Larnach Castle Tour: Otago Peninsula Wildlife

Embark on a fascinating journey as you explore Larnach Castle and take a wildlife cruise on the Otago Peninsula. Witness breathtaking scenery and encounter amazing wildlife on this memorable tour.

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 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…
What's Included
  • Entry fee and one-hour Larnach Castle Tour
  • One-hour Monarch Wildlife Cruise
  • Complimentary wifi, jackets and binoculars on the Wildlife Cruise
  • Interactive commentary from a local guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Restrooms at Larnach Castle and on the Wildlife Cruise
What's Not Included
  • 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.
Additional Information

Discover the breathtaking Larnach Castle and explore the picturesque Otago Peninsula with a unique Monarch Wildlife Cruise.
A knowledgeable guide will lead a one-hour tour of Larnach Castle, sharing the intriguing tale of early settler William Larnach and his family. Wander through the meticulously restored castle, showcasing original antique furniture…

Location
Otago Peninsula
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(57 Ratings)
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Trek39714145698
Nov 14, 2025
Great Experience in Dunedin - My 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Peggy_k
Nov 8, 2025
Fantastic experience - Our 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.
Review provided by Viator
Tor_b
Oct 30, 2025
Our tour guide Toss was... - Our 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.
Review provided by Viator
272shuaiy
Oct 26, 2025
Nice one day tour - Very enjoyable and educational tour, perfect if you don’t have a car. Thank you Will for providing such a great day in Dunedin
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenineo2021
Oct 20, 2025
Amazing - This 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_k
Mar 18, 2025
Enjoyable van and boat trip from Dunedin. - We 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.
Review provided by Viator
Sanfordazrealtor
Mar 11, 2025
A real Dunner Stunner - This 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ichun_l
Mar 9, 2025
Best tour - I 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 😉
Review provided by Viator
Gilltone
Feb 22, 2025
Fabulous castle tour & boat ride - Great tour of Lanarch Castle and surrounding areas. Beautiful boat ride to see albatross, fur seals etc. Tour guide had tons of great info about the history of Dunedin. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Henrys201
Feb 19, 2025
Great excusion - Great trip to visit Larnach Castle, learn about its history and efforts being made to bring it back to its former glory. Also and very nice cruise out around Taiaroa Head and observe the wildlife there.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $98
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).