Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour: Discover New Zealand's Early 20th Century Lifestyle

Immerse yourself in the early 20th century lifestyle at Olveston Historic Home in Dunedin. Explore the stunning architecture, beautiful gardens, and rich history on a guided tour.

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Olveston Historic Home - All tours are guided by our professional staff to give you the ultimate time capsule experience. You will learn about how a wealthy merchant family lived in the early 1900’s in Otago’s major town, Dunedin, built on gold. Olveston has all its original contents with over 120 art works.
    After your tour of over 13 spectacular…
What's Included
  • Expert local guide included
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Experience the fine structure, verdant landscapes, and ornate interior of the sophisticated Olveston Historic Home on a 1-hour guided exploration of this must-visit Dunedin site. You also have the opportunity to saunter through the picturesque gardens while admiring cityscapes and Otago Harbour vistas. As you journey through the house, your…

Location
42 Royal Terrace
Royal Terrace
At Olveston reception
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(219 Ratings)
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1 star
Trip49725351356
Apr 16, 2026
Wonderful experience - Tour was very informative and the guide friendly with visible passion for history.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scottmp9
Apr 6, 2026
Fascinating glimpse into the past - I really enjoyed the tour of this historic merchant home in Dunedin. You get to explore a lot of the house, and most of the furniture and artifacts are preserved from the days when members of the Theomin family lived there (up to the 1960s). There are lots of little surprises and some items that would have been state-of-the-art a century ago; many are still quite impressive today! Our guide Kevin was incredible - full of interesting stories about the history of the house and the Theomin family, plus the wider social and historic context of the time. He was so engaging and brought the place to life. There's also an interesting little gift shop and a pleasant garden with an original (restored) 1921 Fiat. Definitely a highly recommended tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cruiser38460892090
Mar 29, 2026
Olveston House and garden - Guided tour of the house was very interesting, informative and enjoyable. The group size wasn't too large and there was the opportunity to ask questions if you wanted too. The garden was very colouful
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jo_b
Mar 28, 2026
Thank you Kevin - Kevin was a brilliant guide and the house is a wonder. So much to learn and it was so informative. Fascinating to see how the inhabitants lived and how they saved the house for future generations.
Review provided by Viator
Katrina2507
Mar 25, 2026
STEP BACK IN TIME - This home has been preserved immaculately, including all the art work, furniture, silver and linen. I expected the generous donor (who died in 1966) to return any moment! The Trust clearly takes great pride in this beautiful home. Our guide, Christine, provided interesting and insightful commentary throughout our tour, welcoming questions and answering them as if she knew the owners themselves! As if that's not enough, the gardens are a joy to wander through, with apple trees, herbs and roses sitting alongside 100 year old trees. A visit to this home is highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Johnbm2099ag
Mar 17, 2026
All for four people - Excellent and knowledgeable guide
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ken_g
Mar 15, 2026
Olveston a Grand Edwardian Family Home - A grand Edwardian style family home built in 1904. Gifted to Dunedin 1966. Maintained in original condition with the family furnishings and a large collection of eclectic belongings collected by the family on numerous over seas travels. Simply amazing.
Review provided by Viator
Navigate14460431815
Mar 13, 2026
A beautiful gem in the City - What a stunning building! Our guide Chris was excellent…lots of info about the family and house but not too much to overwhelm. So glad the family ‘donated’ the house and contents to the City. Very well maintained, small but lovely gift shop and very friendly staff/volunteers. The grounds are beautiful too. Well worth a visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Traveler22063678906
Mar 4, 2026
Excellent tour of Olveston Historic Home - We enjoyed the detailed tour of the Olveston Historic Home given by Ronnie. There were so many original objects and the house presents itself in excellent condition. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
688kerriet
Mar 29, 2026
Worth a visit if you have the right guide - Beautifully preserved home and gardens well worth a visit. My adult daughter and I did the last Sunday tour. Unfortunately our guide’s curt responses to a couple of group questions soured my expérience. Given there aren’t interpretation panels, visitors are quite reliant on the guide (unless you want to purchase a book for $86) so it was disappointing to feel deterred from engaging in more of the family’s history.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $15
up to 9 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).