Larnach Lodge

This is a place you visit for whimsy. The Lodge rooms are adequate and nicely furnished. However, be warned the sound proofing is non existent! The dinner in the castle was pleasant but a bit expensive and not particularly comfortable as in the chairs and table- they may be period furniture but are crippling!! The meal though generous was pretty ordinary. Ditto for breakfast. But, the B&B is very reasonably priced. The Castle, its gardens and the views are incredible and definitely worth a visit though.

The Castle is located some way out of Dunedin along some very winding roads. The accommodation is a little dated - it lacks air conditioning, the windows are single glazed and the floors are a little uneven. However, it certainly has charm and the views are terrific if the weather is good. Our bed was comfortable and the bathroom was modern with a good shower. The windows could have done with a clean and there were dead flies in the room, but these are minor quibbles. The splendid grounds and quirky 'castle' make up for the deficiencies. |The lack of a restaurant may put off some people. There is a communal 4 course dinner available at 7pm, but that may not suit everyone. The food was good and there is a short, but adequate, wine list. Much will, I suppose, depend upon the characters of the fellow guests. The alternative (a drive into Dunedin) is proabaly unattractive.|All of the staff, at dinner, at the castle and doing the rooms were helpful and efficient.

So disappointing. When I booked via expedia, the photos were amazing, but they are of the castle, not the accomodation. The accomodation is next door in the old dtables with a shared bathroom like a school dormitory. You couldn't stand up in the room, it was tiny and I am 5.3". All the beams had covers on them as head banging was clearly an issue, and only a small window to open. Hugely claustrophic.. We left the key and found another hotel. No one from Expedia wants to help and the hotel are all about the money. Still trying to get a refund

The room was very small with sloping roof but at last the rafters were wrapped in foam to avoid concussion. Good deal with castle tour and fantastic breakfast. The evening meal at the castle was okay. Would have been good to have each course explained. Staff were great and end of meal tour was a nice bonus. Good game of oversized jenga in the garden while we waited.

Very comfortable and close to the castle, with a nice view even with the bad weather. Really enjoyed my stay. The dinner was fun, met some great people and yummy food. The tour after was also interesting! Thank you.

The Lodge is not an original building on the estate but was built next to the castle (1870) so easy for access. As a guest you can get in for a self guided tour. The views from our room at the Lodge were spectacular and on our 2nd night we chose to have a picnic on the balcony - a lovely evening. The gardens were also beautiful. ||The downsides were the sole option of an expensive communal dining experience, no bars or lounge to relax in, poor quality and options for breakfast (including dirty plates that hadn’t been checked after coming out of the dishwasher) and a stiflingly hot room with no air con and only the cheapest, smallest fan possible offered to help. ||At least we avoided the shared bathroom experience in the Stables…!

The most beautiful view from the room we stayed in. Our room is at the corner of the lodge, so we can see the best view of the Otago Peninsula. Sadly, the deck that wrapped around our room in an L shape looked pretty old and needed urgent TLC. The room includes breakfast, which is set up in the old stables. The breakfast is very good and the stables really set the vibe for the day.

New Zealand Photography Workshops. The castle sensational location, I have stayed here many times and it is our preferred location to stay in Dunedin. We stay in the stables and alway include dinner in the castle for our guests, its a real event and a highlight of a wild south tour.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Larnach Castle, and it was an unforgettable experience! From the moment I arrived, the stunning views of the Otago Peninsula took my breath away. The castle itself is full of rich history and charm, with beautifully restored rooms and fascinating stories that bring the place to life. Larnach Castle is a true gem, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Dunedin. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or just looking for a beautiful spot to explore, this place has something special to offer. I'll definitely be returning! *It is quite pricey to get in though...

beautiful castle especially garden&view This is a good place for families. It's easy to walk and take some pictures.

A unique and fascinating venue to stay at during your time in New Zealand. From High Tea to Dinner to a tour of the castle to just walking the grounds, this is a don't-miss if you're in the area.

I would recommend visiting if you are going for high tea. Beautiful grounds and interesting residence to walk around. The high tea was lovely. No need to purchase extra grounds tickets etc if going for the high tea.

Mmm this is more like an old homestead than a castle. The term 'castle' might be stretching it a little. For the price, it can be a miss. On-site there are gardens, the Larnach house, and barn lodging. The stables/barn has the option of apartment style lodging or you get the option of having a shared kitchen area. This place is supposed haunted, but I find that I get an eerie feeling in any old house I visit. Pro tip: you can go all the way to the tippy top of the Larnach Castle. Just follow a door and up a spiralling staircase and then you are on the roof balcony, it offers a great view of the surrounding land and even a glimpse of the bay. The Larnach family was pretty wealthy, and with this house, you can see how he brought England with him to New Zealand. In the homestead, there are a view rooms downstairs that tell of the history of the family. The next room has information of the family who bought it over and fully restored the venue to turn it into a castle everyone can visit. Larnach Castle is the only castle in New Zealand. The gardens are lovely, and the property sits on a hill offering a great vantage point of beautiful Dunedin and waterfront. Oh and the café is the ballroom.

We did not stay at their lodging nor dine at their restaurant, but came to visit the garden and had a glimpse of the beautiful dining hall. The ground was pretty with water view at some areas of the premises. Since it was not that big, can easily be covered within an hour's time. I imagine it would be very relaxing staying at their lodging.

The history of the castle is probably the most important factor contributing to the place's charm. The origins of the castle coupled with the lengthy restoration by a visionary has made this place worth visiting, not to mention the views you'd be rewarded with from the top. Although not as ornate as many castles, but it stems from the fact that it's more of a large home of a wealthy Presbyterian family.

When you book a stay keep in mind you do not stay in the castle, you stay in the lodge next to the castle. Rooms have amazing views of the Otago Harbour. The bath was excellent, with good hot water pressure and lovely products. Unfortunately that is where the niceties end. The bed was lumpy and uncomfortable even compared to our bed at the YHA hostel in lake tekapo. Beautiful evening meal setting but food was dry and bland. My dinner and dessert plate were taken before I was finished and without asking. At breakfast my order was taken but delivered without black pudding. When I inquired I was told they just run out but no alternative was offered. Clearly these folks are not hurting for business and are resting on their laurels. The grounds were beautiful with a fun Alice in wonderland theme which made up for the other negative aspects of our stay. We don't regret staying the night but if you are on the fence I recommend staying somewhere else and just visit the gardens on your own.

Originally coming from the UK, I would not call this a castle myself. It's more like a Country House. Still it is worth a visit, the grounds and gardens are certainly worth wandering around. It's a shame it rained on our visit, which cut the wandering short. There is a nod to Alice in Wonderland in several spots, if you notice them. It was nice walking round the house and reading about the family history and it's tragedies that occurred. Great views of the gardens and surrounding area once you climb the narrow twisting staircase to the top of the tower. We were disappointed that we did not encounter any of the haunting that happens here, not even an orb. The highlight for us was the wonderful High Tea, staff were friendly, and informative. Shame about the weather, good excuse to return.

Castle: old private castle built by a New Zealand Financier in the 1880s. Very nicely restored and open for tours. Guests of the lodge can dine in the Castle Dining Room together. Definitely a unique experience with well prepared gourmet meals. Lodge: polite and helpful staff. The parking can be bothersome but not terrible. The rooms are about what you'd expect on a castle estate. Rustic decor and drafty. The view however is AMAZING. 360 degree panoramic views of Dunedin & Otago Peninsula. The beds are queen style and very comfortable. We stayed in the Kauri room. (Private bathroom in room) Stable: close together rooms with a communal bathroom (dormitory style). Good if you're traveling with children. Grounds: beautiful. Manicured hedges & lawns, arched tunnels of trees and gardens full of flowers. Less color now as they are entering fall but breathtaking none the less. Compared to Newport or Biltmore- Lanarch Castle is about what I would expect as a European Equivalent. Not as ostentatious but still not a practical home; it was built more to show off than to house a family.

I have been to Larnach a few times. The gardens and views are amazing (can't blame Mother Nature!), but it is expensive. I once had high tea here during a "Wild Dunedin" event -- and it was terrible. There were no tables for any of the guests -- tea was served on banquet tables, you grabbed a plate, and sat in a chair. Except they didn't have enough chairs, and several of us wound up sitting on the floor. The food was passable, but not special. I've also been to a dinner event -- again, the food was passable, but not special. It's a beautiful spot, but there are many beautiful spots on the peninsula that are less expensive (or free) to access, and there are other restaurants with better hospitality.