Iconic Shore Excursion: Iconic Larnach Castle Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. We stop here at this magnificent old Railway Station to admire the architecture and take photos.

   15 min

2. Drive through the oldest cemetery in Dunedin and view the spectacular family tomb of William Larnach. Designed by famed architect Robert Lawson in the image of Dunedin's Scottish First Church. The cemetery hosts a number of exquisite grave sites belonging to wealthy prestigious Dunedin people, nestled on a lovely wooded hillside.

   Passes by

3. Iconic Tours provide a fully guided small group tour of the Castle's interior. Smaller group size allows us to navigate the Castle with ease, keeping away from the larger groups and fitting much more into the day. New Zealand's infamous castle was built over a century ago by William Larnach high up on the hills of the Otago Peninsula. Experience breath-taking views along the Peninsula's high road with photo stops en-route to the Castle. Upon arrival it will be time for a light lunch in the Ballroom Cafe (at own cost). We reserve a table for our group and a variety of food is available at good prices. After lunch, your guide will escort you throughout the entire castle, from the gun room below to the views from the turret and all the marvels in between. Get all the details as you explore the Larnach family’s legacy and hear the tale of their amazing story.

   3 hAdmission included

4. Stop and view the street from below, or have a go at walking to the top. Baldwin Street is known as the World's steepest and no visit to Dunedin is complete without seeing this famous landmark.

   30 min

5. We drive through the University Campus area to view the student flats and interesting buildings. If time permits we will stop to view the old Clock Tower Building

   Passes by

6. We take you on a scenic drive along the high road for a lookout stop before reaching Larnach Castle, located high up on the hills of the Otago Peninsula

   Passes by

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 111 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 5Wonderful day with Iconic tour of Larnoch Castle

  My wife and I went on this excursion after docking from Princess cruises at Dunedin, New Zealand. We were picked up right at the cruise port and proceeded to a van with 5 others. a nice small group. we toured through Dunedin and our guide was excellent. Her son joined us and we heard of his bagpiping. Turns out his brother also bagpipes and is the principal bagpiper for Larnoch Castle. The area was beautiful and we learned of the history of the area and Larnoch. We even had a chance to meet Margaret Barker, the owner of the castle. A very interesting tour that was made even better by the excellent guide and her son.

  Scott_FJuly 2026via Viator

• 5Wonderful experience

  Loved this tour. Ann our guide was informative helpful and very personable. We toured the city visited a lookout and the steepest street in the world before visiting the castle and having a great lunch which isn’t included but was very good. Ann was so fantastic highly recommend this tour

  Mark_kiesewetterMarch 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5A great day out!

  We really enjoyed our excursion. Kim was an excellent tour guide and very accommodating. Our cruise ship disembarked later than expected, but Kim kindly waited for us and ensured that everyone was accounted for and no one was left behind. We saw amazing scenery across the Otago Peninsula and Larnarch Castle. I would recommend this tour to others.

  Hugh_SMarch 2026via Viator

• 5Great tour guide with great stops

  Our pre-tour questions were all answered in a timely manner and we felt well prepared for the tour. Ann, our guide was phenomenal. She prepared a great plan for the day and executed it with perfection. She said she loved to talk and she provided excellent commentary all along the way. The castle tour that she led was excellent. Best of all, she was extremely attentive to my wife's dietary needs and provided great options.

  Dale_TMarch 2026via Viator

• 5Great Choice

  We visited Dunedin while cruising and we prefer private tours versus cruise excursions. When slightly frustrated that 2 highly rated tour operators in Dunedin were booked, we were comforted that Iconic was the only other "friendly" competitor that they recommended. Ann with Iconic was both professional and personable. You can feel her love of the area and she made sure to include the best stops visitors should see. Plenty of time was available at each stop and we did not feel hurried. The highlight of this tour was Larnach Castle and included Ann as a personal guide. The optional time for lunch at the Castle decreased the need for bringing snacks or getting "hangry" toward the end. Using a smaller mini bus allowed for a much less expensive price than a private tour yet was far superior to a 40+ seater coach. When we had a change to our port departure time announced the day before arrival, Ann was aware and made sure to return us on time.

  rmebobMarch 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5A day of History , a families story and beautiful surroundings.

  A fantastic tour , great value , Ann our tour guide had a real passion for the castle and Dunedin in general and this was evident as she shared stories and local knowledge that we would have missed with some of the larger tour operators. Thanks for a great Day Ann.

  lisalX8063HOMarch 2026via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

How it compares in Port Chalmers

• Its from-price is 33% below the median of the 17 day trips we list in Port Chalmers.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 5 of 17.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Port Chalmers

Port Chalmers is the working harbour town of Otago, a small, hilly place of stone and wooden buildings on Otago Harbour, close to Dunedin.

Port Chalmers is a small port town on the northern shore of Otago Harbour, on the South Island's east coast, a short drive from the centre of Dunedin. Streets of weatherboard and stone buildings climb steep hillsides above a harbour filled with container ships, fishing boats and, in season, cruise ships. Scottish settlers landed here in 1848 to found the Otago settlement.

See all 41 experiences in Port Chalmers