Larnach Castle & Otago Wildlife Cruise from Dunedin
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Visit the stunning Larnach Castle. Explore the scenic Otago Peninsula and enjoy a special Monarch Wildlife Cruise.
Your guide will take you on a one-hour tour of Larnach Castle. Hear the scandalous story of early settler William Larnach and his family. Explore the beautifully restored castle, with it's original antique furniture and impressive craftsmanship throughout. 30-minutes is allowed to briefly explore the gardens or take tea in the ballroom cafe.
The bus tour will then take you further along the Otago Peninsula.
You'll next board a one-hour Wildlife Cruise, travelling past volcanic cliffs and a historic lighthouse. Enjoy close viewing of fur seals, royal albatross and seabirds. We sometimes spot sea lions, blue penguins & dusky or hectors dolphins.
A 90-minute visit to The OPERA can also be added on as an extra. See conservation in action and possibly see the worlds rarest penguin (yellow-eyed) as you walk through a private eco-reserve and wildlife rehab facility.
Additional Info
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Restrooms at Larnach Castle and on the Wildlife Cruise
Interactive commentary from a local guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Complimentary wifi, jackets and binoculars on the Wildlife Cruise
One-hour Monarch Wildlife Cruise
Entry fee and one-hour Larnach Castle Tour
We don't provide food or drinks. You can bring it with you or snacks can be purchased at the castle
We don't pickup from Port Chalmers cruise terminal pickup, unless you've booked the correct option.
Wildlife viewing is not guaranteed, but we'll always show you as much as possible.
What To Expect
Otago Peninsula
Tour along the beautiful roads of the Otago Peninsula in our comfortable minivan. Enjoy stunning views of harbour and coast as you go.
Larnach Castle & Gardens
Small group guided tour through 'NZ's Castle'. Discover the scandalous story of the Larnach family and explore the painstakingly restored building and it's beautiful grounds.
Options
Castle to Cruise + Penguins
Wildlife + Penguin Tour: Guided walk through an eco-reserve helping save the endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin. Not suitable for cruise ship schedules.
Pickup included
Cruise Ship Terminal pick up
Cruise Ship Terminal pick up: Castle to Cruise Tour with pickup and dropoff from the Port Chalmers Cruise Ship Terminal.
Pickup included
Castle to Cruise Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
60 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A great place to visit on any trip to New Zealand
Duane G,
Dec 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a great travel back in time experience. The castle is a work of art, and we found the history fascinating. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and was able to answer all questions. The gardens and grounds were some of the best we saw in all of New Zealand.
Larnach Castle wildlife cruise and Yellow eyed penguin tour
Lorie46,
Nov 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Was picked up at 10:30, home by 5:30, stopped at some lookouts, castle and the grounds was great then onto the 1 hour wildlife cruise to see lions,albatross and also went to see the yellow eyed penguins which was another 2 hour tour. The crowd size was perfect with 13 of us.
Great Experience in Dunedin
Trek39714145698,
Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My tour was so well organised. Pick up in central Dunedin then Ross, our minibus driver was so helpful and knowledgeable taking us on our scenic ride to the castle where he shared his knowledge about the history of the castle. Later he dropped us off for the cruise which was fun but we had no sightings of the great northern Albatross. However we did sight a few dolphins, many other sea birds and a few fur seals. Commentary on the cruise was excellent and we were well looked after. Ross drove me back to the city and dropped me near to my connection. All in all, it was a great experience.
Fantastic experience
Peggy K,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our driver Ross shared so many interesting facts along the way. He shared the history of the Larnach family as we toured which brought the rooms to life. We saw black swans on the way to the cruise. The highlights were albatross and a dolphin swimming beside the boat.
Our tour guide Toss was...
Tor B,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide Toss was very informative. As he is a local to Dunedin, it was great to hear his knowledge. We were very happy overall with the whole tour.
Nice one day tour
272shuaiy,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very enjoyable and educational tour, perfect if you don’t have a car. Thank you Will for providing such a great day in Dunedin
Amazing
jenineo2021,
Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a great experience the guide was full of knowledge the castle was amazing .The wild life cruise was very good as well with very good staff to help you find the wildlife.
Enjoyable van and boat trip from Dunedin.
Michael K,
Mar 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We started our tour driving in a comfortable van from Dunedin through the scenic countryside to the Larnach “castle”. Ross was a superb driver and tour guide. After touring the castle and enjoying a quick lunch on the grounds we left for the cruise. We spent an hour or so on the boat with our wildlife expert Will. We saw a few seals and sea lions along with several species of water birds. The highlight was observing the flight of the greater albatross. The crew of the boat thoughtfully escorted us around a small group of peaceful environmental protestors at our cruise ship port.
A real Dunner Stunner
SanfordAZRealtor,
Mar 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an excellent shore excursion and tour provided by Rob our guide and Monarch tours. Very well organized and the right amount of time for the guided castle and boat cruise. Just like the tour, the weather was great; we had a Dunner Stunner, sunny and warm day!
Best tour
Ichun L,
Mar 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00I just did the tour today and absolutely loved it! It felt very special because there were only me and another lady on the tour, and I was honestly stunned they were willing to do the tour for just the two of us. Our tour guide David was warm and professional, giving us detailed commentary on the history and wild life of the area. I think this tour is just the perfect combination that allows you to see the castle (which is quite hard to get to without a car), and the most iconic wildlife of the area. The albatross were really impressive in their wingspan and they got quite close to the boat. In addition you also see some seals and beautiful rock formations! But my favourite part was the "opera" penguin sanctuary, and I feel really privileged to be able to view so many endangered species of wild penguin from up close. All in all, if you're only doing one tour in Dunedin, I think this is it 😉
From NZ$175.00
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Operated by Monarch Wildlife Cruises & Tours