Olveston Historic Home Tours and Tickets

Q: How much does it cost to visit Olveston Historic Home in 2026?

Admission to Olveston—which includes a mandatory guided tour—costs NZ$26 for adults, NZ$21 for Dunedin residents, NZ$24 for New Zealand seniors, students, YHA members, and backpackers, and NZ$15 for school-aged children. Kids aged 5 and under enter for free. Admission to the gardens and gift shop only is free.

Q: How do I contact Olveston Historic Home?

The best way to contact Olveston Historic Home is by email or phone. The official website lists both on its contact page. You can make tour bookings online via the website, where you can also get in touch with additional questions or book group tours.

Q: Do you need reservations to visit Olveston Historic Home?

Yes, to avoid showing up to a sold-out tour, it’s best to book in advance. You can only visit Olveston Historic Home on a guided tour, and popular times do sell out, especially over weekends and holidays. However, those without a booking can join the next available tour.

Q: Is there free parking at Olveston Historic Home?

No, there is no parking available at Olveston Historic Home. However, there is all-day and P90 (maximum 90-minute) parking spaces around Olveston for a fee. Parking can hard to find at busy times, such as summer holidays, when walking or hopping in a taxi is easier.

Q: How long does it take to tour Olveston Historic Home?

General admission to Olveston Historic Home is by guided tour only, and the most popular house tours take one hour. However, you'll want extra time to stroll around the garden, admire the building exteriors, and see the family’s vintage car, as well as browse the gift shop.

Q: What are the best attractions in Dunedin other than Olveston Historic Home?

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Olveston Historic Home. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Dunedin:<ul><li><a href="/Dunedin-and-The-Otago-Peninsula-attractions/Larnach-Castle/d758-a2649" class="markdown_inline_link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Larnach Castle</a></li><li><a href="/Dunedin-and-The-Otago-Peninsula-attractions/Dunedin-Railway-Station/d758-a14858" class="markdown_inline_link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dunedin Railway Station</a></li><li><a href="/Dunedin-and-The-Otago-Peninsula-attractions/Royal-Albatross-Centre/d758-a2651" class="markdown_inline_link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Royal Albatross Centre</a></li><li><a href="/Dunedin-and-The-Otago-Peninsula-attractions/Baldwin-Street/d758-a16862" class="markdown_inline_link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Baldwin Street</a></li><li><a href="/Dunedin-and-The-Otago-Peninsula-attractions/The-OPERA-Otago-Peninsula-Eco-Restoration-Alliance/d758-a2650" class="markdown_inline_link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The OPERA (Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance)</a></li></ul>View Viator's guide to <a href="/Dunedin-and-The-Otago-Peninsula/d758" class="markdown_inline_link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">all the best attractions in Dunedin</a>.

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Best Seller

Historic homes can be difficult to appreciate without context, but this guided tour of Olveston Historic Home makes the experience more meaningful. Join a guide to explore the 35-room mansion with ease, and listen to insight into early 20th-century life in Dunedin. Learn about the home’s Jacobean-style architecture, fine art, and period furnishings, and discover the story of one of the city’s most prominent families.

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Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour

1 hourFree Cancellation

4.8

(223)

from $16

Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston Tour

Experience the best of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula without trailing around after a large group when you take an easy small-group shore excursion from Port Chalmers. See city highlights—such as the University of Otago, the Dunedin Railway Station, and Olveston House on a guided tour featuring all original furnishings—as well as Larnach Castle gardens on the peninsula. Note that entrance to the castle interior is not included.

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Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston Tour

6 hoursFree Cancellation

4.8

(88)

from $173

Price varies by group size

Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour

Explore Dunedin’s highlights in just half a day without running out of time on a small-group shore excursion city tour. Visit historic Olveston House, the University of Otago, and Baldwin Street, officially the world’s steepest street. Enjoy panoramic views from Signal Hill and free time in the Octagon. Transfers are available from the cruise port or Dunedin Railway Station. Group numbers are limited for a personalized experience.

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Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour

4 hoursFree Cancellation

4.8

(149)

from $93

Dunedin Architectural City Self-Guided Walking Tour with an APP

Discover Dunedin at your own pace with this immersive self-guided walking tour that blends history, art, and adventure. Wander from the iconic Dunedin Railway Station and Gothic cathedrals to hidden laneways bursting with vibrant street art. Step inside stories of gold rush glory, architectural marvels, and cultural fusion at landmarks like Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, the Chinese Garden, and the University of Otago. Feel the city’s creative pulse in its theatres, murals, and music — even tracing the humble beginnings of the famous band Six60. Stroll through the peaceful Botanic Garden, admire heritage churches, and end your journey with a challenge — conquering Baldwin Street, the world’s steepest! Whether you’re a history lover, explorer, or curious wanderer, Dunedin will surprise you at every turn.

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Dunedin Architectural City Self-Guided Walking Tour with an APP

3 to 4 hoursFree Cancellation

from $10

Likely to Sell Out

Private Guided Tour of Dunedin City Heritage and Unique Wildlife and Scenery

Spend a day experiencing the best of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula without having to rent a car on a private guided tour. Enjoy a flexible itinerary with stops at Baldwin Street, Signal Hill, Otago University, Dunedin Railway Station, and the Royal Albatross Centre on the windswept Otago Peninsula. Hotel or port pickup transfers from Dunedin or Port Chalmers are included for your convenience.

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Private Guided Tour of Dunedin City Heritage and Unique Wildlife and Scenery

5 to 7 hoursFree Cancellation

5.0

(38)

from $1,057

Per group

Dunedin private tour 3D2N from Christchurch

3 daysFree Cancellation

5.0

from $1,116

What are people saying about Olveston Historic Home

Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston Tour

Paul_V, Mar 2026

Tour in Dunedin

This was a very good tour the guide was friendly and helpful, if there was information that she did not know she would look it up. Although all destinations were worth seeing, Olveston was the highlight.

Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour

Ken_G, Mar 2026

Olveston a Grand Edwardian Family Home

A grand Edwardian style family home built in 1904. Gifted to Dunedin 1966. Maintained in original condition with the family furnishings and a large collection of eclectic belongings collected by the family on numerous over seas travels. Simply amazing.

Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston Tour

Elizabeth_s, Mar 2026

Very good

Yes we enjoyed the excursion and the guide was very informative. The spots were very interesting. Well worth the cost.

Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour

Bob_D, Feb 2026

Fun to see

Great house to see. Our only issue was the tour guide didn’t speak up, spoke too softly. Even when standing right next to her it was difficult. She would start out okay but when she continued to talk she got softer and mumbled. Definitely worth seeing just wish the guide would have been more clear so we didn’t miss so much.

Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston Tour

Cathy_S, Jan 2026

The best!

We had a beautiful day with Asta. Turned out that we had a private tour& and she was so flexible and agreeable to anything we needed to do or see. The views were incredible! The castle gardens are lovely ; the steepest street is cool! She took us to the botanical garden and pointed out different plants. & very interesting trees. It was a pleasure To spend time with this lovely lady. She loves this area and you could tell.!!

Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston Tour

Alan_K, Mar 2026

Pleasant overview of Dunedin area

Nice overview of Dunedin area. Friendly and helpful guide, though I would have appreciated more discussion and explanation of what we were seeing. Lanarch Castle and Gardens are amazing, but we were disappointed to have very little time to explore the gardens or go inside the house. I’d be happy to skip the “steepest street“ and spend more time at the castle. The van we were placed on was very small for the number and size of passengers and was quite uncomfortable given that we were one of the four people sitting across the back.

Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston Tour

lallk58, Jan 2026

Fantastic Tour

We visited Dunedin, New Zealand while on a cruise. It was a fantastic tour. Pick up and drop off was very easy. Our tour guide Asta from Fantails picked us up from the cruise terminal. It was a small group of 4 people on the tour. Our tour guide Asta was very knowledgeable and she gave us a lot of information about Dunedin rich history. Scenic drives overlooking the city were stunning. We went to the Baldwin Street, steepest street in the world. Inside tours of the Olveston historic house with its rich history and inside tour of Larnach Castle with its beautiful gardens were our favorite. We also made short stops at University of Otago, Dunedin Railway Station, Dunedin Botanic Garden and First Church of Otago. It was a great tour, we spent a lovely and a memorable day with Asta. We highly recommend this tour.