Water Taxi and Shuttle to Larnach Castle
Overview
Available languages
The quickest and most fun option to get to see New Zealands only castle. A fast water taxi ride across the beautiful Otago Harbour to Macandrew Bay, a small seaside village on the Otago Peninsula. Here you transfer to our executive shuttle van for your scenic drive up the hill to the castle. Your entry fee to the castle and gardens is included in your fare.
You'll have an hour and a half to explore the castle and gardens. You'll then be brought back down to the harbour, for your second water taxi ride into Steamer Basin, in the heart of Dunedin.
From Steamer Basin it's a short 5 minute walk to the iconic Dunedin Railway Station and Toitu, the Settlers Museum. This is also the departure point for the Cruise ship shuttles that return to Port.
Please note -
Trips from 8.30am - 10.30am and the 11.30am trip leave from Back Beach, Port Chalmers.
Trips from 11.00 and 12.10pm leave from Steamer Basin, Dunedin city.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Our guide is available for the transport and entry to the Castle only. The tour of the castle and gardens is self guided.
Alternative departure points can be arranged subject to availability and other bookings.
Your departure point depends on the time of your tour. Trips from 8.30am to 10.30am and the 11.30 trip depart from Back Beach, Port Chalmers and finish in Dunedin. Trips leaving at 11.00am and 12.10pm depart from Steamer Basin in Dunedin.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Option for pick-up from Back Beach, Port Chalmers. Contact us for availability.
Discounted return trips back to Port Chalmers
Option for pick-up from Steamer Basin in Dunedin. Contact us for availability.
Entry ticket to the Castle and Gardens included in your fare
Drop off to Dunedin
Please bring your own drink bottle
Bring a warm jacket for those colder days
Return trips to Port Chalmers depend on availability on the day $35 NZD, per passenger.
Options
Back Beach Departures
Port Chalmers to Dunedin: Travel by boat to Macandrew Bay then shuttle van to the castle. Tour the castle then back down for your boat ride to Dunedin.
8.30 am - 11.30 am Departures: Departures from 8.30am until 11.30am leave from Back Beach, Port Chalmers. Departures 11.00am and later leave Steamer Basin.
Starting point:
Ferry to Quarantine Island, 39 Peninsula Beach Road, Port Chalmers 9023, New Zealand
Steamer Basin Departures
Steamer Basin, Dunedin to Port: Travel by boat to Macandrew Bay then shuttle van to the castle. Tour the castle then back down for your boat ride to Port.
11.00am and later Departures : Departures from 11.00 am leave from Steamer Basin, Dunedin. Earlier departures leave from Back Beach, Port Chalmers.
Starting point:
Steamer Basin, 16 Wharf Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Reviews
89 reviews on TripAdvisor
Do this tour!
Megan P,
Mar 29, 2025
5.00We booked this as shore tour rather than paying to to one through our ship & saved a bundle! Not only that these people know there stuff & we had the most enjoyable day.....highly recommend!👌
Pleasant people, excellent service.
Robert A,
Mar 19, 2025
5.00Water taxi and minibus ran exactly to time in both directions. Husband and wife team were pleasant and efficient…all you might hope for, but rarely find!
It was a beautiful ride...
Donna A,
Mar 17, 2025
3.00It was a beautiful ride to the harbor for pickup and drive to the castle. However it was not made clear in the booking that it was not a round trip fare and we were left in town and had to take a bus back to the ship. Tickets back to the ship were available for purchase from the ship but assuming we were being brought back to the ship’s port we had not purchased them. Fortunately they could be purchased at the bus. The water taxi back to the ship was $30pp.
Perfect for cruise ships
Christian R,
Mar 16, 2025
5.00This is a perfect itinerary for visitors from cruise ships if you want to see Lanarch Castle and Dunedin.
Water taxi is the way to go
DONALD P,
Mar 12, 2025
5.00Highly recommend. Taking the water taxi across the bay to Larnach Castle and then from there to town was an excellent way to travel. Quite a bit faster than the folks that took the bus from the wharf. Private transportation from the dock to/from the castle was also the way to go. We enjoyed touring the castle and the gardens for about two hours. Our shuttle bus driver showed us around the gardens for a much better perspective than we would have gotten on our own. The water taxi dropped us off 5 min from the train station (highly recommend) in town. We walked to Speight's Brewery (10 min, highly recommend) for our brewery tour and got back to the ship by shuttle bus (provided by the cruise ship).
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Operated by Otago Water Taxis and Tours Ltd