Port Chalmers to Larnach Castle: Water Taxi & Castle Entry

The Only Castle in New Zealand, Reached by Water Taxi

You board a water taxi from Port Chalmers or Dunedin, cross Otago Harbour to a quiet peninsula village, then shuttle up to New Zealand's only castle with entry included. Spend 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the castle and gardens at your own pace, then water taxi back to Dunedin. Morning trips depart Port Chalmers; midday trips depart Dunedin; only the 11:15am returns to Port.

Step-by-step itinerary

Water taxi and Larnach Castle visit

• Depart from Port Chalmers or Dunedin
• Take water taxi to Macandrew Bay
• Board shuttle van to Larnach Castle
• Explore castle and gardens for 1.5 hours
• Return by shuttle van to harbour
• Take water taxi to Steamer Basin, Dunedin
• Walk to Dunedin Railway Station and Toitu Museum

The experience

There's something about arriving by water that changes how a place feels. The 10-to-15-minute water taxi ride across Otago Harbour from Port Chalmers to Macandrew Bay isn't long, but it's the kind of crossing that makes you notice the light on the water and the peninsula rising ahead. You're not driving a highway to get there. You're crossing open water to a small seaside village, and that shift in pace is what makes Larnach Castle feel like an actual destination instead of just another stop.

Once you land at Macandrew Bay, you board an executive shuttle van for the 10-minute drive up the hill to the castle itself. The entry fee is already included in your fare, so there's no ticket line when you arrive. You get 1.5 to 2 hours to walk the castle and gardens on your own: no guide narration, just you and the rooms and the views out toward the harbour. The castle is the only one in New Zealand, built in the 1870s, and it sits on the peninsula in a way that makes the whole landscape feel like it belongs to it. After you've had your time there, the van brings you back down to the water for the second taxi ride, this one into Steamer Basin in the heart of Dunedin. From there it's a five-minute walk to Dunedin Railway Station and the Settlers Museum if you want to keep moving, or you can just sit with what you've seen.

The timing matters here. Morning trips (9am to 11:15am) leave from Back Beach in Port Chalmers and finish in Dunedin. If you're already in Dunedin, the midday departures at noon or 12:45pm leave from Steamer Basin instead. The 11:15am trip from Port is the only one that returns you to Port Chalmers, arriving at 2:30pm. Useful if you're docked there and need to get back before the ship leaves. Everything else ends in Dunedin, where the railway station and the museum are right there if you want to fill the rest of your day.

What’s included

• Your journey includes the water taxi ride across Otago Harbour both ways, the executive shuttle van transfer from Macandrew Bay up to the castle and back down to the harbour, and your entry ticket to Larnach Castle and its gardens. You have 1.5 to 2 hours to explore the castle and gardens at your own pace. The guide is available for transport and entry only.
• the castle tour itself is self-guided. Discounted return trips back to Port Chalmers can be arranged on the day if needed.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English12:00, 12:45 and 13:45

Guide in English09:00, 09:45, 10:30 and 11:15

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 13:45

AgesAdult (15 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 14 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “We Leave from one of the floating jetties, either side of the Back Beach boat ramp, adjacent to the Port Chalmers Yacht Club. Bookings from 8.30 am until 11.00 am Leave from here.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Otago Water Taxis and Tours Ltd

Is this one for you?Book this if you're docked at Port Chalmers or staying in Dunedin and want to see New Zealand's only castle without arranging your own transport or buying a separate entry ticket. The water taxi is the quickest way to get there, and the timing is built around cruise ship schedules.

Traveler reviews

4.83★★★★★★★★★★

110 verified traveler reviews

5 ★101

4 ★4

3 ★2

2 ★1

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 14 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long is the water taxi ride?

10 to 15 minutes each way across Otago Harbour.

Is entry to Larnach Castle included?

Yes, your entry ticket to the castle and gardens is included in the fare.

How much time do you get at the castle?

1.5 to 2 hours to explore the castle and gardens on your own.

Where do morning trips depart from?

Back Beach in Port Chalmers, between 9am and 11:15am. They finish in Dunedin, except the 11:15am trip which returns to Port at 2:30pm.

Where do midday trips depart from?

Steamer Basin in Dunedin city, at noon or 12:45pm. They return to Dunedin.

Is the castle tour guided?

No, the tour of the castle and gardens is self-guided. Your guide is available only for transport and entry.

Can you return to Port Chalmers if you take a midday trip?

Discounted return trips back to Port Chalmers can be arranged on the day of travel, subject to availability.

What's near Steamer Basin in Dunedin?

Dunedin Railway Station and Toitu, the Settlers Museum are a five-minute walk away.