THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Walk the shadowed streets of Dunedin’s 'Devils Triangle' with Hair Raiser Tours—uncover gripping true crime stories and visit the haunted Old Gaol after dark. Ready for a spine-tingling local experience?
Walk the shadowed streets of Dunedin’s 'Devils Triangle' with Hair Raiser Tours—uncover gripping true crime stories and visit the haunted Old Gaol after dark. Ready for a spine-tingling local experience?
Book with Hair Raiser Tours
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Hair Raiser Tours · Dunedin, Otago
Dunedin’s compact city center, framed by harbor views and volcanic hills, harbors a shadowed side few visitors encounter without a guide. Hair Raiser Tours offers a gripping 90-minute journey through the heart of Dunedin’s notorious 'Devils Triangle,' an area infamous for its historic criminal underbelly and law enforcement drama. Set out from Rattray Street, this walking tour dives beyond the scenic façades into a deeper layer of urban grit and intrigue.
Leading the tour is the enigmatic Mr. Smiff, whose storytelling threads together true crime tales with vivid historic detail. As you navigate cobblestone lanes and darkened alleys, you’ll uncover Dunedin’s lasting legacy of crime and punishment, from petty street offenses to grave Victorian-era offenses. The tour culminates at the imposing Old Gaol, where the group steps inside after dusk to confront the eerie atmosphere once patrolled by the Victorian gaoler—whose ghostly presence is not just legend but part of the site’s chilling allure.
Hair Raiser Tours distinguishes itself by blending historical accuracy with immersive site visits that few other city tours can match. The Old Gaol, dating back to the 19th century, stands as a stark reminder of the city’s legal past and offers rare access to a location tightly woven into Dunedin’s identity. For travelers seeking more than postcard views, this experience provides a raw, authentic lens on the city’s social history.
Situated in Otago, New Zealand, Dunedin’s outdoor scene typically calls to hikers and wildlife watchers, but Hair Raiser Tours flips the script—inviting those curious about urban legend, history, and nocturnal adventure. This tour is an essential stop for visitors interested in how crime and justice shaped this southern city’s character.
Whether you’re a lone traveler or a group craving an unusual night out, the Dunedin Crime Tour offers an informative, spine-tingling alternative to conventional sightseeing. It’s an unforgettable step into the darker corners of New Zealand’s heritage, operated by local experts dedicated to maintaining this unique piece of Otago’s cultural landscape.
easy.
1.5 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels; involves walking on city streets with some uneven terrain.
This tour is recommended for older teens and adults due to its mature themes and nighttime setting.
All bookings are final with no cancellations or refunds; however, you can transfer your ticket to another person if notified in advance.
The tour involves about 1.5 hours of walking on mainly flat city streets and requires a moderate pace.
The tour is guided in a well-known area with experienced guides who ensure group safety throughout.
Yes, a highlight is entry to the Old Gaol after dark, offering a unique behind-the-scenes look at a historic site.
Photography is permitted but flash and loud noises should be avoided to maintain the atmosphere and respect the sites.
Dunedin’s Old Gaol, constructed in 1863, served as a detention center during early colonial settlement and remains one of New Zealand’s most intact Victorian prisons.
Hair Raiser Tours supports sustainable tourism by minimizing group size and encouraging respect for heritage buildings and public spaces in central Dunedin.
Hair Raiser Tours is a Dunedin-based tour operator specialising in guided ghost, crime and cemetery walks across Otago. The company offers a suite of 90-minute experiences that explore Dunedin's supernatural history, true crime stories and botanical heritage, with routes that include the Gothic Northern Cemetery, Southern Cemetery, the Old Gaol and the port town of Port Chalmers. Each tour focuses on factual history and storytelling: The Dunedin Crime Tour examines the city's criminal past and culminates with an after-dark visit to the Old Gaol; the Ghost Garden and Northern Cemetery tours combine cemetery botany and folklore with ghostly accounts; the Dunedin Ghost Tour features twilight visits and an exclusive Ghost Gallery; the Southern Cemetery Tour explores early settler tragedies; the Shiver Street Tour highlights true crime locations guided by Andrew Smith; and the Port Chalmers Ghost Tour investigates maritime hauntings and local legends. Guides present research-based narratives, cemetery history, architectural context and recorded local anecdotes. Tours run approximately 90 minutes and are presented in public walking formats suitable for adults and older teens. Hair Raiser Tours operates in central Dunedin and surrounding historic sites in Otago, making it a focused option for visitors seeking immersive historical and supernatural walking experiences. The business emphasises respectful engagement with cemetery sites and community histories while delivering guided after-dark storytelling and site visits for those interested in Dunedin's darker heritage. Tours accommodate small groups and visitors can book public departures or enquire about private arrangements for special dates and events year-round by prior arrangement.
Book with Hair Raiser Tours