The shocking story of New Zealand’s only castle

Larnach Castle on the Otago Castle near Dunedin is the only castle in New Zealand. And there’s a scandalous story behind it.

• To skip the story and just buy skip-the-line Larnach Castle entrance tickets, head here. There are also several Larnach Castle tours from Dunedin that include the city, wildlife attractions and more. Otherwise, read on…

Why William Larnach came to New Zealand

You don’t, it seems, need to be a member of the aristocracy to have your own castle. It never stopped William Larnach, after all.

New Zealand may seem like an odd place to find a castle. It has no history of medieval warfare and no reason to assume it will come under siege from trebuchets at any point soon. But Larnach, an Australian-born banker who came over to Otago during the gold rush in 1860s, saw a perfect spot on the Otago Peninsula and decided he wanted to build one there.

Inside Larnach Castle

Larnach Castle, of course, is suitably ludicrous. Fabric wallpapers and intricately carved wood-panelling were shipped in from England, the supposed verandah was glassed over when they realised that the south of New Zealand doesn’t quite have an Australian climate and a tower was built to ensure they had a prime position to take in the views.

But traipsing through the castle to see the rooms and old furniture is only moderately interesting, despite the extraordinary efforts of the current owner to track down all the original pieces that were sold off when Larnach’s children sold the estate. What really makes the castle worth a visit is the story of the Larnach family. And frankly, you’d not be surprised if one of them was haunting the place.

The scandal of Larnach Castle

It all started going a bit weird after a family trip to London, where William’s wife Eliza gave birth to their sixth child, Gladys. When they came back from London, Eliza’s sister Mary joined them and came to live in the castle.

Alas, Eliza had grown to hate the isolation of the place and being left alone while Larnach was in Wellington, strutting his stuff as a power-behind-the-throne sort of MP. So she got a townhouse in Dunedin, where she promptly died at the age of 38.

Larnach didn’t have too far to look for a new wife, and married Mary, promoting all manner of tutting from respected members of society. It also was the start of legal wranglings over Larnach’s will – suffice to say the children didn’t want Mary getting her hands on anything.

But then Mary died, again aged 38, and Larnach took a third wife – Connie – soon afterwards. But there was a substantial age gap between the castle-building MP and his new wife. She was closer to his children’s age than he was.

Douglas Larnach’s affair

It seems one of the children spotted this. Rumours started circling that Larnach’s son, Douglas, was having an illicit affair with his stepmother. Keeping it in the family had become something of a family tradition.

The tale goes that Larnach didn’t know about this affair until he received an anonymous letter warning of it. And he shot himself dead inside the New Zealand parliament building the day afterwards.

He died intestate, so this triggered off huge rows about the inheritance. Connie and Douglas lined up against the other kids, who eventually won. Although a fat lot of good it did them, as they inherited a pittance – unsurprisingly for someone who sees fit to build himself a castle, Larnach had been living beyond his means for quite some time and was virtually bankrupt.

The Larnach children decided to get rid of their dad’s castle soon afterwards. Luckily neither it or the story behind it have crumbled into obsolescence.

Larnach Castle opening hours, ticket prices, parking and booking tips

Larnach Castle opening hours and seasonal schedules

• The Castle & Gardens are open 365 days a year.
• Summer hours (1 October to 30 March): 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
• Winter hours (31 March to 30 September): 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Last entry into the Castle is one hour before closing.
• Other facilities:
  • Ballroom Café: open year-round 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, except Christmas Day.
  • Gift Shop & accommodation check-outs: summer 8:00-5:00; winter 8:30-5:00.

Larnach Castle ticket prices and admission options

From 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2025, these are the official rates:

Admission Type	Adults (15+)	Children (5-14)	Children (0-4)	Family Pass*
Castle + Gardens (self-guided)	NZD $45	$15	Free	$105 (up to 2 adults + 4 children)
Gardens & Grounds only (no castle interior)	NZD $22	$7	Free	$51 (up to 2 adults + 4 children)

*Family pass covers two adults + up to four children.

All admission fees help fund ongoing restoration work. There is also a Loyal Local pass: buy a Castle + Gardens or Gardens only ticket, and you can upgrade to a 12-month pass entitling you to free entry for a year (for locals).

Larnach Castle parking and access

• The castle is at 145 Camp Road, Otago Peninsula, Dunedin.
• Access is by private vehicle or tour coach only. There is no public transport route directly to the castle.
• Drive time is about 20-25 minutes from the Octagon (Dunedin city centre).
• Roads are winding and narrow in places; drive carefully, especially on the two main access routes (via Portobello Road + Castlewood Road, or via Highcliff Road).
• On-site parking is available for day visitors and overnight guests.

Larnach Castle booking tips and best practices

• Pre-booking is not required for general Castle + Gardens or Gardens only entry—you can purchase tickets at the gate.
• Certain experiences require advance booking:
  • High Tea – requires 24 hours’ notice.
  • Guided tours – daily at 9:30 am and 11:30 am; booking ahead is recommended.
  • Castle Dinner Experience – dining in the Castle must be booked in advance.
• If you’re visiting during peak season or public holidays, it’s smart to arrive early to avoid queues.
• For on-site accommodation (Larnach Lodge, Stable Stay, Camp Estate), book well in advance, especially if combining with dining or special events.

More New Zealand South Island stories

Other New Zealand South Island articles on Planet Whitley include:

• Iceberg kayaking on Tasman Lake.
• A three week New Zealand travel itinerary.
• What to do on the Christchurch to Oamaru drive before seeing Oamaru’s penguin colony.
• Braving sea-sickness on the Stewart Island ferry.
• Why you shouldn’t do a day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown.

For more New Zealand tours, activities and experiences, head this way.