Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket
4.5
Full view
from per adult
$24.74
from per adult
$24.74
Lowest price guarantee
Ages 0-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 2–4 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
German, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
- 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
- Return details
- Returns to original departure point
- 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 tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- What you can expect during your visit
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Community- Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
- Which attractions will I visit with Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket?
- During this experience, places you will visit include:Discover and book Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket on Tripadvisor
- How much is Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket?
- Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket price starts from $24.78. Discover and book Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket on Tripadvisor
- What is the Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket cancellation policy?
- Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket cancellation policy: All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties. Discover and book Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket?
- Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket is hosted by Larnach Castle & Gardens. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Larnach Castle & Gardens on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket on Tripadvisor
- 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
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.
janicecc2014
00Beautiful gardens and home
Beautiful gardens and home. Castle is more of a large manor house than a castle. We did the self guided tour, I rec…
paulmR2526TE
00High Tea
Great High Tea experience celebrating my wifes 60th birthday. Also enjoyed the walk through the castle. Gardens loo…
Wmidk00
00A real quality treat
A real treat. We were able go at our pace not funneled through. Well laid out and organised. Restoration done to a …
Uarehappy
00Castle evening meal experience
Lovely evening meal in the castle . Felt very special with great food and surroundings We were staying in accommod…
JUDES_HANGOUT08
00Highlight of our stay in Dunedin
High Tea was the highlight of our visit. Well worth it and the walk in and around the castle was lovely. Highly rec…
Robin S
00Unique experience not to be missed
Staying at the Camp Estate at Larnach Castle is not to be missed. From the moment you arrive it feels like you’re s…
Lynne J
00Definitely worth a visit on a nice day
We were surprised at the entry cost which was more expensive than we had hoped with no pensioner discount. However,…
fmeffe
00A Scottish castle in New Zealand
The grounds are truly impressive. The whole experience from the drive or bus over is spectacular scenery. We were a…
Gail F
00An Invitation to Grander Days.
Larnach Castle exudes history, years of dedication and continuous' labours of love' both in the restoration process…
418joee
00A must stay in Dunedin
On arrival, check-in was easy we were greeted with a warm and welcoming smile. Breakfast was included in our stay. …
F5670UCmichaela
00Worth the visit
The castle and its grounds give a peak into how the well to do lived in those days. A really interesting story over…
taber
00Awesome Castle
The castle tour is well worth the entrance fee. Many of the rooms are open. You can even climb up into the turret…
evelynsC9837KX
00Amazing stay at a magical castle
Our castle stay was wonderful. We spent an afternoon exploring the beautiful gardens, then had an amazing, delici…
trophywest
00Beautiful Place - A Must See
Larnach Castle: Not so much a castle as a mansion. The garden outside is magnificent, photos included. After lun…
carolinedK4224QY
00Highly recommend a visit
This is well worth the drive out of town to visit this castle and the gardens. We were looking to do high tea but …
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
136 reviews
Excellent
85
Very good
30
Average
10
Poor
4
Terrible
7
Aussie_2012
Melbourne, Australia735 contributions
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.
Susan S
Richmond, VA17 contributions
Feb 2022
I had the great pleasure to visit Larnach Castle and get a guided tour with knowledgeable and gracious volunteer Suzanne on 21 February 2022, and she was outstanding! I would highly recommend viewing this spectacular architectural marvel; leave time for a leisurely stroll around the grounds and gardens. Go up the tower for stunning views! It is all so splendid. Suzanne kindly answered my many questions without revealing any exasperation: I was very curious and she was never stumped by my many inquiries. She obviously loves the place and her enthusiasm is contagious .It is a photographer's delight, both inside and outside, and photos are allowed: come prepared with charged back-up batteries and memory cards--there is so much beauty to capture. The gift shop offers lovely keepsake treasures, too.
Written March 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cherri_R25
Pullman, WA44 contributions
Dec 2022
We visited the castle and gardens on a foggy day in December 2022. At first we were a bit disappointed, but once we arrived we found the cloudy day actually added to our experience.
The gardens were lovely in the damp air and the crowds were limited. Although we could not see the longer views the general atmosphere was wonderful. Once we got inside the castle we found the eerie weather outside added to the castle’s mystery as well. This became starkly evident when we stepped into “Constance’s Boudoir.”
Also, look out for the painting of the castle with the faint image of a church spire—again a bit eerie and fun.
We also did High Tea at the castle. We did enjoy the tea, but you can also get tea and a light snack at the cafe as well without booking the High Tea experience.
The gardens were lovely in the damp air and the crowds were limited. Although we could not see the longer views the general atmosphere was wonderful. Once we got inside the castle we found the eerie weather outside added to the castle’s mystery as well. This became starkly evident when we stepped into “Constance’s Boudoir.”
Also, look out for the painting of the castle with the faint image of a church spire—again a bit eerie and fun.
We also did High Tea at the castle. We did enjoy the tea, but you can also get tea and a light snack at the cafe as well without booking the High Tea experience.
Written December 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Anventure
Chicago, IL95 contributions
What a commanding view of the city and outdoor gardens get a lot of attention and it shows. Inside, the reimagining and best efforts at restoring are impressive given the scope of the task. I visited as part of a tour group and found it poorly managed, overcrowded and almost impossible to hear the guide. There were several areas indicating they would enjoy attention when more funds were raised. I’m assuming that is why too many people were slammed into the touring groups. I felt badly for people visiting independent of the overcrowded tour groups as they truly were swimming against the flow to cram in and get a vague notion of what they were seeing as a tour guide mumbled while trying to keep from getting knocked over. This could be nicely done with orchestrated tours of a third the size. As it was, such an overwhelming, crowded and hot experience.
Written March 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Valerie B
6 contributions
There was sufficient information in the house to make the visit really interesting without getting bogged down in too much detail. The house was wonderful, had the feeling of a lived in home. We also enjoyed the gardens which had some good planting and different aspects. The views from the battlements were wonderful and well worth the climb up the spiral staircase. The ballroom cafe served a great lunch at very reasonable prices and the coffee was great
Written December 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
aw682018
Masterton, New Zealand20 contributions
Oct 2022
The drive to Larnach’s Castle was stunning with views of the ocean on both sides, absolutely stunning!
Entrance to the castle and gardens was pricey but worth it to see the castle and learn about it’s history, unfortunately due to weather conditions we didn’t get to look around the gardens, maybe next time.
Special thanks to Roger who greeted us and took the time to chat with each visitor. Very knowledgable and clearly enjoys his job.
Lunch in the Ballroom cafe was very nice and reasonably priced.
Would highly recommend a visit to Larnach’s Castle.
Entrance to the castle and gardens was pricey but worth it to see the castle and learn about it’s history, unfortunately due to weather conditions we didn’t get to look around the gardens, maybe next time.
Special thanks to Roger who greeted us and took the time to chat with each visitor. Very knowledgable and clearly enjoys his job.
Lunch in the Ballroom cafe was very nice and reasonably priced.
Would highly recommend a visit to Larnach’s Castle.
Written October 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
blackrock2016
Invercargill, New Zealand26 contributions
Mar 2021
As a family, we have visited Lanarch Castle many times over the years. We have observed the hard work put in by the Barkers and others. Our last visit, with my late wife, was very disappointing.. Pre Covid, we took our small granddaughter, who was very excited by the prospect. We experienced complete disorder. Groups of people were crowding into rooms, mostly Australian and American, there seemed to be little or no control systems in place.
My grand daughter didn't get to see much at all. When I spoke to a member of staff, about my concerns, I was told " Well you really picked a bad time."
Very disappointing. Sadly, I doubt that we will ever return.
My grand daughter didn't get to see much at all. When I spoke to a member of staff, about my concerns, I was told " Well you really picked a bad time."
Very disappointing. Sadly, I doubt that we will ever return.
Written February 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Stuart M
Auckland, New Zealand9 contributions
Dec 2021
Historically speaking this castle has had a pretty eventful life which is captured succinctly in the presentations onsite. I enjoyed the well restored rooms as they weren't overly cluttered and reflected the original inhabitants lives pretty well. It's good to go up the narrow spiral staircase to the top turret as there are great views. The cafe is nice and cosy in the ballroom with an indoor fireplace as well as outdoor gazebo/tent for those warm summer days - and the food was excellent and rich. Walking in the gardens was very enjoyable with a range of diverse & different gardens, also scenic vistas - and the sounds of the tui's and blackbirds are very relaxing. It was also nice to be so warmly invited to come again for free sometime in the next 365 days. Exceeded my expectations.
Written December 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dear StuartmU7397LR
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave us a review.
It is very nice to learn your we exceeded your expectations, we hope you can visit us again sometime in the future.
Kind regards
Deborah Price
Written December 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Happy Travels at Felicity 888
Auckland, New Zealand55 contributions
Jan 2021
We had a lovely few hours at Larnach Castle. We went around 10 in the morning to avoid too many people visiting the place.
We especially liked touring the grounds because of the stunning views of the Otago Peninsula. The scenery was breathtaking.
The stairs going up the tower fits only one person. It's very narrow and if you're claustrophobic you might not want to go up the tower.
We especially liked touring the grounds because of the stunning views of the Otago Peninsula. The scenery was breathtaking.
The stairs going up the tower fits only one person. It's very narrow and if you're claustrophobic you might not want to go up the tower.
Written March 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ian S
109 contributions
Feb 2020
I was surprised how expensive it was ($34 per adult) to get in to see the castle and gardens (it is cheaper if you only see the gardens). However having done it we were really pleased we went and it was well worth it.
They have really lovely gardens, but the most interesting part was the castle itself. There was heaps of really fascinating history about the Larnach family (and they had lots of dramas!) and also the restoration of the castle after it got very neglected for a period of time. Most of the castle has been restored and filled with antique furniture etc.
It was well worth walking to the very top of the castle to the Tower Room with great views out in three directions and then you can walk up a skinny spiral staircase up to the roof of that room. Sadly, many people didn't realise that this was possible and missed it, but it was well worth walking up the staircase to walk out onto the roof which is where you get the best views from.
They also have a great cafe with some really delicious food and some very nice hot chocolate flavours (White Chocolate and also Turkish Delight - they were both very nice but the Turkish Delight one was the best!).
They have really lovely gardens, but the most interesting part was the castle itself. There was heaps of really fascinating history about the Larnach family (and they had lots of dramas!) and also the restoration of the castle after it got very neglected for a period of time. Most of the castle has been restored and filled with antique furniture etc.
It was well worth walking to the very top of the castle to the Tower Room with great views out in three directions and then you can walk up a skinny spiral staircase up to the roof of that room. Sadly, many people didn't realise that this was possible and missed it, but it was well worth walking up the staircase to walk out onto the roof which is where you get the best views from.
They also have a great cafe with some really delicious food and some very nice hot chocolate flavours (White Chocolate and also Turkish Delight - they were both very nice but the Turkish Delight one was the best!).
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
streakedblonde
Mansfield, TX189 contributions
Will be visiting on a cruise. What is the best way to get to the castle and back to the cruise port?
Vicki B
Bellenden Ker, Australia6 contributions
We will be doing that same..l hope this gets answered soon for you