This year Earnslaw underwent an eight-week programme, which cost about $500,000. The biggest job was replacing 950m of its decking.
Owner Real Journeys said it was the first time in Earnslaw's history the complete deck had been replaced.
New sustainable and durable kwila hardwood boards have been used to make up Earnslaw's third deck - its original kauri fore deck was replaced in the 1950s with jarrah timber.
Launched in 1912, Earnslaw was the main form of transport for early high-country farmers in remote areas of the Wakatipu Basin, and is believed to be the only coal-fired passenger-carrying vessel still operating in the southern hemisphere.
The steel-hulled twin-screw steamer will celebrate her 100th birthday in October next year and Walter Peak manager Angus Small said there was a possibility those attending the celebrations might be able to take a small piece of the former deck home with them.
"They [the former decking boards] are all in storage.
"We're certainly not going to get rid of them. We're coming up with some ideas of the best use for them.
"They've got historical significance for us and for a lot of people, so we're coming up with some different options.
"We will be recycling them in some way, shape or form ... There may be an opportunity with the centenary next year to take a part of the Earnslaw away."
