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Glow Worm Accommodation
27 Cron Street, Franz Josef, Westland Tai Poutini National Park 7886 New Zealand
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Avg. $110 /night, 8/9 - 8/10
$128
per night
$112
per night
$96
per night
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#1 of 3 hostels in Franz JosefLocation
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HOTEL CLASS
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
Budget
Mountain View
Languages Spoken
English, German
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Hot bath
Breakfast available
Game room
Hiking
Books, DVDs, music for children
BBQ facilities
Parking
Wifi
Board games / puzzles
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Location
27 Cron Street, Franz Josef, Westland Tai Poutini National Park 7886 New Zealand
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 77 out of 100
77
Christchurch Intl Airport
190.3 km•
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Car Hire
11 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
408Reviews2Q+A29Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
I stayed in a double room ensuite, with kitchenette. Very clean, very quiet, perfect for relaxing away from people.
In the evenings I made use of the “hostel” part of the accommodation, very hygienic kitchen with lots of pots/utensils/crockery, a TV/DVD/PlayStation room, puzzles, and people to chat with.
Included in the price is limitless popcorn, free vegan soup in the evening (to be honest, a little thin but brilliant as a base for risotto or cooking noodles in) and toast/cereal for breakfast.
I enjoy the relaxing and quiet stay, the very accommodation staff, and the fellow travellers.
Highly recommended. The age of travellers were 18 - 70, a comfortable environment for all.
In the evenings I made use of the “hostel” part of the accommodation, very hygienic kitchen with lots of pots/utensils/crockery, a TV/DVD/PlayStation room, puzzles, and people to chat with.
Included in the price is limitless popcorn, free vegan soup in the evening (to be honest, a little thin but brilliant as a base for risotto or cooking noodles in) and toast/cereal for breakfast.
I enjoy the relaxing and quiet stay, the very accommodation staff, and the fellow travellers.
Highly recommended. The age of travellers were 18 - 70, a comfortable environment for all.
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Date of stay: March 2021
Rooms
Location
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.
Glow Worm is one of the best hostels we’ve stayed in throughout our 3 year trip around the world. This is largely due to Ben who is a fabulously enthusiastic host who offers a very warm welcome.
We stayed in the en-suite room with kitchenette which was clean, cosy and comfy. Nostalgic lodge style (rather than dated) and we loved the old photographs and things in the room.
We used the communal kitchen mostly over our own kitchenette and again, it was clean and well equipped.
The addition of free vegetable soup, free breakfast and popcorn is not only exceptionally generous for the price but great too!! We enjoyed our evenings both in the lounge reading by the fire and also the TV room - big screen movie with popcorn!
And the icing on the cake was definitely the FREE hot tub on site. Lovely way to spend the afternoon, looking at the mountains. (Especially since the glacier hot pools are closed for winter).
Ben really does an amazing job and we’d 100% return here if we happen to be in FJ again.
We stayed in the en-suite room with kitchenette which was clean, cosy and comfy. Nostalgic lodge style (rather than dated) and we loved the old photographs and things in the room.
We used the communal kitchen mostly over our own kitchenette and again, it was clean and well equipped.
The addition of free vegetable soup, free breakfast and popcorn is not only exceptionally generous for the price but great too!! We enjoyed our evenings both in the lounge reading by the fire and also the TV room - big screen movie with popcorn!
And the icing on the cake was definitely the FREE hot tub on site. Lovely way to spend the afternoon, looking at the mountains. (Especially since the glacier hot pools are closed for winter).
Ben really does an amazing job and we’d 100% return here if we happen to be in FJ again.
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Date of stay: April 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.
Benjamin and his family, the hosts, are extremely friendly and welcoming. My partner and I truly felt like part of their family while we stayed with them. The rooms themselves were warm, comfortable, and everything that we needed. The communal kitchen was very nice with extras like olive oil, coffee, tea, coco powder, and sugar. The TV room is very comfortable with a Playstation 3, the Hobbit movies, and the Lord of the Rings movies available. There were plenty of board and card games for use as well. Free popcorn, breakfast, vegan vegetable soup, and spa pool were amazing perks of a lovely stay at Glow Worm Accommodation at Franz Josef. We will stay here anytime we are back in Franz Josef!! Highly recommend and 10 out of 10!!
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Date of stay: September 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.
Couldn't rate this place high enough, friendly staff who live what they do. Great soup in the evening, breakfast ready to make, great price, clean rooms, amazing water pressure! Seperate tv room with playstation for the children.
Warm fire, cost atmosphere, well stocked kitchen to use, heaps of books, board games and the location is right in town so really close walking tracks for glow worms or dinner out with the wildlife center right next door.
I went with my four children (9-18) and they were thrilled with the space and the unlimited popcorn! Would go back here in a heartbeat definitely my choice of where to stay in Franz Josef
Warm fire, cost atmosphere, well stocked kitchen to use, heaps of books, board games and the location is right in town so really close walking tracks for glow worms or dinner out with the wildlife center right next door.
I went with my four children (9-18) and they were thrilled with the space and the unlimited popcorn! Would go back here in a heartbeat definitely my choice of where to stay in Franz Josef
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip 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.
My partner and I went on a 2 month trip through the South Island. By far the best accommodation had to be at the Glow Worm!
The hosts are very friendly and welcoming and the rooms are very comfortable.
There is a free breakfast in the morning which is wonderful right before a long day out adventuring and then when coming back in the evening there is free hot soup as well!
The hot tub is enclosed, which made it easy to have a soak during a bit of a rain.
We will 100% be back to stay on our next trip to Franz Joseph!
The hosts are very friendly and welcoming and the rooms are very comfortable.
There is a free breakfast in the morning which is wonderful right before a long day out adventuring and then when coming back in the evening there is free hot soup as well!
The hot tub is enclosed, which made it easy to have a soak during a bit of a rain.
We will 100% be back to stay on our next trip to Franz Joseph!
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Date of stay: September 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.
We stayed at Glow Worm out of necessity (it was the only place available on the night we arrived in Franz Josef), but ended up enjoying our one night stay immensely. From the moment you arrive at reception, Glow Worm feels like a home away from home. The friendly owner, mood lighting, and (complimentary) popcorn machine all scream 'Welcome'! The rooms themselves are simple. This is is no way a negative. They are small(ish), neat and well cared for. The individual rooms have a range of appliances and features that you would not expect in a 'budget' hostel, and the period photographs and wall-mounted artefacts were a particular highlight. The communal spaces (kitchen, dining and TV lounge) are all unique, spacious and as cozy as you could hope. The owners cook and provide fresh vegetable soup at 6.00pm every night and this is prepared in impressive quantities. The views from the windows and car parks are reason enough to visit Franz Josef, and if I am ever lucky enough to be out that way again, Glow Worm will be the only place that I stay. Looooove this place.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Rooms
Location
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.
Clean, comfortable and all that you need. A nice and quiet location, so you get a great nights sleep. Very friendly staff. The free soup after 6pm was very welcoming and the free continental breakfast is spot on. Walking distance to everything. Quirky finishing touches in your room.
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Date of stay: March 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.
Fine for what we needed. Basic room with shower. Fridge and sink. Used the communal kitchen to cook our meal. There was soup served between 6 and 7 but it goes very quickly. Free cereal and toast to make for breakfast. Staff very friendly. It is what it is. A backpackers.
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Date of stay: January 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 was a nice place to stay. They offered free lollies, popcorn and soup! Breakfast was complimentary too but i am gluten free and unfortunately they didnt provide anything at breakfast time for my needs. Otherwise the facilities were nice. Kitchen was well equipped and the bathroom in the room was clean. I would stay here again.
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Date of stay: October 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.
We enjoyed our stay at Glow Worm Accommodations. It was reminiscent of summer camp as a kid. Our room had all the essentials...comfortable beds, an en suite bathroom, and a well-equipped kitchenette. The place was easily accessible, with free parking outside our doorstep. It was conveniently located within walking distance of several great restaurants, as well as Terrace Walk, where glowworms can be seen at night, and the West Coast Wildlife Center, where visitors can view live kiwi and tuatara. We especially liked the fact that we had the option of complete privacy in our room or communal participation with other guests in the lounge or the hot tub. The free popcorn, soup, and continental breakfasts were also a nice touch.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Yes there a few spots and plenty off street :)
We hiked to the glacier from the hostel. It took us 4 hours to go to the glacier, take some photos and look at the view, and get back to the hostel. It was a lovely and beautiful walk:) If you think it's to far there are shuttlebuses for 12.5 that will get you to a car park closer to the glacier.
Good luck :)
"We found the twin unit small/pokey and shifted to the larger family unit. Everywhere was quiet."Read full review
PRICE RANGE
$66 - $110 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
glow worm cottages hotel franz josef
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Sir Cedrics Glow Worm Flashpacker Hostel
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandWest Coast RegionWestland Tai Poutini National ParkFranz Josef
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
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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Frequently Asked Questions about Glow Worm Accommodation
Which popular attractions are close to Glow Worm Accommodation?
Nearby attractions include West Coast Wildlife Centre (0.03 km), Te Koha Gallery (0.2 km), and Tatare Tunnels Walk (0.2 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Glow Worm Accommodation?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free parking, and a hot tub.
What food & drink options are available at Glow Worm Accommodation?
Guests can enjoy breakfast and barbeque facilities during their stay.
Is parking available at Glow Worm Accommodation?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Glow Worm Accommodation?
Conveniently located restaurants include Alice May, BLUE ICE RESTAURANT & BAR, and Monsoon Bar & Restaurant.
Is Glow Worm Accommodation located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.09 km away from the centre of Franz Josef.
Are any cleaning services offered at Glow Worm Accommodation?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Glow Worm Accommodation?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and German.
Are there any historical sites close to Glow Worm Accommodation?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Church of St. James (10.9 km).