If you want quirky, something different but also immaculately clean, shower pressure off the chart and a comfy bed this is the place. We stayed one night whilst transiting through had a meal in town and walk about. Yes this place is 5km out of town but your undisturbed nights sleep is worth that. Thoroughly impressed, kudos team Kahere we will be back. #Support local owner operated
Cabin 4 was one of the newer ones, hand built, homey, cosy and quaint. Roomy kitchen and bathroom and leather couches in the lounge area. (Bonus: no TV). Outside dining setting was great for a summer night. If you want a hotel - stay in a hotel! The cabins are scattered about a rural property, booking in was informal and added to the friendly laid back atmosphere. It seems to me that Unit 1 may miss out on privacy where it is located. Upstairs bedrooms for the able and agile only, we were fine with it. Would definitely book and stay again.
Really quaint and lovely 2 bedroom cabins about a 10 minute drive out of Franz Josef township. They are set down a laneway, with garden setting and mountain views. There is a self check in system, which works well, so you dont have to phone ahead. Be aware that for much of the West Coast road there is no phone service at all. In Franz Josef there is service. The cabins are going back to nature, in that they are made in a bespoke, hand made way. There is no TV, or high tech features here. That is part of its charm though. Despite the fact that there are 2 bedrooms the cabin is very cosy and tight for space. One bedroom has twin beds, the other has a queen/double, both are set in the eaves with a steep wooden staircase. The bedrooms have fly screens and fans. The bathroom is downstairs and is spacious. The kitchen has an oven and stove top, no microwave, no dishwasher, but again, the low tech approach is what it is about. There are 2 comfy leather sofas in the cabin, looking out across the gardens towards the mountains. There is no inside dining space. Given we had damp cool weather, we ended up eating on our laps one night, and eating in town the next night. There is an outside dining area, which is covered so could be used in wet weather if warm enough. It was lovely, and a real charming place. My only issue really was the lack of space in the living area. Still recommend as a place to stay, and would stay there again myself.…
The photos do not reflect the nature of the "resort". Way smaller that the advertisement, two people maximum. No dining table, outside setting but at 2 degrees it's inside or freeze. Inadequate heating, they need reverse cycle air. Kitchen pots with handles falling off, no TV or microwave.. Upstairs bedroom is a hazard for anyone over 3 feet tall. "A" frame roof meant that we continually struck the slanting roof with our heads. Location is very good, quiet and out of the way. Clean, and safe. But 4 star rating is one more than it's worth.
The hosts have put a LOT of love into making these chalets. We stayed in Chalet #4 - and it was immaculately presented and felt like it was brand new. People have respected the property when staying here, and the hosts have maintained it to a very high standard. The bed was the best out of all the beds I slept on throughout NZ. We had a little baby with us, so would really have liked a microwave in the kitchenette to warm her milk, and maybe a small TV to watch and unwind just before the adults go to bed, and after the little one has been put to sleep. Minor points - but I would definitely stay here again.
We stayed at Kahere Retreat for a couple of nights last week. What a great location and place. Check in was super easy. We stayed in Chalet 3. Beautiful lodge, hand built by Danny (owner) with great little touches inside. We really loved the lodges. The lodge was equipped with a double and two single beds, full kitchen and little lounge with lovely deck. A great addition was Bo, the owners dog. Would stay again in a heartbeat.
We were in cabin 2. Most look to be the same. Full kitchen, microwave, toaster. No grill. Nice front deck. The dining table is on the enclosed back porch. 2 small bed rooms up a beautiful slick spiral staircase. 1 BR with a king, 1 with 2 twins. 1 bath downstairs. Close to town, and the glacier walk. Our oven didn’t work and we could have used more pillows.
This was a fantastic place to stay during our time in Franz Josef. Only 10 minutes out of the main town centre, there’s no cell phone service and the wifi is spotty at best, there’s no TV, but our family really enjoyed being off the grid for a couple of nights and in comfort. The owners have built a number of modern log cabins that have all been beautifully crafted. We had villa cabin number 4 which was at the back of the property. It had 2 single beds and a queen bed upstairs and a lounge room that looked out on the rest of the property . There’s a dog called Beau who loves to play with kids so bring a tennis ball if you have one. There is a microwave and fridge so you can cook and store the basics, but we felt this was the most cost effective way to stay in Franz Josef. Would highly recommend this to anyone.…
We felt in awe from the get-go. Welcomed by a letter enclosed in a jar, this was an innovative self check-in nothing like we had quite experienced before. We instantly fell in love with the beautifully designed and handcrafted cabin-like accommodation. Each room was meticulously perfected, forming a rustic and cosy feel. The kitchen facilities were great, the bathroom was nice and roomy, and the second-storey bedrooms were gorgeous. I can only really fault the low water pressure of the showers, but guess that this could be a thoughtful, eco-friendly setting which fits the make of the lodge- in which case I'd applaud. It was a treat to see the woodwork studio on our walk around the retreat; we could just truly acknowledge the craftsmanship put into each splendid cabin and its surrounds. We were also lucky enough to be visited by the owner's gorgeous dog Bo! A tip: if you're wanting to pat and have a play, be sure to find a nice stick for a game of fetch. It was wonderful to truly immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of Franz Josef, without the distraction of a TV and the sounds of city cars. A magical 2 night getaway which was a truly unique experience. We're already dreaming to be back again!…
Absolutely superb place to stay. Very private with views from the rear over the mountains. The furnishings and layout were brilliant with great parking. The location was great for a trip to the glacier which unfortunately for us on the day was masked by cloud but that disappointment was more than made up for by this little gem.
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