Explore a Dunedin heritage merchants home. “Opened as a historic house museum in 1967, Olveston is a time capsule as little has changed inside the house since it was occupied as a family home between 1906 to 1966.” You feel as though you are stepping into someone’s sitting room rather than a static museum. It is a time capsule reflecting the early part of the twentieth century.
- Open : 9am – 5pm, 7 days(closed Christmas Day)
- The gardens and gift shop at Olveston are open to the public free of change
- Entrance to Olveston by guided tour only, fees apply
Olveston carries a Category 1 Historic Places listing. The 35 room stately home was built in 1904-6 and is situated in Dunedin’s vegetated ‘town belt’. It is set on an acre of garden surrounded by mature trees. The formal garden is structured around the original terraces and paths and features a well-stocked conservatory.
- Access: Parking for all vehicles is available in the streets around Olveston
- Open: Olveston is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm
- Admission: Entry to the Olveston Gardens is Free (donations welcome)
- Entry to the house is by guided tour only. Tours commence daily at 9.30am, 10.45am, 12.00 noon, 1.30pm, 2.45pm and 4.00pm
- Admission fees apply for the guided tours
- No dogs allowed in the grounds
- Free admission to the grounds
- NO PHOTOS allowed inside
- NO heeled footwear, flat shoes only to protect wooden floors
Yes you can walk from the Ocatgon to Olveston House, note it is largely uphill.
The distance is 1.1km.
Nearby Olveston House, Dunedin is the quirky Museum of Natural Mystery, a short five minute walk.
Limited access to the interior, ground floor only. The grounds have pebble paths which can create wheelchair mobility issues.
From Olveston website the following information:
Wheelchair access to Olveston house:
People with a manual wheelchair can view the ground floor of Olveston Historic Home. They will then need to view the upstairs on the DVD at reception, as Olveston does not have a lift.
Olveston is not accessible to electric wheelchairs. A manual wheelchair is available for guests to use.
Wheelchair access to Olveston grounds:
There is one step at the Royal Terrace entrance gate, but we have a portable ramp just inside the gate on top of the box on the left that can be used if necessary. There is a path and then a ramp up to the reception door and one small step to access the house.
There is access to most of the grounds with path, pebble driveway and grass the main covering. There are some steps on one side of the house which would not be suitable for people in wheelchairs.
The Olveston internal toilet has had railings added so it is now a wheelchair accessible toilet. Please allow wheelchair users and other disabled visitors to use the staff toilet.
Short on time check out, A day in Dunedin visiting gardens, a place for kids to play and a fabulous cafe.
For more gardens to visit in Dunedin check out Dunedin Botanic Garden, Larnach Castle, Lan Yuan Garden, Glenfalloch Garden and Restaurant, Port Chalmers Rhododendron Deli in a former quarry. And remember to check out the botanical bedding displays in front of the glorious Victorian architecture of the Dunedin Railway Station.
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