Westaways leave Walter Peak after 37yrs dedication to tourism

Friday 30th September 2011

Media Release

When Dianne and Lindsay Westaway first started managing the remote Walter Peak High Country Farm in 1974 it attracted less than ten thousand visitors a year.  These days well over a hundred thousand cross Lake Wakatipu each year on the iconic steamship TSS Earnslaw to be entertained and catered for by this couple. 
 
“They are simply the face of Walter Peak High Country Farm.  They’ve always given the warmest of welcomes and fondest of farewells to all their many guests and worked tirelessly, sometimes weeks on end without a break – that’s the Westaway way”, says Tony McQuilkin, Real Journeys General Manager of International Sales. 

Lindsay’s farm tours and Dianne’s baking and hospitality are legendary.  The couple have entertained people from all parts of the globe and all walks of life from other farmers to royalty and celebrities.
Visitors return time and time again to see them and Lindsay most often remembers their names.

The couple brought up their children at Walter Peak, where they were home schooled by Dianne, often working at her side as she cooked up thousands of pikelets and scones.  Those “children” are helping them move and will be at their farewell function at Walter Peak tonight.

After almost four decades of dedication to tourism the Westaways are moving out of Walter Peak to live in Queenstown.  They will still help out at Walter Peak for a few more months before moving back to Canterbury where they originated from.

For more information or high resolution images please contact:

Tsehai Tiffin – Marketing Communications Manager
Tel: +64 3 442 4830
Mobile: 021 523 899
Email: ttiffin@realjourneys.co.nz