Wildlife, History and Larnach Castle

Larnach Castle is a mock castle on the picturesque ridge of the Otago Peninsula within the limits of the city of Dunedin. One of only a few houses of this scale in New Zealand, the house was built by the prominent entrepreneur and politician, William Larnach.

Larnach Castle has been lovingly restored by the Barker Family, the Castle and surrounding grounds are at the heart of the Dunedin visitor experience. The award-winning gardens have been rated by the New Zealand Gardens Trust as a Garden of International Significance. Admission to Larnach Castle is included where you will be able to leisurely enjoy this most magnificent property and grounds. Lunch can be purchased while at the castle from the cafe.

See the very best of some of New Zealand's wildlife during your harbor cruise conducted onboard a custom-made vessel with an experienced local guide who is ready to show you the area's wildlife such as albatross, penguins, seals and much more.

Travel the length of the shipping channel from Port Chalmers to the Taiaroa Head nature reserve. This area is home to albatross, seals, sea and harbor birds, shags and cormorants. Typically, you may also see penguins and sometimes sea lions and dolphins.

There are also many other animals that will occasionally make an appearance. This tour will allow you to view between 10-20 different species of animals. Receive a wildlife sheet to take home with the animals you have seen to help you remember this very special day on the water.

Passing the main port, you may also see different ships, tugboats, fishing vessels, and sometimes pilot boats and other workboats. You may also pass the quarantine stations on Quarantine Island, viewing the shipwrecks that reside there as your boat skipper guide will point out navigational markers and other interesting things.

Please Note: Tours are rarely canceled due to bad weather. The boat has a comfortable, heated cabin with large windows, so the cold, rain, or wind is never a problem. We heat the cabin to between 18-25 degrees celsius (64-77 degrees farenheit) and there is a modern and heated toilet/bathroom onboard. The skipper will never take the vessel out if they are in doubt as to the safety of the passengers or vessel due to the weather conditions.