Castle to
Cruise

+ Penguin Tour

PRICES $NZD

Adult: $230
Child (5-14yrs): $110

SUMMER TIMES:

1 Oct to 31 Mar
10:30am - 5:30pm

WINTER TIMES:

1 Apr to 30 Sep
11:30am - 6:00pm

TOUR DEPARTS:

20 Fryatt Street,
Dunedin

BOOK NOW

Enjoy all the great features of the Castle to Cruise Tour and include a Wildlife & Penguin Tour at The OPERA eco-reserve.
Bus out from Dunedin to Larnach Castle. Your guide will show you through this magnificent building and tell you the scandalous and tragic history of the original owner, William Larnach who took his own life with a single shot to the head. Every room has been painstakingly restored by the Barker family who have spent many years returning the castle to its former grandeur. The rooms are once again filled with original artworks, clothing and furniture. Climb the spiral staircase to the rooftop tower for stunning 360° views of the Otago Peninsula. We highly recommend a short walk around the beautiful gardens, recognized to be of international significance.
You’ll then be taken to Wellers Rock Wharf for a one-hour Wildlife Cruise in search of stunning scenery and Southern Ocean wildlife like royal albatross and New Zealand fur seals.
Following the cruise it’s a short drive to The OPERA (Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance) to walk through a private eco-reserve on a Wildlife & Penguin Tour. Discover why beautiful, unique Yellow Eyed Penguins are the most endangered of all the world’s penguin species.
A short bus ride over the property where your guide will lead you on foot through native bush with viewing opportunities of wildlife which can include hoiho and kororā (little penguins), fur seals, sea lions, sea and forest birds in their living areas.
You’ll learn about the conservation & volunteer work currently happening to ensure the survival of this special species. Your ticket cost goes directly towards helping these efforts continue into the future. Some tours will even get a behind the scenes look at the on-site penguin hospital, if sick or injured birds are being cared for on that day.
Wildlife viewing is never guaranteed, especially for the endangered Yellow-eyed Penguins (there are less than 500 left on mainland New Zealand). Our guides will always attempt to provide the best possible viewing experiences.
A medium level of fitness is required for this tour. You may be required to walk up to 1.5km and potentially use several flights of stairs.
Inclusions:
- Otago Peninsula bus tour
- Entry in to Larnach Castle
- Guided tour of Larnach Castle
- Monarch Wildlife Cruise
- Multi-language info sheets
- Access to warm jackets and complimentary binoculars
- Guided Tour through a Yellow-eyed Penguin Reserve.
Excluded:
- Food and drink not provided. Passengers can bring their own pre-packed lunch or purchase something light from the Ballroom Cafe.
We ask that our guests check-in at our 20 Fryatt Street, Dunedin office 15-minutes before the scheduled start time of your tour. Free carparks are available around this location.
Accommodation pickups can be requested from central Dunedin hotels, motels, backpackers, holiday parks and the iSite Visitor Centre. Pickup requests can be made when confirming your booking.
We don’t pickup from Airbnb’s or private residences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unfortunately not. The tour involves a fair amount of walking. At the castle you’ll be required to climb several flights of stairs. At the penguin reserve you’ll walk up to 2km over well kept bush tracks.
No, we do not provide any food on this tour.
We recommend that our guests have a big meal pre-tour and also pack some food & drink to see them through the day.
Food can be purchased from the Ballroom Cafe at Larnach Castle.
We operate in a fairly sheltered area. However we do venture out to the ocean and occasionally encounter a bit of rock & roll.
If you are concerned we recommend taking a motion sickness tablet one hour prior to travel. These can be purchased from local pharmacies.
Pressure point wristbands can be bought on the boat.
Dress warm and wear sturdy footwear. If you feel cold on the day we provide complimentary warm jackets and binoculars. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
No, unfortunately no wildlife viewing is ever guaranteed. Yellow-eyed Penguins are the rarest of all the world’s penguins and numbers are declining. By joining this tour, you are supporting conservation work to help save the species and regenerate their habitats.