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Larnach Castle

Billed as "the only castle" in New Zealand, it's very pretty but it's actually a manor house. Lanarch Castle has a rich and interesting but rather unhappy history. It was built by wealthy businessman William Larnach and later cabinet minister in the New Zealand Government, holding various portfolios, over a period of 25 years. He took his own life in the New Zealand Parliament Buildings in 1898. After the home was sold by the family it became first a lunatic asylum, then a hospital for shell-shocked soldiers and a nuns' retreat. In 1967 it was purchased by new owners and restored.

Address: 145 Camp Rd, Otago Peninsula
Getting there: Other than by local tour, taxi or by private car then the other option is to take bus 18 from the centre of Dunedin in the direction of Harrington Point, get off in Company Bay and from there walk 5.5 km along Castlewood Rd.
Hours: Castle Oct-Mar 8AM-6PM, to Apr-Sep 9AM-5PM. Garden Oct-Mar 9AM-7PM, to Apr-Sep 9AM-5PM
Price: Castle, gardens & grounds adult $34, child (aged 5 - 14) $12, family (2 adults and up to 4 children) $80. Early bird special 8—9:30AM (Oct-Mar) adult $25.50, child (aged 5 - 14) $9, family $60. Gardens & grounds only adult $17, child $5. Guided tours $125
Website: larnachcastle.co.nz (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Dunedin, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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Fletcher House
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