Tales From Darkest Dunedin

15/11/2025

Today was Gregor's presentation during the Ōamaru heritage festival.

See his topic here!
https://youtu.be/31VzL-Mt-CA?si=j3UetVYOvcXaEior

13/11/2025

Wake up, babe. New tour just dropped

You can do this one now the weather is settled or take the tour in a van and rest your feet but whatever you do, email us for local's prices darkestdunedin@gmail.com

Otepoti/Dunedin was settled by Free Church Presbyterians in 1848. They worked hard and went to church on Sunday. The gold rush in 1861 brought with it a completely different population to the one first envisioned - a much more lively and less law abiding one. Your guides have spent years curating t

10/11/2025

On November 11, 1918, the guns of war went silent and the soldiers who had lived through it, all could think of the future.

George Tyler's future was not as rosy as other men's. He came home to find his family broken. His wife had put their children into care and was living with, of all people, a deserter from the army.

George divorced his wife. He got a job running Sweeting's Supper Rooms in Lower Stuart street. But depression and money worries were too much for him.

Two years after the end of the war George ended his life with a borrowed shotgun.

He was as much a casualty of the war as those left behind in Europe.

Sweetings, as well as owning the Supper Rooms, were buyers of rabbit skins. Their painted sign can still be seen, on the wall of the alleyway opposite the Courthouse.

Full story here: https://otagotaphophile.blogspot.com/2025/11/39362-private-george-henry-tyler.html?m=0

07/11/2025

We're 51 followers away from 2000. So we need either 1 follower or 51 followers because I can't be working with these odd numbers.

What the heck do we even do?

If you've ever passed a cemetery and thought, gosh I'd love to know the stories in there, we're your people. You've walked by the old buildings in town every day on your way to work and thought, huh, I wonder if someone was ever murdered there, we're your people.

Summer is always busy with tourism but send us an email and we will fit you in, I'm mostly just bragging.

Oh and don't forget to follow so I don't have to sit with an odd number.

02/11/2025

Thanks again for your donations! We're all sorted and look forward to doing more fundraising when we can.

The Halloween True Crime walking tour and van tour is available to book, email darkestdunedin@gmail.com and we'll work out a local's group price. Perfect for parties if you like being trauma bonded.

31/10/2025

Halloween tour done! Thanks to the people who braved the weather but it could have been worse! It could always be worse.

Ps, I've drawn in the people who wanted to remain anonymous. Millie the steam engine thanks you xx

31/10/2025

Our Halloween tour is on tonight, rain, hail or shine. We'll bring a microphone and speaker if it's too windy and split groups into two if need be.

This is why we don't take bookings in spring! Just show up, 6.30pm at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum at Josephine's window. $15 donation for Ocean Beach Railway .
Wheelchair friendly, carers attend free, depraved yet true stories abound.

29/10/2025

An odd question but who are you choosing?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNEsq7VxcCy/?igsh=MWJpdWFhMW4yM28zcw==

26/10/2025

The first cruise ship for the season landed today so I thought I'd take you through what a typical tour looks like for a passenger.

After a pick up from Port Chalmers, our passengers are taken on a quick drive through the university to see the old buildings, it's always an impressive moment. Today was the added bonus of some downed trees.

Today they made a quick stop at the botanic gardens since an azalea loving couple were on board but then it's on to the Northern Cemetery, a familiar stomping ground for us to see the Larnach Tomb.

Next is Baldwin St, perhaps they climb up or just admire from afar but it's on the bucket list of many people.

The railway station is the second most photographed building in the southern hemisphere, I always make sure to tell people to take extra photos and try to beat the Sydney Opera House.

A drive through the Devil's Half Acre leads to lunch at Luna bar & restaurant with stunning views of the city or stunning views of fog depending on the weather. The food is always a winner though.

Then finally straight to Larnach Castle to give the tomb more context. And back to the ship to send some very happy, although tired people to the next port, usually Lyttleton or Fiordland.

These tours aren't just for ship passengers, we get a lot of parents wanting to see the city when their kids move here or people traveling round that love a bit of heritage that goes deeper into the lived experience of the every day people. We don't push out cookie cutter tours, we love to create experiences based on our passengers' interests and backgrounds.

We have some new experiences in the works that we're excited to get off the ground, if you're traveling and you caught this post or you know someone coming to Dunedin, send them to us and we can create a bespoke tour to really get the most out of their trip!