The Barker Family's lifelong passion project of restoring the Castle continues today. Please be aware that we are currently doing key restoration work on the tower and in some rooms. The tower and some rooms are currently not accessible for viewing. More information on restoration work here.

Larnach Castle News & Blog Updates


Browse news and blog updates from Larnach Castle below.
Larnach Castle in Dunedin

Larnach takes second place in Chinese social media contest

16/12/2019
Larnach's entry into Dunedin Shanghai Association’s Chinese social media competition was awarded second place.
Larnach Castle Head Housekeeper acknowledged with the Unsung Hero award, Larnach Castle

Larnach Castle Head Housekeeper acknowledged with the Unsung Hero award

16/10/2019
Congratulations to our very own Amy Farquharson, recipient of the Unsung Hero award from the Hospitality NZ Rising Star Awards.
Larnach Castle in Dunedin

Lingering at Larnach in Luxury

31/01/2019
Read Mike Yardley's story on his visit to Larnach Castle and the Otago Peninsula.
Larnach Castle wins Award for Excellence in Tourism, Larnach Castle

Larnach Castle wins Award for Excellence in Tourism

30/11/2018
Larnach Castle won the Excellence Award for Tourism in the Westpac Otago Business Awards.
Architect

Architect's descendants converge at Larnach Castle

25/10/2018
Descendants of Larnach Castle architect Robert Arthur Lawson; Rob, Sam and Jim Lawson, visited the Castle in October 2018.
Norcombe Barker receives Michelle McCormack Award, Larnach Castle

Norcombe Barker receives Michelle McCormack Award

14/08/2018
The Board of Dunedin Host is pleased to announce that Norcombe Barker, Executive Director at Larnach Castle, has been awarded the recipient of this year's Michelle McCormack Award.
Dig reveals secrets of castle’s fernery, Larnach Castle

Dig reveals secrets of castle’s fernery

30/04/2018
The outlines of a 90-year-old feature of the Larnach Castle garden emerged from the undergrowth yesterday in a dig organised as part of Archaeology Week.
Castle flying the flag again, Larnach Castle

Castle flying the flag again

19/04/2018
After an absence of about a year, the New Zealand flag is again flying above Larnach Castle.
Larnach Memorabilia Returned, Larnach Castle

Larnach Memorabilia Returned

20/03/2018
Larnach Castle executive director Norcombe Barker, pictured in the stables at the castle, is pleased to have William Larnach's silver-topped riding crop back.
Larnach Castle in Dunedin

Landmark Property

18/12/2017
“Landmarks Whenua Tohunga is an exciting venture telling Aotearoa New Zealand’s defining stories and bringing our country’s history alive,” said Paul James, chief executive Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Larnach Castle in Dunedin

Plants from the ancient continent of Zealandia

06/12/2017
Read Margaret Barkers story on the Metrosideros - The New Zealand Christmas Tree, from the December edition of the New Zealand Gardner magazine.
Having A Ball, Larnach Castle

Having A Ball

11/09/2017
Larnach Castle has hosted a ball that was a celebration on a range of levels, writes Shane Gilchrist.
Margaret Barker and the history of Larnach Castle, Larnach Castle

Margaret Barker and the history of Larnach Castle

01/09/2017
Listen to Margaret Barker on the history of Larnach Castle, RNZ Sundays with Wallace Chapman.
Larnach Castle in Dunedin

Larnach's ghost laid to rest for another year at winter ball

25/07/2017
High spirits and hot haggis were the ticket at Larnach Castle this weekend for the annual Cadbury winter ball.
Lichen, we do it well at Larnach Castle. But what actually is it?, Larnach Castle

Lichen, we do it well at Larnach Castle. But what actually is it?

23/06/2017
At Larnach Castle we do many odd and difficult to grow plants particularly well, such as blue poppies and Veratrum nigrum. Lichen is another 'plant' that we also do extremely well. Those of you who are observant may have noticed the quotation mark...
Ready for a Long, Spooky Night - the Otago Daily Times, Larnach Castle

Ready for a Long, Spooky Night - the Otago Daily Times

20/06/2017
Sometimes the imagination is more effective than the latest special effects at furnishing ghost stories. That is why storyteller Brian McNeill says there will be no spooky artificial sights or sounds added tomorrow night, when about 70 people celebrate the longest night of 2017 by listening to Victorian ghost stories at Larnach Castle.
Larnach Castle named a Top NZ Landmark, Larnach Castle

Larnach Castle named a Top NZ Landmark

25/05/2017
Tripadvisor has named New Zealand's top 10 landmarks for 2017, with Larnach Castle coming in at 5th place.
Why do plants seem to flower so late at Larnach Castle?, Larnach Castle

Why do plants seem to flower so late at Larnach Castle?

04/05/2017
News from the Garden! Why do plants seem to flower so late at Larnach Castle? Fog? Altitude? Our maritime climate? Fiona Eadie, Head Gardener at Larnach Castle, takes the question to task in her latest contribution to our blog.
Larnach Castle in Dunedin

Otago Peninsula: high teas, wild seas and Larnach Castle's tragic history

29/03/2017
As I dine by candlelight in New Zealand's only castle, with a chill wind whistling and moonlit clouds scuttering across the sky outside, I learn of a tragic and scandalous history to rival any Gothic romance.
News from the Garden, Larnach Castle

News from the Garden

18/03/2017
I was asked the other day "what’s the best plant in the garden at the moment". I was working in the rockery at the time and was about to say 'Well, we all like different types of plants, so what is my favourite may not be yours. Go and have a look around and let me know what you find', while secretly thinking something completely different.
Larnach Castle in Dunedin

Amazing Wildlife on Otago Peninsulia

16/03/2017
The Amazing Wildlife of Otago Peninsula
The Barker family Celebrate 50 years at Larnach Castle, Larnach Castle

The Barker family Celebrate 50 years at Larnach Castle

10/03/2017
The Barker Family celebrate 50 years at Larnach Castle
50 years at Larnach Castle, Larnach Castle

50 years at Larnach Castle

03/03/2017
Stuff.co.nz: The King and Queen of the castle: 50 years at Larnach Castle.
ODT: Half a century of stewardship, Larnach Castle

ODT: Half a century of stewardship

04/02/2017
On March 3, Dunedin’s Barker family will celebrate 50 years of blood, sweat and tears restoring and commercially operating the 147-year-old castle.
Look what turned up for dinner, Larnach Castle

Look what turned up for dinner

19/01/2017
Passengers and crew of mega cruise ship Ovation of the Seas enjoyed an unplanned night in Dunedin last night.
Things that go bump in the night, Larnach Castle

Things that go bump in the night

09/12/2016
Look for the glow around you and keep a wary eye out for the 'plant-stalkers'; the latter we want to nab and the former we need to just enjoy as they give to us a spot of 'sunshine' at ground level.
Larnach Castle in Dunedin

Larnach Castle on Kiwi Living

09/11/2016
Kiwi Living's Tony Murrell visits the gardens at Larnach Castle.
Dunedin: Pokemon-Go Capital, Larnach Castle

Dunedin: Pokemon-Go Capital

18/08/2016
“Within Dunedin is Otago Harbour for Water Type Pokemon, Otago Peninsula for Rock Type Pokemon, and Larnach Castle for Ghost Type Pokemon..."
Larnach Castle in Dunedin

Picnic Time for Soft Toys

22/07/2016
Teddies were joined by kangaroos, elephants and all manner of soft toys, turned out in their finest foil glamour-wear.
Larnach Castle in Dunedin

NY Times: A Fairy-Tale Wedding, Castle Included

01/07/2016
At the center of the romance: the lovers. Vying for equal attention these days: the castle. Castles in the United States and abroad have become popular wedding sites, in part because they show up in living rooms and movie theaters on a regular basis.
Crafting the Laburnum at Larnach Castle, Larnach Castle

Crafting the Laburnum at Larnach Castle

26/05/2016
Perfection doesn’t come without effort. The view through Laburnum Pergola at Larnach Castle is a photographer’s dream, it showcases vistas of the city at one end of the arch and the castle with the fountain in foreground at the opposite end.
Flowers in Autumn at Larnach Castle, Larnach Castle

Flowers in Autumn at Larnach Castle

19/05/2016
This our Orange Gumtree (Corymbia ficifolia), originating from South-Western Australia. It was planted in our South Seas garden 18 years ago.
Drone-Facebook first takes Castle to millions, Larnach Castle

Drone-Facebook first takes Castle to millions

14/04/2016
Larnach Castle became the first subject of a new device that allows live-streaming of video from a drone directly to Facebook. One of many to press the ‘‘like'' button was Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.
The Diamond Princess Docks in Dunedin, Larnach Castle

The Diamond Princess Docks in Dunedin

01/01/2016
Larnach Castle was one of the few tourism attractions allowed to remain open on Christmas Day - 3 News
Restoration work on a major scale, Larnach Castle

Restoration work on a major scale

04/09/2015
After a year of planning and two months of work, the refurbished music room at Larnach Castle recently reopened to the public. Kim Dungey, from the Otago Daily Times, looks inside.
App takes castle back in time, Larnach Castle

App takes castle back in time

24/11/2013
A smartphone application launched at the castle this week allows it to be experienced as the bustling stately residence it was a century ago.
Larnach Castle in Dunedin

Larnach descendant says 'I do'

04/02/2013
A descendant of William Larnach had long dreamed she would be proposed to at Dunedin's Larnach Castle, but thought it would never actually happen.
Ghostly stories draw crowd to castle, Larnach Castle

Ghostly stories draw crowd to castle

21/06/2012
A dark and stormy night complete with eerie blanket of fog provided the perfect atmosphere for a string of ghostly tales at Larnach Castle. Chris Morris, from the Otago Daily Times, reports ...
Qualmark Endorsed Visitor Activity
New Zealand Gardens Trust
Landmarks New Zealand
Tiaki - Care for New Zealand
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