Hair Raiser Tours

31/05/2026

With the circus currently in town, it has me thinking about a good friend who rests in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery, who lived a truly hair-raising life.
Thomas Lee, who died in Dunedin on 24 July 1878, was a renowned 19th-century British circus performer, gymnast, and equestrian. A member of the famous Lee family circus dynasty, he belonged to a globally touring troupe celebrated for its complex horse-riding routines and for popularising the perilous Perch Act—a breathtaking balancing performance involving poles and acrobatics.
Lee headlined at London's legendary Astley's Amphitheatre and toured extensively with Cooke's Royal Circus. Together with his family, he helped bring traditional European circus entertainment to audiences across America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Today, Thomas Lee rests in the Northern Cemetery. Join me for a visit to his final resting place and discover the remarkable story of one of the circus world's great pioneers, along with some of the other daring acts that thrilled audiences during the golden age of the circus. 🎪

29/05/2026

Many of the stories shared on our tours carry deep family connections. Accounts of life in Dunedin and the Otago region during the gold rush have travelled from remote places like Skippers Canyon onto Curly Jack’s Underbelly Crime Walk.
Ghostly whispers of gold, trail race shenanigans, and hair-raising deeds were once spoken about within the dimly lit walls of old establishments like The Otago Hotel.
So, what was life really like on the streets of Dunedin in 1865?
Join Dunedin’s original Crime Walk and discover the darker side of the gold rush city from somebody who was actually there…

25/05/2026

Since 2001, our Ghost Gallery has been housed within the “blood and bandage” style brick walls of Dunedin’s former Public Library, a building completed in 1908 with funding from Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, whose donation of £10,000 helped make its construction possible.
The gallery was first located in the library vault before later being relocated to its current home in the mezzanine, which was added in 1958.
The corridors of this historic building carry many stories, which are shared on a Hair Raiser Ghost Walk. At the end of the tour, guests are also given exclusive access to the gallery, where a collection of unusual objects and curiosities can be viewed.

19/05/2026

Dunedin has no shortage of haunted houses—and even a few haunted flats with stories that still linger.
Back in 1991, the Otago Daily Times ran a very unusual flatmate advert: a “vegetarian haunted house.” It drew two replies… none of them asking about the ghost.
The current flatmates admitted they weren’t too bothered about sharing the space, despite ongoing encounters. After some digging, they even formed a theory that the presence might be a former builder—given the constant banging, thumping, and heavy footsteps throughout the house.
Over the years, reports from occupants have included beds being stripped and the bedding moved across the room, doors opening and slamming on their own, and sudden 20-minute bursts of stamping, dragging, and heavy movement. One former resident even claimed they were pushed against a wall by an unseen force, leaving a red welt on their arm.
As for the “appearance,” one description painted the ghost as distinctly unattractive, with a clearly visible torso.
And despite all of it… the flatmates reportedly had no plans to call in any ghostbusters. In fact, they seemed quietly proud of their very lively housemate.

06/05/2026

Winter is whispering — and those crisp, cold nights are perfect for a walk through the darker side of the city.
Gather a group of friends and experience New Zealand’s original ghost tour.

29/04/2026

For nearly three decades, Hair Raiser Tours has uncovered Dunedin’s hidden history, ghost lore, true crime, cemeteries, and forgotten stories.

Now, for the first time, I’m opening the door to the research, discoveries, and behind-the-scenes stories that don’t always make it onto the tour route.

Join the new Patreon page for exclusive content, historical finds, quirky stories, photographs, and a deeper look into the darker side of Dunedin’s past.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of Hair Raiser Tours, this is your chance to explore further.

🔗 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/c/hairraisertours/posts

Patreon is empowering a new generation of creators. Support and engage with artists and creators as they live out their passions!

28/04/2026

A haunting and deeply poignant place to reflect on Anzac Day — the Upper Junction War Memorial.
Each year, we pause here to remember the sacrifice made by local soldiers during the Great War. In 1919, seventeen memorial trees were planted to honour the men from the district who never returned home.
A peace beech tree was first planted in 1919, with an additional tree added following the Second World War in 1945. Over time, the memorial grounds became overgrown, but in recent years local residents and the RSA have carefully restored this important site.
The memorial stands on the grounds of the former Upper Junction School, which operated from 1893 to 1946. A historic photograph from 1924 captures the school as it once stood before it was destroyed by fire on 23 July 1945. Following the closure, students transferred to North East Valley School. Before Upper Junction School, the Mount Cargill School served the district from 1870 until 1938.
This quiet corner of history carries a powerful legacy. Per head of population, this district lost more men to the Great War than any other area in New Zealand.
If you find yourself travelling through the Junction, take a moment to visit this remarkable and moving place of remembrance.

30/03/2026

As the season draws to a close, we move into our winter timetable — the perfect time of year to experience Dunedin after dark.
As New Zealand’s original ghost tour experience, we invite you beyond the lamplight… into the alleyways, cemeteries, and forgotten corners of the city.
Have you ever passed an alleyway and wondered what lies at the bottom — but never dared to enter?
If you’ve ever wanted to step into the dark… you’ve come to the right place.
Walk the hidden lanes.
Stand in a cemetery at dusk as the shadows stretch across the paths.
Enter Dunedin’s old gaol after dark, where prisoners were once locked away.
Victorian residents were deeply wary of alleyways — and with good reason.
One figure in particular haunted the imagination: Spring-Heeled Jack. Cloaked in darkness, he was said to move with unnatural speed, casting off his coat as he closed in on his victims. Some claimed he carried a knife. Others spoke of fainting and screams left in his wake.
These were not just stories — they were warnings, passed down through generations.
So feared was Jack that vigilante groups took to the streets to hunt him. Eventually, his appearances ceased. But how did he move so quickly? Many believed he wore springs in his shoes, allowing him to leap fences, appear without warning, and vanish just as suddenly.
Reports of Spring-Heeled Jack lingered into the early 1900s — with sightings said to have occurred as late as 1904 in Dunedin’s North East Valley.
Some stories fade.
Others are still waiting… in the dark.

20/03/2026

From the archives — 2005, The Golden Ghost.
Many of our stories are drawn from family connections to the Otago goldfields spanning the 1860s through to the late 1930s. These stories come from original family accounts, passed down over generations — lived experiences that continue to echo through time.
Over the years, these accounts have found their way into both our ghost tours and our crime tours — keeping the voices and mysteries of the goldfields alive.
For special events, The Golden Ghost returns… sharing even more from this fascinating and often haunting part of New Zealand’s history.