Larnach Castle – Hotel Review

Waking up at a hilltop country house may be the stuff of dreams but it’s not the only appeal of Camp Estate. Its bucolic New Zealand location by the vast Pacific Ocean is equally magical, with fluffy white sheep as common a sight as albatross overhead. A romantic getaway, the property feels a world away from nearby bustling Dunedin. Hearty meals, roaring fireplaces and cosy rooms with panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape are some of the amenities offered guests at the house – separate but close to Larnach Castle and built in neo-Classical style – beckoning them to slow down and indulge.

Where is Larnach Castle

Perched on a hill surrounded by forests, fields and sea, the setting seems straight from the pages of a fairy-tale. On the roughly 40-minute drive (40 kilometres) from Dunedin’s airport, wooden hillside homes give way to winding country roads where green trees reach out to each other overhead, often forming leafy tunnels. Larnach Castle’s grounds are extensive but the surrounding peninsula and its undulating hills are perfect for driving or walking for a picnic.

Room types

Each of Camp Estate’s five rooms are spacious but feel cosy thanks to a gas fireplace (handy on cold South Island nights, though there’s also central heating) and plush carpets. The beds are large and warm, with thick duvets and huge pillows made for reading in bed, while views of green fields and blue sea are just as restful.

Restaurants and bars

Cooked or continental breakfast is included, as well as complimentary pre-dinner drinks and canapes. The four-course “trust the chef” dinner menu comprises generous portions; the odds that New Zealand lamb will appear on the menu are good.

Travel for work

Camp Estate has two meeting rooms fitted with AV equipment. But as the property caters to those looking to get away and disconnect, it’s not a regular spot for corporate retreats.

Spa and gym

There’s an outdoor spa with sweeping views over the Otago Peninsula at Camp Estate, which are especially stunning at sunset and after dark when the stars come out.

What you need to know

The stay includes admission to Larnach Castle and its gardens. It’s a chance to marvel at how materials like the 20 tonnes of float glass used for the Castle’s construction were brought to the top of the hill, which was even more remote at the time it was built.

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