Larnach Castle

Larnach Castle the only castle in New Zealand and was built by businessman and politician William Larnach.

During their time there the Larnach family suffered a series of tragedies resulting in several family members supposedly haunting the castle to this day.

Its most famous ghost is the ‘floating lady’. Many think she is the ghost of Constance, William’s third wife. In a fit of depression William shot himself and his spirit is thought to be responsible for the mysterious opening and closing of doors in the castle during the night.

His daughter Katie is said to haunt the ballroom, which was built in celebration of her 21st birthday in 1886 – she died of typhoid a few years later. Spooky stories abound, including people having the backs of their necks touched, making their hair stand on end; the sound of heavy furniture being pushed along, but not having been moved, and footsteps along corridors late at night.

The Castle is once again privately owned and cared for by the Barker family who purchased it as their home in 1967. The Larnach Castle is still open to the public.