Introduction to Larnach Castle: Larnach Castle is the only ancient castle in New Zealand. It is located on the rolling hills of the Otago Peninsula. It was the workplace of early politicians. The castle broke ground in 1871, and two hundred craftsmen built the exterior, which was completed five years later. Three British carvers spent another 12 years decorating the interior. Its unique architectural style is a combination of neo-Gothic Revival architecture and British colonial architecture. Its ornate interior features Italian plaster ceilings, Venetian glass walls, a one-ton marble bathtub and the only Georgian hanging staircase in the southern hemisphere.