Ngaio Marsh House

“I am a great fan of Dame Marsh for the past two decades and more . I have her entire collection and have read each one more than once . When we planned our visit to New Zealand , I definitely wanted to visit her house and the theatre preferably to watch a play or performance as quite a few of her books are based on theatre . However only when I googled up to see the site , I came to know that her house is a heritage site . I did the tour on my last day on New Zealand and that was the crowning point of my trip . The guide, Jane , was effusive in her endeavour to tell me many things about Miss Marsh and also show me everything . I had read that Dame Marsh was an artist but didn’t know she was so good . It was lovely to get to know her as a person and that was possible because of the tour . Of course , one can read her biography , which I recently purchased , but that’s not the same as visiting her home , maintained just the way it was while she lived . As my husband said , the house missed only one thing and that was Miss Marsh herself . All in all , a very interesting trip . A must do for everyone who relishes her books . And also for people who love books and in particular , crime fiction . My guide was Jane Ryder . She gave me a close up of Miss Marsh’s life and achievements and virtually explained every item in the house .”

“I visited Ngaio Marsh House in January 2026 with my 91-year-old mother, an admirer of Dame Ngaio Marsh’s murder mysteries. I must admit, before this visit I hadn’t even heard of her - but by the end of the tour, I was completely captivated and determined to start reading her books! From my very first enquiry, everyone we dealt with was responsive and incredibly helpful in arranging the booking. Our guide, Jill, was exceptional. She went above and beyond to ensure my mother was comfortable throughout the tour, thoughtfully providing easy access and comfortable seating in each room - even the privilege of sitting in Dame Ngaio’s own writing armchair. Jill’s knowledge of Dame Ngaio Marsh’s life and work was outstanding, and she brought the house vividly to life with fascinating stories and insights. The home itself is wonderfully preserved and full of character, making the experience both intimate and inspiring. I cannot recommend Ngaio Marsh House highly enough - an absolute must-visit!”

“This afternoon we had a wonderful tour of Dame Nagio Marsh's home. It was lead by the awesome Liz who was so knowledgable! It was a fascinating tour, filled with wonderful history. The house looks like Nagio Marsh just popped down to the shops - preserved amazingly well! Apart from the wonderful history, I particularly enjoyed the beautiful art works. A great way to spend the afternoon. Thank you to all the dedicated volunteers working hard to make this special place available to the public.”

“Fabulous. I'm so impressed at the industry of a bevy of volunteers who keep Dame Ngaio Marsh's home open. It's more than a house preserved. The guide, Jane, was so knowledgable. If you have any interest in any of Ngaio's cultural pursuits, it's a must do. Note: one needs to be sure-footed enough to walk up a very steep drive and path. Cost $20, time one hour.”