The Castle You Just Saw in the Grand Designs New Zealand Adverts - It’s Earnscleugh Castle!
If you’ve been watching the new Grand Designs New Zealand adverts and wondering “Where is that incredible red-brick castle?”, we can finally tell you.
It’s us – Earnscleugh Castle.
We’re thrilled to be the opening episode of Season 10 of Grand Designs New Zealand, airing Sunday 12 April on TVNZ 1. After more than three years since filming began, we’re just as excited as you are to finally see the finished show.
So, where are we?
Earnscleugh Castle is a Category 1 Heritage New Zealand-listed Jacobethan manor, tucked just outside the historic gold-mining town of Clyde in Central Otago. With its dramatic red-brick façade, sweeping gardens, and views over the Fraser River and Old Man Range, it’s one of the most distinctive heritage homes in New Zealand.
What you’ll see on Sunday?
We can’t say too much just yet – we don’t want to spoil the episode for you – but Sunday’s show follows our 3.5 year journey to lovingly restore and complete this extraordinary property.
You’ll meet us (Ryan and Marco) and maybe a few characters like our amazing groundskeeper, Penny, and Jake and George, our two French bull-dogs.
Come and experience it yourself
We’ve scheduled our next public tours for the weekend immediately after the episode airs (Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 April). Unfortunately, those dates have now sold out, but we have regular group tours launching soon and private tours available on request.
If you’d love to stay here, our castle suites and rooms will be shortly taking bookings for spring onwards, with the first available dates perfectly timed for the Alexandra Blossom Festival (starting 25 September 2026).
The self-catering Historic Coach House is also available for families and groups
We can’t wait to share this special chapter with you – whether you come for a tour, a stay, or just to see the castle in person after watching the show
Thank you for all the messages and excitement already – it means the world to us.
Ryan & Marco
Earnscleugh Castle, Central Otago
