Heritage City and Larnach Castle Van tour with Historian Guide
Description
A tour with Gregor is like no other. Emerging business award finalist, Tales From Darkest Dunedin and Gregor Campbell, respected historian and expert story teller has been uncovering forgotten events and people in Dunedin's history. He has been featured in newspapers for his finds and recently on the cover of New Zealand Heritage Magazine for his cemetery tours. Gregor is particularly interested in colonial history, the exchanges between Māori Kāi Tahu, the Scottish and the everyday people that came to make a life here, for better or for worse. And now he's your tour guide! Gregor's stories of murder, shipwrecks, discovery, heroes and villains are exclusive to Tales From Darkest Dunedin and weave together to give a greater picture of our city and the lives that brought it to where it is today.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Starting the tour with a quick drive through the university, we see the original old buildings including the Marama Building with ornate features and an interesting story.
Drive through the beautiful Northern Cemetery and hear the stories of the famous and everyday people buried there. William Larnach's tomb is here and the architect who designed his properties and tomb among other notable Dunedin buildings.
The world's steepest street! Climb it, look at it, use the toilet facilities, tick it off your bucket list. Whatever you do, Gregor has some fascinating historical stories of the area that he's uncovered in his research.
The second most photographed building in the southern hemisphere (second to the Sydney Opera House). Go inside the foyer of the station with its Royal Doulton tiled walls and mosaic floor made with approximately half a million pieces.
Queens Gardens, where Dunedin's soldiers paraded before marching off to the Great War and where thousands gather annually to remember those who did not return.
High Street is where wealthy professionals built their large houses and consulting rooms, the surviving buildings are quite beautiful and deserve a look. Which then leads into the 'Devil's Half Acre'. An area of town that was known for mischief and tragedy.
Stop for lunch at Luna Bar and Restaurant. A little off the typical tourist track, Luna offers an incredible view of Dunedin, delicious food and a wonderful atmosphere. We come here to support local business and stay away from busy tourist areas. We hope you love it as much as we do! Lunch is not included in tour price. The current lunch menu: https://www.lunaroslyn.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/luna-lunch-menu-nov2022.pdf
Situated on the picturesque Otago Peninsula, Larnach Castle is one of New Zealand’s premier visitor attractions. Lovingly restored by the Barker Family, the Castle and surrounding grounds are at the heart of the Dunedin visitor experience. Take a guided tour with your historian tour guide and learn of the tragic end to the Larnach family.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
You'll be given a text or email (if you leave your email address) when pickup starts. Please be waiting outside your hotel for the van. Pickup may start later than an hour before depending on how many pick ups there are. Cruise ship port pickups will be last and the tour begins straight after.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We will have approximately 1h30 total driving time between pickup point, attractions and drop off.
- Tour time can be altered to fit in your ship schedule
- 2 Person minimum for tour to go ahead. We will contact you if there is only one booking.
Reviews(77)
Shout out to Gregor! The best tour to do if you want to learn about Dunedin and more. I appreciate all the stories Gregor has in him and would 100% recommend it. I feel very grateful for my experience today!
Though I was the only one signed up for the day, the trip went ahead; giving me a front row seat with my guide, Gregor. His knowledge of Dunedin history is truly extensive and he shares it freely in a conversational and informative manner. My lunch (fish and chips) at Luna with its panoramic views was very tasty with a good selection to choose from. Larnach Castle is the jewel of the day and Gregor makes it sparkle to life with stories old and new.
You'll already know the tour headlines before you've read this, so this is a look between the lines. Gregor picked us up literally at the door of our lodgings before ushering us to and through most of the city's highlights, while filling out each venue - and the city - with informative and entertaining narrative. Gregor is a very graciuos and well-informed Dunedin native, so no question went unanswered and no request unfulfilled. The lunch venue was a special treat that, as visitors to the city, we would otherwise never have discovered. This was the most productive and instructive 6 hours we spent during our stay in Dunedin.
This tour was BRILLIANT!! If you want something a little different from the standard city tours, then Gregor and his Tales from the Darkest Dunedin is exactly what you want. His wealth of knowledge about the city and tales of the darker side of its history were captivating, and the 6 hour tour just flew by. From the minute we pulled up at the cemetery, and he began telling me the story of the stolen skull, I knew I was in for an amazing day and exactly the kind of tour I wanted. Thank you Gregor, for making my birthday one I will never forget, and I can't wait to read your book when it is completed. I will definitely come back for one of your other tours.
We had a nice day. It was refreshing to see and hear about the city in a different way. Our lunch spot was very good. Our Guide was good.
Excellent tour and guide. He was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Great tour of the castle and surrounding area. Very easy to meet up with at the Makers Market where the cruise shuttle dropped us off.
Comprehensive and knowlegable tour guide.. excellent rating
What a great tour and personalised service, very glad I booked this to see some Dunedin sights on my own without the hassle of renting a car and driving myself. Some fascinating tales from a committed guide and door to door in a comfortable vehicle.
Gregor was the very best host and driver. His passion for the history and his quirky sense of humour entertained us for 5 hours. He answered all our questions and personalised our trip.
Our tour guide/driver was excellent and extremely knowledgeable having lived all his life in Dunedin. Larnarch’s Tomb, the family history and the Castle were all interesting. Being a fan of architecture we loved Dunedin Train Station. Lunch @ Luna Cafe (NIC) in the hills was very good.
