Dunedin Tours
Larnach Castle and Gardens Admission Ticket
4.5

Larnach Castle and Gardens Admission Ticket

By Larnach Castle & Gardens
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Ages 0-120, max of 15 per group
Duration: 2–4 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Written guide
Print or digital reading material such as a guide, map, brochure, etc.
: German, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
More


  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)
  • Written guides
  • Entry/Admission - Larnach Castle & Gardens
What's not included
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks (available to purchase)
  • DVD (available to purchase)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transportation to/from attractions


  • Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 36403P1

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Wheelchair accessible - if assistance is required, passenger must provide their own caregiver. However, due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

  • All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 36403P1

From
$26.10
per adult
Select date and travelers

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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • Larnach Castle & Gardens
    3,076
    Dunedin, New Zealand
  • V5196AVjl
    0 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not worth it
    Under renovation and not worth it. The person at the ticket booth as you drive in should have informed guests that it’s under renovation. Disappointed. Not that impressive. Looks just like any house.
    Written January 29, 2025
  • KBofLB
    0 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    A curate's egg place
    This building is from the 19th century but fell into disrepair until new owners embarked on a renovation project within the last 60 years. The present wood panelling is impressive but serves to highlight the vulgarity of the original. The tower provides fine views over the Otago peninsula. The gardens were a disappointment.
    Written December 22, 2024
  • Shoalies
    0 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful building and history - Hi-Tea was great!
    The drive to Larnach Castle provides spectacular vistas over Dunedin and surrounds as does the view from the turret tower of this magnificent building. A guided tour is a must to learn the tale of this edifice and the family who built it. After your tour, enjoy a sumptuous Hi-Tea in the Grand Ballroom with several varieties of tea and yummy food. Now wander the Garden of International Significance and marvel at the marble bath flower pot as you search the grounds for all the featured characters from Alice in Wonderland! An excellent day out and a beautifully restored and maintained building – long may she stand!
    Written December 21, 2024
  • Go15687789877
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Iconic charm. Modern quality
    Two nights in The Stables. It’s lovely. The room rate includes a very generous cooked breakfast, and all the continental stuff - muesli, fruit, pretty much anything you might expect. It’s 20 minutes from the city, but we think it was really worth it. It’s great feeling like a guest at the manor!
    Written November 26, 2024
  • ks358
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Victoria Meets NZ
    Great period castle with all the interior in excellent condition. The gardens and views are amazing. Vistas to the sea and well groomed period gardens along with a naturalized perimeter that blends into the strounding forests. Native birds abound. A must see!
    Written November 21, 2024
  • Makingachangenz
    0 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    There was no experience it was simply unweeded garden with great views which can be seen anywhere My recommendation No
    What a disappointing experience. $22 to view garden. $45to go inside. The gift shop is full of $2 shop Chinese imported items nothing authentic. If the bees don’t kill you. The price will. As a kiwi I am disappointed they are ripping off tourists
    Written November 16, 2024
  • janenevill
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Under going renovations but doesn’t spoil the visit
    As we drove up saw a sign saying invisible queue so we joined the end which ended up being 3 parked cars 🫨 Entrance was cheaper due to some works. It didn’t spoil the trip We walked the gardens as per the map and we enjoyed them. We found the Cheshire cat but we did cheat 😈 The interior of the castle was good and only a few rooms off limit We stopped at cafe for cup of tea and scone all very nice and staff super helpful Definitely worth a visit
    Written October 20, 2024
  • GusY
    0 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Castle with a rich history
    A short drive from Dunedin City is Larnach Castle, sitting atop south west of the city centre. At the time of our visit, the left side of the castle was undergoing renovations and was inaccessible. Entry was reduced to $30 per adult, and children entered for free. Unfortunately, it was raining the day we went, so we didn’t get to explore the beautifully manicured gardens. The castle has a rich history, with lovely period furnishings dating back to the late nineteenth century. The owners did their best to restore the castle, and they did a magnificent job reviving it for tourism. Despite the weather, we had a pleasant time learning about the history of William Larnach and his family, all the way to the present owners. It’s worth a visit when in Dunedin.
    Written October 2, 2024
  • jodiej141
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A unique, wonderful experience
    We stayed at the castle for two nights. The staff were so helpful and friendly. Our room was perfect . A lovely layout with an amazing view . The breakfast was fresh , tasty and nice variety. We also did the dinner in the castle which was very enjoyable. The young lady who hosted the evening made it so entertaining. She was so funny, informative and made us all feel very relaxed . We had mixed age groups at dinner and everyone enjoyed it . The food was delicious. So well cooked . Nice portions . We were surprised by how much we enjoyed the evening.
    Written September 30, 2024
  • Stephen Y K S
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stay there at least one night
    Larnach Castle, located in Dunedin on New Zealand's South Island, is the country's only castle, known for its Victorian and Gothic styles. Built by William Larnach in the 19th century, its surrounding gardens are internationally recognized as some of the most beautiful. The castle has a rich history, including family stories and various uses, such as a military fort. Visitors can join guided tours, enjoy dining services, and even stay overnight to experience the unique charm of this historic landmark.
    Written September 7, 2024
  • Companion21297222615
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A beautifully restored Castle.
    We were very impressed by the restoration work being done at the castle today. It's so worth it! The wooden staircase, the sunny, airy verandah, the Ballroom (cafe) etc. A few of the bedrooms on the top floor were in the process of being restored, but there was plenty to see besides them. Also the gardens are gorgeous. We had beautiful weather and spent a couple of enjoyable hours viewing all of it.
    Written August 8, 2024
  • PepperKaz5
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Always as good as the last time.
    Did an overnight and dinner in the castle. Done this a few times now and it is always as good as the last. From the moment we were greeted at our accommodation to the end of the night. Stayed in the lodge. Lovely warm room on arrival. Trust the chef menu was superb. And our mini tour and chat with Jessica who was so knowledgeable just topped off our night. Our fellow dining guests were very friendly and fun. We will be back.
    Written June 19, 2024
  • W3905NOfranh
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A memorable and special experience
    It was probably one of the best dining out experiences I have ever had due to the combination of a number of factors including the atmosphere, location, dinner host, wait staff, food quality and fellow guests. Walking from the carpark to the castle, the lighting of the statues and castle creates a magical atmosphere and makes you feel like you are in for something special. Arriving at the castle door Jessica S greeted us so warmly and professionally, welcoming us in and taking coats. The bar set up with Matthew behind it naturally draws you further into the building then with drink in hand it was lovely to wander through the rooms before dinner. A round-the-circle group introduction of who we were and where we were from just before dinner created a more intimate situation so it did not feel so odd sitting at a long table with strangers, now we knew a bit about them. Through out the night Jessica shared stories and history of the people and place in short snippets so it didn’t feel like a history lesson, she is a gifted story teller. The food came out in perfect spacing and portion sizes that were not overwhelming – it felt like true fine dining. The short tour around the castle after the meal was a nice finishing touch, again enriched by Jessicas storytelling, and a warm and unrushed farewell at the end. All in all a very memorable and special experience.
    Written May 29, 2024
  • matautraveller
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Must do, if you are in Dunedin overnight!
    Evening Dining Experience at the Castle -The Chef's choice meal is fantastic value, a great night out including meal, 1 comp drink and stories on the history of the Castle.
    Written April 16, 2024
  • susanmE4698EB
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dining at Lanarch Castle
    Dinner at the Castle. WoW what a special experience. Beautiful food, lovely wine, dining with 12 strangers from all over the world, Jessica our host a very talented storyteller, weaving the stories of past lives of those who lived in the house so you could see them. Wonderful!
    Written April 12, 2024
See all 3,076 reviews
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles187 reviews
Excellent
119
Very good
41
Average
11
Poor
7
Terrible
9

Companion21297222615
29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Friends
My first time in Dunedin and we saw a lot! The sun shone almost every day too, so that was a big plus. Lanarch castle was definitely worth seeing. We tried to book the tickets on this site but that's no longer possible. 2 of the upstairs rooms are being renovated, so the entrance fee was only $30 instead of $45. The whole place is beautifully renovated with the tower still in progress. Do visit the lovely cafe in the Gun Room - a huge space with 3 big fireplaces.
Also interesting was Olveston House. It's a guided tour but we were the only visitors that day and the guide was amazing!
Restaurants abound in this city, so a huge choice. Visit the beautiful railway station and art gallery on the first floor and take the train on a 3hr return journey down the coast. Beside the station is the fantastic Settler's Museum - not to be missed. We went twice!
Take a drive along the coast road towards Portobello - a cute tiny village and stop off for lunch at a local cafe.
Parking in the city is expensive ie $3.50/$4.50 per hour but there is a small car park nearby which is usually full. I suggest parking further away and walking for about 15 along the main road to the Octagon where there are a couple of cinemas, a theatre, churches galore etc.
And.......... go to Tunnel Beach! A meandering downhill path takes you to a tunnel through rock to a beach, or stop before that to admire the view.
Written September 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aidan G
Birmingham, UK13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Spent a night here towards the end of our honeymoon. The setting is unique by New Zealand standards, as the only castle in the country. The building itself is very picturesque and has great views of the surrounding countryside and inlet, and the displays and exhibitions inside are very informative - bearing in mind that NZ is a relatively young country by official standards, so the history of Larnach Castle may not quite match up to some European castles! That said, it has an interesting and in some cases controversial history, and at one point, came close to being demolished.
We had dinner in the castle itself, which was grand and the food itself was incredible. If you are staying at the castle, you really need to have dinner here as well! You are seated with other guests which can lead to a lot of interesting discussions.
The accommodation was overlooking Broad Bay I believe and the views in the morning with the sunrise were spectacular.
Thoroughly recommend the experience as a whole as you will do nothing else like it in NZ.
Written May 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aussie_2012
Melbourne, Australia961 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
Arrive at the main entrance prior to 9am to receive an early bird special of $10 per adult, then drive through to one of several car parks. Head for the castle first to avoid the crowds and get to experience some of the many rooms to yourselves. There are about 3 floors to explore and there is a ton of information about the history of the castle and the families who have cared for it. Quite stunning inside and a testament to those who built it. There is a gift shop and a cafe inside what looked like the main hall. Most impressive. Outside there are many gardens and vantage points over looking the Otago Peninsula. Allow a couple hours at least and as mentioned come early to beat the crowds as tour buses arrive from mid morning onwards.
Written January 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

What We Found Travelling
Sydney, Australia7,335 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Firstly the drive up to the castle is wonderful. The castle itself is more like a mansion. I don’t believe it should be called a castle. If you are expecting to see a traditional style castle you’ll be disappointed.
After exploring inside & out for an hour or so, we figured the admission price of $45 is excessive. It’s certainly not worth more than $25 per person.
Great history about the castle & quite interesting to see how the place was fitted out back in the 1800’s.
You’ll enjoy your visit here a lot more if you time it to avoid the cruise ship crowds.
Written March 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marty G
Ventura, CA9 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
My wife, adult daughter and I are Visiting from California and touring the South Island by car. We decided to visit the castle as, we've never seen a castle before... and we're completely disappointed, mostly by the castle packing in hordes of cruise ship tourists, leaving those visiting totally left out, crowded and uninformed as to what we were seeing in the castle. We were given a basic brochure upon entering that lists a floor plan of each level, but that's it. No real history, no description of the rooms, nothing. No descriptions or background information is to be had in any rooms, save one, on one floor.
The castle tour guides cater primarily to the cruise ship tours...so no guides to be had for those not from a ship. The guides themselves or very apologetic and admitted it was very difficult for none cruise ship passengers to experience or enjoy the castle.
Grounds were lovely though...so there's that
What they SHOULD do is charge a greatly reduced rate for those visiting on their own for a self guided tour.
Waste of time, money and energy.
Written February 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeanne R
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Friends
The drive up to the Castle is incredible as it is, nestled in a peninsula and surrounded by rolling green hills, and lots of sheep. Then, you arrive to this beautiful lush green forest, and walk up to a truly magnificent view. The Castle is wonderful, the staff friendly and the the overall experience just as educating as it is beautiful. The work that has been done to keep the place in shape is appreciated, and if you budget allows, I highly recommend taking high-tea. I did and made a point of dressing up to really get the full experience, and loved every second of it.
And you get absolutely great views of the peninsula below
Written January 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carol R
Orange, Australia45 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
This castle is amazing and well worth a visit. Lovingly restored by the current owners and unselfishly available to share with the public. Plenty of parking. Admission price well worth the access to the castle and garden. The castle has been an obvious labour of love by the current owners. It displays a high quality standard of restoration with minute attention to historical research and detail. Entering any of the rooms provided the "Wow" factor. The garden is absolutely beautiful, the views are spectacular and the garden paths are easy to wander through. From the minute you enter the house, the staff are friendly and welcoming. The cafe in the ballroom is quirky and opulent with a reasonably priced and varied menu. Well done Barker family and staff!
Written December 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeffrey L
Boulder, United States13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
Well worth the time and cost. Be sure to follow the suggestions of the guide (elderly gentleman) who works as the greeter at the main entrance. Also, suggest that you buy reserved tickets ahead of time at the earliest time available. Don't miss the cafe on the grounds; the ambience alone is worth it.
Written June 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelJunkie54
Kiama, Australia65 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We were fortunate enough to stay at the Lodge accommodation located beside the castle which gave us free access to it. We went through the castle both days to view the amazing craftsmanship, furnishings and artworks. The location is very remote so its construction at the time was quite a feat. It has quite a checkered history and the Larnach family had some very colourful characters in it.
Highly recommended a visit to anyone visiting Dunedin or surrounding areas.
Written October 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FarAway03888416998
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Family
Interesting history and worthwhile looking at the castle and gardens.
We had the high tea in the ballroom and we were disappointed that the high tea
area was not separate from general cafe. It meant the high tea didn’t feel very special. The high tea food was OK, but not as good as some other high teas, specially given the price of $85.00 for tea and entrance fee. Go to the castle but forget the high tea, not worth the price.
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Larnach Castle and Gardens Admission Ticket provided by Larnach Castle & Gardens

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