says. RealNZ's standard lake cruise to Walter Peak and back, without getting off, takes 90 minutes. Check the current sailing times with RealNZ before you plan your day.
Where was the TSS Earnslaw built?
The TSS Earnslaw was built in Dunedin by J. McGregor and Co. She was taken apart and carried by rail to Kingston at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu, then rebuilt and launched in 1912. The Otago Daily Times reported that her maiden voyage from Kingston to Queenstown was in October 1912.
What does TSS stand for in TSS Earnslaw?
TSS stands for Twin Screw Steamer. The TSS Earnslaw, which sails from Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu, is named after Mt Earnslaw at the northern end of the lake, RealNZ says. She is also known as the Lady of the Lake, a name from her years as a working cargo and passenger ship.