Hair Raiser Tours

22/06/2026

There’s something special about this time of year that adds so much to our walking tour experiences. The crisp evening air, the scent of wood smoke drifting through the streets, and the stark silhouettes of Dunedin’s Gothic buildings create the perfect atmosphere for an evening of haunted history.
Happy Midwinter, Hair Raisers! We’re now officially on the other side of the shortest day, and the long journey back towards summer has begun.

18/06/2026

Curly Jack’s Underbelly Crime Walk 🕵‍♂️
Step into Dunedin’s dark criminal past and walk in the footsteps of some of the city's most notorious offenders. Discover their crimes, their punishments, and the fate that awaited them.
This original and authentic experience follows Curly Jack as he shares firsthand accounts passed down from those who witnessed the sinister secrets of the Otago gold rush. Hear stories of hard labour, desperate crimes, and daring escape attempts & more!
The walk concludes with an exclusive after-dark visit to Dunedin's Old Gaol.
Just be careful not to stay too long — being charged with Idleness is the last thing you'd want...
🎩 Guided by Andrew Smith, Hair Raiser Tours
Includes exclusive after-dark access to Dunedin's Old Gaol

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.