Larnach Lodge

9.4

Exceptional

498 Guest reviews

9.4

Exceptional

498 Verified Reviews

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Cleanliness9.6/10

Service9.6/10

Comfort9.2/10

Condition9.0/10

location8.8/10

Neighborhood9.6/10

Value8.8/10

Amenities9.0/10

What an amazing place to stay. Larnarch Castle is beautiful all around. If you have a chance to stay there he night- you’ll mainly have the grounds to yourself when all the tourist have left. The dinner inside the castle and the breakfast inside the old horse stable were a nice treat. Loved our stay and the views are incredible.

A high class property. Rooms comfortable. A long way from town so we had the four course meal ant the castle Expensive but a good experience. Castle tour and breakfast included in the price.

Loved our stay here in the converted stable. We didn't intend to attend the evening dinner, so glad we did, had a great time with 20 other guests. Would recommend this to anyone.

Enjoyed our stay

Our entire experience was faultless. The staff were friendly, welcoming and efficient. Our room was comfortable and elegant with stunning views (once the mist lifted in the morning. The dining experience was fabulous. The only thing that might have improved it would have been to have the drinks reception in a reception room so guests could have mingled. The next morning it was a joy to stroll around the beautiful grounds. I would totally recommend the hotel and the dining experience.

beautiful gardens, trees, landscape, hedges

Really enjoyed my stay here Beautiful

Great place!

Just fantastic! Staff were great. The location perfect. Breakfast very tasty. The only bad part was there was a wedding and at 1230am all of the others staying in the stables showed up drunk and without thinking there were other guests. After 30 minutes of hearing all the stupid stuff they were talking about, I finally went out and gracefully told them there were other guests staying there. They finally shut up.

Spent one wonderful night at Larnach Lodge while in Dunedin. While it’s a little far from town it makes up for it with its unique and picturesque setting. The room had a historic feel but also modernly equipped. Breakfast was delicious and being able to tour the castle afterwards before the public entered was a bonus.

Feel like royalty when you set foot into the room. The only downside is the deck and lounger need to be updated. The breakfast at Stable set the vibe for us. The staff here is very attentive and helpful.

Amazing setting and character. Gorgeous landscaping and incredible architecture.

Great place for a unique stay in every aspect

Fabulous view and lovely surroundings. Staff are great.

All great. Chefs dinner was good but not great.

Lovely stay!

Loved staying here! Waking up with a view of the entire city of Dunedin was incredible. The stay included breakfast in the morning (which was delicious) as well as entry into the castle and gardens. In addition, the staff was incredible and even stayed late for us to check-in after a flight delay. Would highly recommend

wonderful peaceful location and lovely views from our room. convenient for trips to beaches and albatross watching at the end of the peninsula. Walk through lovely gardens for dinner in the castle each evening.

The property is quite unique with fabulous views and beautiful gardens. The accommodations are a bit worn and the staff was very friendly. The breakfast buffet was OK however the selection was limited. Many times items ran out and one needed to ask for replenishment.

A great experience overall. Very atmospheric property with beautiful gardens (and bird life!) Only recommendation would be to change the double bed in room 27 which is a serious sagger. Otherwise, the room was tastefully decorated to fit the late Victorian vibe.

We stayed in Room 26 and the views were some of the best we have encountered anywhere in the world. We even had a view from the loo! Staff were friendly and very helpful. The Barker family has done an excellent job restoring the Castle and providing employment in the area. We would definitely stay again.

What an incredible experience, we're so happy we booked in to stay at Larnach. The grounds are beautiful and it really is a labour of love the way that the family who own the property have restored it over decades. It's definitely worth the experience, and what a beautiful location on the peninsula. We are so grateful to the staff who looked after us during the Dunedin floods - thank you!!

We Had an Excellent stay the Dining was Excellent. A must do stay.

Lodge consisted of rooms in converted stable or separate lodge. Our room had incredible views. Room was charming and we opted for the dinner at the castle which was super fun and excellent. The host is incredible and she makes the dining experience a joy and interesting. She gave a quick tour and her entertaining stories about the castle were fun! You also get free entry into the lovely castle in the morning to explore more and the gardens were beautiful. Breakfast in the stable was excellent

Beautiful Castle and Grounds

We stayed in the lodge on the castle grounds. We checked in around 6pm, so the castle was closed, but we were allowed to tour the grounds, which were beautiful. Our room was nice. We had a wonderful breakfast in the morning, with a nice cold buffet and our choice of a hot meal. We got to tour the house before the crowds came (two buses pulled up as we were leaving). It was a lovely stay.

Highly recommend

The amazing breakfast was worth the stay alone!! great way to spend a night in Dunedin, learn some History and having the tour included in the accommodation a great bonus

Amazing experience!

This is a wonderful step back in time with a beautifully modernised bathroom. (Shower was incredible, plus floor was heated!!) We loved our stay, and found the dinner to be an entertaining and delicious experience. Highly recommend this for romantics and history buffs.

To stay in the grounds of a 'castle' was fabulous. Views from the room outstanding. Sitting on the deck awesome. Whole experience and the quality of the room fantastic. So all in quite brilliant. Highly recommend staying.

Unique and memorable stay

Amazing. We had en-suite queen rooms, which were clean, comfortable and beautifully and individually decorated. Tea and coffee maker and a small fridge were appreciated. The views were stunning and we loved sitting on the balcony listening to the birds. Breakfast was excellent. We spent a lovely morning wandering the gardens.

Absolutely beautiful place with fantastic staff

We had a lovely few days at Larnach Lodge. While the accommodation in the stables at first seemed quite basic it was all we needed and we were very comfortable. The setting with the gardens and the views was beautiful and so interesting. The included breakfast was great and I can highly recommend signing up for the 4 course dinner in the castle- it was incredible food and such a fun and memorable experience.

An outstanding location and facilities. some elements were superb, others due a refresh. Overall loved the experience and would wholeheartedly recommend. Dinner was delightful in the Castle dining room with lovely flavours. Service was "quirky" if a little slapdash which detracted from the chef's presentation. Castle tour and gardens were fascinsting and a great tribute to the owners and staff alike.

Nice and spacious room (in the stables) breakfast options amazing and all included in the price. Property was beautiful! Great experience.

Beautiful gardens and gorgeous castle. The details in the creation and restoration are a labor of love. Hot breakfast and entrance to the castle and gardens was all part of the price, making this stay worth every penny. We stayed in the stables. Accommodations were ample for three adults. Excellent Wi-Fi. We needed to get some work done and were able to complete it without any problems. All in all, would recommend 10/10.

Great experience

We enjoyed the staff service and the fine dining was brilliant, would recommend this experience

Loved staying here the rooms were super nice the views was spectacular and the buffet breakfast was outstanding

great place. great experience.

Great location and rooms. Only thing they can improve on is after hours late check in.

Characterful and great value

Great value and full of character. Lots of space albeit reduced head space! Fantastic and generous breakfast. There was no mention of whether they recycled some waste materials, which was a shame. The shared bathroom facilities were clean and lots of hot water. Brilliant to have access to the house and gardens

we loved everything about our stay, especially the fantastic views from our room, which was also spacious, clean and comfortable

We have absolutely adored the whole stay over, group dinner, breakfast in the stables and explore the castle and gardens experience. But what made the standout was the attention to detail. From the choice toiletries, little fun things in the room to the careful seating choices and meals with the chefs dinner, would like to meet the chef next time so we could compliment them! The patience of the staff and the effort to go the extra mile. Breakfast, I went to toast a piece of bread and was offered more fresh scrambled eggs as the ones I left at my table could have become a little cold ( I was ok). Will plot to come back. Well done team.

The whole visit and stay was fantastic great history amazing place.

Nice experience.

A unique experience

Lanarch castle is a lovely place to stay, the surrounding gardens are spectacular, the castle is just full of beautiful rooms to explore. Just wonderful.

Very noisy neighbors till 10pm & started 630am. Everything else was wonderful & beautiful!!

Staff were very friendly, However Stables accommodation is very basic with shared amenities. Also very remote if looking for dining other than in Larnachs Castle itself

I would recommend to all my friends to stay there it was the most beautiful place ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Lovely property with great service.

Amazing stay

Our room in the lodge was spacious and decorated beautifully. The view from our window over the Otago peninsula was spectacular and the sounds of the birds was beautiful. There was a delicious spread at breakfast in the stables. The dinner in the castle was delicious! We were all seated together at a long table and we were chatting to the other guests. Service was excellent and we got a wee guided tour afterwords.

Live in a castle

Old house can breathe. Good sleep in the castle.

Location is amazing. We dined at the Castle for a 4 course dinner & had breakfast in the Stables …. both were delicious. Service & Staff were fab too. The Lodge had gorgeous views. Loved our stay & well recommended.

Fabulous and unique place to stay

Magic. Just magic!

Most amazing stay at this fabulous, unique property. Our room was amazing, as were the views from our windows. Breakfast included was delicious, and the opportunity to explore the castle and gardens as part of the package was fantastic. Loved our stay and would definitely come back.

We stayed one night in the "Stables" accommodation. The atmosphere and novelty of this type of stay was our reason for doing so. Overall our stay was great with the buffet breakfast being the highlight. For the price (which included visit inside the castle and the buffet breakfast) seemed good to us. We are NOT the type of people who usually chooses sharing bathroom facilities with strangers. However, it was "off season" so there was only one other couple staying in the lodge besides our family party of 5 therefore, it wasn't a problem. We were pleased that the room and bathroom facilities were very clean and tidy. The room was sufficiently warm for end of May. Our mattress on the bed was not very firm and comfortable but tolerable. Staying at the castle overnight was convenient for travelling to the end of the peninsula to view the penguins at dusk and to eat dinner in Portabello.

The only castle in New Zealand is on the property, along with beautiful gardens. A great place for history and picture enthusiasts.

Staying a night in the castle and the amazing views and gardens was fantastic

My recommendation is to not stay in the stables. There is very little headroom in the corner rooms and it made for an uncomfortable stay particularly if you have to get up to go to the loo during the night. Otherwise everything else about a stay at Larnach Castle is sublime. The dining experience in the castle at night involves average food but well worth it for the convivial shared evening with other guests and staff

The views were spectacular, the staff helpful and friendly.

The stable accommodation was wonderful! Breakfast was superb and included was entry to the castle and gardens.

Was good room warm and good service was nice to look around and see the history of the castle grounds are amazing

Staff were friendly, clean room. Loved walking through the castle and grounds.

Cute stay with great service and yummy breakfast

Very cute to stay at the castle. The service was exceptional. It was very clean with comfortable bed. It is an older property with restoration work happening but this is all expected. The breakfast options are excellent and very delicious.

Wonderful property. Would recommend.

So good we came back with friends the following weekend

Just a gorgeous place to stay

Something you should do if planning a stay in Dunedin,great dining experience, couldn't fault anything. Treat yourself

Absolutely amazing ! Instead of writing an extesive review of how glorious our stay was ,please ...if you have the opportunity to visit Larnach Castle take some time to stay here for at least one nighr,explore the castle and grounds, be inspired and intrigued by the social history ,soak up the breath taking views and atmosphere .In the evening book a four course trust the chef dinner ,meet other guests and dine ,by candlelight in the castle itself all this made possible by the wonderful friendly staff who,are truly exceptional .Relax in a warm and very comfortable bed in the stsbles and wake up to an excellent breakfast served downstairs in the tack room . No rush to leave after checkout, you are welcomed to stay and and resume your castle viewing and gardens at your leisure or have lunch in the ballroom cafe where they also serve an afternoon tea.

Far exceeded our expectations. Special room with a special view. Sumptuous dinner in the castle (extra cost - but worth it!) Delicious breakfast and complimentary entry to tour the castle. A really fabulous stay! Thank you.

The Lodge at Lanarch Castle was comfortable with updated bathroom. The view from our bedroom across to Port Chalmers and along the harbour were amazing. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner in the castle and our breakfasts in the Stables.

While the location is superb, and being able to stay on the Lanarch Castle grounds was a big plus, the rooms are too small, essentially windowless, and sharing dorm-style bathrooms is annoying and does not fit the "castle" theme. Converting the stable was a good idea, but it needs to be redesigned for the contemporary visitor.

Enjoyable Experience! Pretty good value, a nights stay, breakfast for 2, access to the castle & grounds/gardens. The Stables were clean and tidy, excellent breakfast was included - buffet style with cooked breakfast options - full English cooked breakfast, pancakes or Eggs Benedict. The room was small but cosy with good heating, the room was very clean, it had a small jug for hot drinks, a couple of mugs and glasses, a small iron and ironing board. Basic laundry facilities available. A small fridge is provided upstairs in the stables for communal use. The bathrooms were also clean but quite dated and potentially quite cold in autumn/winter months. The shower was a little on the dingy side, which is my only real complaint, it was clean but had obviously mold, could benefit from being up graded. I believe they have a Trust the Chief dinner arrangement (at an additional cost) where you can have dinner in the castle, and there's a cafe in the ballroom. You are able to leave the grounds any time you wish and are given a code to access the gates. Parking can be a bit of a squeeze for the stables and lodge with not many spots available. Definitely not a wheelchair accessible place to stay. Overall it was good value for money and an enjoyable once in a lifetime opportunity to stay and enjoy the atmosphere of Larnach's Castle after dark.

Wow - just fantastic views of the Otago peninsular from our room. The dining experience in the Castle is a must do. Great meal and service in a unique ambiance. Great value too as garden and castle visit is included in the room rate.

Excellent value for money including entrance to the castle and gardens which were both lovely and super breakfast. Shared facilities were nice and clean and the bedroom lovely and cosy. Also able to wash and dry some clothes. All the members of staff were friendly and helpful.

The dinner option was outstanding

Once in a lifetime opportunity to stay here and bonus location being so close to the Royal Albatross Centre.

Amazing location!!!

The most magical place to stay with outstanding views.

The rooms are in a rough-hewn building away from the castle. They were adequate, but nothing exceptional. Breakfast service was incredibly slow.

Gardens and castle are beyond this world. Great experience of stepping back in time with this heritage lodging.

Amazing location

Obviously the location is the reason to stay here, it’s absolutely spectacular. The rooms in the stables are basic and the beds and bedding have seen better days. If they invested some money into the stables area it could be fabulous and they could charge more but I realise the upkeep of the castle will take priority. The price is good for what you get.

Such a shame that toxic new carpeting was recently installed. Had a migraine all night and felt nauseated from the stench of the new carpet. Ugly grey and no way to ventilate the room. Couldn’t sleep. Also could not believe that smoking is allowed “anywhere outside” so it’s like playing Russian Roulette suffering from pulmonary and cardiovascular rape. Surely they could make the whole property non-smoking. The fire danger alone would make that worthwhile endeavor. The gardens are beautiful, but the castle was overcrowded with tourists… bus loads… all coughing without masks, and barely any room to get by them.

Best deal I have found

One of the best deals we have found. In addition to having a good clean room, you're able to tour the Castle grounds and the castle during your visit, and we were served a full breakfast that was so hardy we were unable to finish it. It was in a great location, and one of only four hotels that some of the tour groups will do pickups at. Highly recommend it.

Loved our time at Lanarch Castle. The included breakfast was exceptional. We chose to join the “Chef’s Choice Dinner” option and it was well worth it. We met some lovely people from around the globe and had the most incredible 4 course dinner with beverage. It’s more than an overnight, it’s an experience.

Lovely property and good to be at the castle to enjoy that part and the gardens. Just disappointed at being in the end room and not enjoying the broad views available elsewhere, particularly after booking months ago. And no reception at the lodge.

Staying in a castle wow , the views extraordinary and the chefs suggestion dinner was fantastic . The price of the accommodation included entry to the actual castle and gardens , just gorgeous .

Our stay was one of the highlights of our entire trip to New Zealand. Great dinner & breakfast. The room was extremely comfortable and deserving of a 5-star property. I loved the shortbread cookies provided upon arrival.

Wonderful stay. We enjoyed the dinner in the castle with trust the chef. Nice stable accommodations! Thanks for the amazing experience! Even our 10yr old enjoyed the experience!

Excellent enjoyed everything

it was the highlight of my trip. very peaceful environment. hospitable staff.

Overnight stay

Beautiful location and extremely comfortable room with great views. Would highly recommend the trust the chef dinner available in the castle itself.

Stayed two nights with breakfast and dinner. Food was great, service was nice. I would recommend this place.

Lovely castle

Great place to stay and pleasantly surprised at the inclusion of entry and breakfast for the relatively cheap accommodation in the stables. Admittedly the stables wouldn't be our first choice with the shared facilities but they were fine for the one night.

The views were splendid, the gardens were lovely as were all the interesting paths weaving around the grounds. The meal was outstanding, absolutely sensational, and it was lovely to share a meal with other guests - a welcome change from dining on seperate tables. Unfortunately the lady who showed us to our rooms on the afternoon of Wed 13th Sep was rather rude, which was a little disappointing. Other than that, the staff were very friendly and obliging. The gentleman who welcomed us into the castle to have a look around was charming and delightful, a lovely man. Thank you for a lovely stay, it's been one of the highlights of our trip to New Zealand.

Staying at the Castle

My 15 year old grandson and I stayed 2 nights at the Castle and we were not disappointed. We arrived after closing time and gaining entry was easy with Shannon being very efficient. We arrived too late to order dinnner but Shannon gave us the option of room service which we took up and the burgers were delicious. The thing I noticed as soon as we went to our room was the warmth and Shannon made sure we were comfortable in our room. The breakfast that is provided in the room cost was great with a choice of continental or cooked and the setup in the stable with the china made it seem all the more regal. Having access to the Castle and learning the history was incredible. Richard was very knowledgeable and friendly. The gardens are beautiful also. A great spot to watch the sunrise over Portobello and the bays. We both loved the Castle and appreciate that this option to stay and explore is available.

It was beautifully set out, rooms nice warm, staff lovely, food amazingly set out

Beautiful views and friendly staff in historical setting.

We enjoyed our stay

Winter weekend away

Exceptional service Food was awesome We had dinner at the castle too You have to remember it’s an old castle and surrounds which is reflected in the characteristics of the rooms etc Bathroom was well heated with underfloor heating One wish would be invest in better beds A good night sleep 🛌 a essential when away

Loved it, can't wait to see it fully restored.