Queenstown's grand old "Lady of the Lake" - the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw - has been taken out of Lake Wakatipu for its annual make-over.
The 97-year-old ship was pulled out at the Kelvin Heights slipway using the coal-fired boiler from the 1868 paddle steamer Antrium.
It will be out of action for five weeks, and one of Real Journeys' other vessels, Fiordland Explorer, will transport passengers over to Walter Peak High Country Farm in its absence.
While Earnslaw is out of the water, the engine will be stripped down and all parts checked and reassembled, or replaced if necessary. The boiler fittings will also be inspected along with the port propeller shaft.
Repainting of the exterior is also scheduled.
The work will be carried out by teams from Gough Bros Engineering, Sheet Metal Craft and Aotea Electrical along with Real Journeys staff.
Earnslaw will return to its usual daily duties on Lake Wakatipu on July 5.
