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Franz Alpine Retreat gives you the perfect retreat in the most beautiful location this country has to offer. Whether you are travelling alone, as a group or a family, it has facilities that fully immerse you in the surrounding environment. Franz Alpine Retreat has been purpose built with facilities that allow you to feel at home, relax, do your own thing and ultimately enjoy the breathtaking environment around you. Our chalets can sleep up to 5. Chalets are equipped with full gas cooking, kitchen - dining room, electric blankets, SKY + Freeview, Wireless Internet. Other facilities within the complex include Book exchange, DVD library, BBQ, full laundry facilities available, Kiwi "continental" breakfast and activity bookings. A perfect place to stay - your home away from home!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Modern
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans
Location
2 Donovan Drive State Highway 6, Franz Josef, Westland Tai Poutini National Park 7886 New Zealand
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Brilliant location and views, amazing cabins and quiet. We decided to stay here for 2 nights after the rain had settled in and slow our trip down. The location is approximately 5 kilometres out of Franz Josef itself but the benefit is the peace and quiet and large cabins. The cabins had a well kitted out full kitchen, large lounge and dining room and good sized bathroom. There were 2 heaters in the room which kept us toastie warm all night. There were DVDs in the reception for you to use free of charge and the gentleman at the reception was friendly and gave us some fresh milk to enjoy a cuppa with upon arrival. We will definitely be going back and staying on our next trip to NZ.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
For a one night stay over we were very happy with this place. Disappointing that there wasn't a separate sink for doing dishes, but a great shower. The location is about 5km from the village which suited us fine - the room was very quiet as a result. Clean and well presented.
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:You need to bring food that can be cooked or reheated in a microwave, or go into town for a...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed for 2 nights in room 11 - Kereru. We knew this room does not have full kitchen, but that was fine for what we needed. There is a microwave, toaster, electric kettle, plates and cutlery which was adequate for 2 of us.
We had already read comments about the absence of sink, so this was not a surprise for us.
The bed is firm, which we like.
The water pressure, flow and temperature in the shower is excellent.
It is a modern place with everything we needed.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Quiet
Plenty of parking available.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The bed was very comfortable and the soap smelt nice. Although billed as luxury it is actually very basic. The sink in the bathroom is small and that is where you are supposed to do wash your dishes! The TV is only a 20". Come on, TVs are cheap now, there is no need for anything that small! In the height of the summer there is no air con or fan available, although I had two heaters ready for winter! There are signs everywhere stating that if you break something, or it goes missing you may be charged, quite threatening really. All in all it was disappointing. Not their fault but the wifi is ADSL because it is so rural so internet kept dropping out.
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Date of stay: January 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The website talks about Mountain Views, but don't count on it. The chalet we were given, #7, faces the highway. The glass front and the porch face the reception area and the highway so you get headlights directly into the room if anyone shows up in the evening to check in, and you have to walk out of the room, and around the corner and stand in the parking area to see the mountains. I booked here specifically for the Mountain Views. So disappointed. Would never book here again. We went down the road to the Glenview Villas, and were able to get a really nice room with a nice large patio and a gorgeous view of the glacier - exactly what I had EXPECTED at Franz Josef Alpine Retreat.
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Date of stay: March 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We arrived late Saturday night just before 8pm and the hosts were very kind waiting up for us. We booked a chalet, it is nice and spacious with a reasonable bathroom.
We opened up our room Saturday when arrived to find dead flies on the window sill and floor, while we are pretty easy going this showed a sign that the floor hadn't been cleaned before our arrival. We went out on Sunday and our room was serviced but still the flies were left there. Yet the battery I took out of the clock was put back in 😒. ( ticking clocks and I don't get along).
The bed is very hard rock and the couch is a more comfortable option.
I would only reccomend staying a short time due to lack of cleaness and poor bed.
Which is a shame as the hosts are lovely people and the shower has great water pressure.
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Strong smell of dog poo on the deck as soon as we arrived. That evening caught a small dog under the deck going to the toilet. Took a photo. Told management and they denied knowing anything about the dog and didn’t even apologise or offer to try to do anything about it. Smell made it impossible to enjoy the deck for the two nights we were there.
We paid $420 a night for the villa. It was described as luxury but I’d say it was average at best. We asked for room service on one day, they did nothing except replace some coffee.
We left the villa all tidy except for a couple of dishes in the sink. There was no sign telling us we had to wash everything up before we left. A few hours later management called to say that they were going to charge us for leaving 3-4 dirty dishes in the sink. Unbelievable for $420 a night!!!
Avoid at all costs!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A perfect place to stay in Franz Josef. A few kms outside the town centre but great location as there is no helicopter noise as you constantly hear in the town centre. Very clean big chalets with comfy bed and lounges. I’d definitely stay here again and recommend to friends and family. Managers and staff were fantastic and went out of there way to help when we had a car issue.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place offers first rate accommodations. It is clean and modern and spotless. Nice to be out of town in a quiet area. Just a few little things to note. The Wi-Fi was sktechy and we were near the office. It wouldn't hurt to put one box of facial tissues.
The front decks were an issue. The stair heights and depths varied and were of not in construction compliance. One of the steps was not level and my parked car stopped my fall. I doubt seriously the decks were inspected and approved. If you have any handicapped accessibility issues this is not the place for you.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very clean, modern cabin with plenty of space. I rented a 2 room cabin. Check in nice and easy, cabin was cosy and relaxing. Shower divine, good pressure and hot as you like. Kitchen was well supplied, with microwave, fridge, ironing board. All curtains blocked a lot of the light. Very peaceful. I would stay here again
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The chalets are slightly bigger, have DVD players and are further away from the highway. I could quiet easily comfortably live permanently in the two bedroom cottage myself.
Franz Josef, New Zealand86 contributions21 helpful votes
At present, no there are not.
We are investigating the feasibility of having these replaced in the future with more robust type screens, as the screens that used to be in place in all units, were damaged beyond economical repair.
There are more places to choose from in the Franz Josef area.
PRICE RANGE
$115 - $278 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
franz alpine retreat hotel franz josef
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandWest Coast RegionWestland Tai Poutini National ParkFranz Josef
NUMBER OF ROOMS
17
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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