Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travellers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.
Deep In the heart of West Coast Glacier country, Rainforest Retreat is a rare find, with a range of accommodation set amongst lush native bush in Franz Josef township. Enjoy privacy and sanctuary in secluded cottages and tree huts, relax in the spas and sauna, dine out and have fun at the bar/restaurant, or just relish the bush setting and cook up barbecues with new friends. From luxury tree huts to flashpacker rooms, Rainforest Retreat has accommodation to suit every style of traveller; from couples to family groups to young individuals on a budget. Rainforest Retreat provides excellent value and a special atmosphere; with a focus on superb service, cleanliness and a range of great facilities to satisfy all of our guests.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Qualmark.
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.
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
Rainforest Retreat offers a luxurious immersion in its serene, rainforest setting, with modern amenities and beautiful surroundings that guests often appreciate. While opinions on value for money are mixed, with some citing overpricing, many find the hotel's location ideal for exploring local attractions.
Rooms are generally praised for their cleanliness and range from basic comforts to deluxe offerings, often including hot tubs. Service quality varies, but the staff is typically commended for their friendliness and helpfulness.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Tranquil
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Well-appointed
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
This property offers a good range of accommodation options from backpacking to more deluxe cottages. We stayed in a Geko Cottage which was basic but clean and offered basic facilities such as a fridge, microwave, linen and towels. Our small community of cottages shared a spa pool, and it was very peaceful and quiet with a native bush outlook. We got a bit lost trying to locate the cottage as they're tucked away in the bush and wifi was not great. They have a restaurant and bar which were fine. We thought the cost of dining and accommodation was a bit expensive for what it was, but I guess that's the price for touristy locations.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2024Trip 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.
Response from Sinead Lyons, General Manager at Rainforest Retreat
Responded 5 Jan 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We're pleased you enjoyed the peaceful setting of the Gecko Cottages and the shared spa pool. We appreciate your comments on signage, Wi-Fi, and value, which help us improve. We hope to welcome you back for another relaxing stay in the rainforest!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We chose a 2 bed because of the hot tub which was a godsend after all the walking and sadly having had bad nights sleep on mattress! (I do have a very bad back)
Asked for extra topper and told to use spare duvets and if no good let them know! 2 duvets now being used as topper I’m pretty sure I’ll be ok tonight
Cabin clean tidy and well equipped a nice to have would be cling film and foil
Excellent tea and coffee caddy
beautiful views to the mountains
Reception and cleaning staff really helpful and pleasant
Read more
Date of stay: October 2024
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.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
Modern luxury in a beautiful setting. We stayed in a deluxe 2 bedroom suite. Both bedrooms have exquisite ensuite bathrooms with plenty of light, storage and heated floors. The central lounge room kitchen is suitable for 4 people. The kitchen is sufficient for cooking with plenty of equipment including oven, cooktop, dishwasher, microwave, coffee machine, kettle and toaster. Plenty of tea and coffee supplies and a little milk. Our room is up stairs to a deck with hot tub. Car parked under the building. Would not be suitable for anyone unable to manage stairs. The outlook is beautiful with trees and ferns all around Staff were lovely. No breakfast available onsite but plenty available a few hundred metres in the village. A very relaxing place to stay for a few days.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2024Trip 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.
Stunning setting and location. The Deluxe twin apartment was very nicely appointed, beautifully furnished and well equipped for our family or 4 with a great spa pool on the deck. For the price some attention to detail externally on the green decks and slime on mats could be better around the spa pool. For the money we paid though the housekeeping was poor to non Existent especially after a day out of activity to return to see nothing was done at all to then have to have them in the unit when we were trying to relax and rest / enjoy the spa. Overall great but cost v’s service was an imbalance I’d say a little overpriced
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:I’d negotiate the cost
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.
Response from Sinead Lyons, General Manager at Rainforest Retreat
Responded 23 Apr 2024
Hi David, Thanks for your feedback. We have had a lot of heavy rain recently but our spa pools and the surrounds are serviced on a daily basis. Our housekeeping team service rooms between 1 and 3pm which generally suits most of our guests. This is also written in the welcome guide. Sorry to hear this timing did not work for you. We would have been happy to try and accommodate a different time if you had let us know., Happy you enjoyed your stay overall. Kind regards Sinead
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We came in late and the check in key was left in the letter outside the reception table. We have a little difficulty finding the room and driving in.
We face some issue parking our car as it was a 8 seater car, hence the space was quite tight at the parking lot below our room. As the room need to climb up the staircases. Hence we have difficulty bringing up our luggage bag and bringing it down the next day.
We have a hot tub in the room, but we did not use as the chlorine smell was quite strong. This room have a mini kitchen which was good as we have cooked a simple dinner.
The room come with a lot of freebies, 12 bottles of alcohol. Coffee machine with capsule, tea bags. There is also a breakfast basket which include alot of goodies. 1 litres of orange juice, 1 litres of milk, 1 bag of cute little delicious muffins, apples, oranges and 2 big loaf of bread with jams, butter and mini chocolate for desserts.
This room does have washing machine or dryer, however it has a paying laundry service opposite the reception.
There is 2 rooms in this accommodation. When I was booking it, I thought it was a queen size bed and 2 single bed. But it was 2 Queen size bed instead. The sofa bed was a size of a queen size bed. But you will need to set your own bed before you sleep.
One nice touch is that the toilet floor was able to be heated up. However it seem to be only heated in certain area and not the whole toilet floor.
Overall this is an good experience to stay, the place was clean and new
Read more
Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
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 Rainforest Retreat in Franz Josef was a huge disappointment. I booked it specifically for the advertised hot tub and spa, hoping to relax after a long day of exploring. But the hot tub looked like it hadn't worked in years—chunks of plastic missing, sides falling off, no plumbing, dirty, and clearly neglected. The sauna was also closed with no explanation, making the “retreat” vibe they promote feel like a complete bait and switch.
Adding to the frustration, the office was already closed when we arrived at 5:30 p.m., so there was no one around to address our concerns. Our keys had just been left in a basket for anyone to take, meaning anybody could have accessed our room before we arrived. There was no sense of security, hospitality, or care from the staff. The room was basic and seemed overpriced for what we got, and the whole experience felt unwelcoming and unprofessional. If you're looking for a relaxing stay with spa amenities, look elsewhere—The Rainforest Retreat is not worth it.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2024Trip 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.
Response from Sinead Lyons, General Manager at Rainforest Retreat
Responded 17 Nov 2024
Kia ora, Thank you for sharing your experience at Rainforest Retreat. We appreciate your feedback and the opportunity to address your concerns. Our spa facilities were undergoing maintenance during your visit, we are awaiting parts from Europe which is why parts of it have been removed and the area was closed. This is not meant to be misleading, especially given our rural location wh ere it can take longer for us to receive assistance in repairing facilities. Regarding late check-ins, our process involves securely leaving keys for guests arriving after office hours. This is a standard approach in many rural areas where operations may differ from urban settings. We have never encountered any issues with this process. We close reception at 6pm as advertised (not 5.30pm) but our onsite manager is always on call and contactable via the details left at reception. I understand the unavailability of our spa would have been disappointing but this being false advertising is simply untrue. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip around New Zealand and if you are ever back in the area, please get in touch. Kind regards Sinead
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Was in a 6 bed dorm which was very tight, not loads of room to put things and got super hot at night.
The hostel facilities are some of the best I’ve seen. Lots of showers and kitchen space (weirdly not many toilets in our block?). Loads of washer and dryers available however be warned the dryers are useless so double the time you think you’ll need!
The staff were friendly, they told us straight up that the hot tub wasn’t working. Although we were then told by locals that it never seems to be working!
Very scenic and pretty, would definitely return.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
Response from Sinead Lyons, General Manager at Rainforest Retreat
Responded 5 Jan 2025
Kia ora, Thank you for taking your time to review. We are experiencing the hottest time of the year at Franz at the moment but do try and spread everyone out in our shared accom to provide more space. Sorry to hear about your issues with the dryers, they are brand new so would love more feedback on which one you used to ensure we can follow up. Our hot tub was out of service due to awaiting a part from overseas, but I can confirm it is fully functional again now. I hope you enjoy the rest of your travels :)
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Outstanding ! We received a Complementary upgrade to a deluxe house which was superb.
The accommodation has been carefully inserted into the site so as to create minimal disruption to the flora. Our unit had parting at ground level under the accommodation.
The unit itself had a very efficiently designed kitchenette providing fridge, microwave, kettle, toaster & coffee machine complete with milk frother together with crockery & cutlery for the three people which this unit could have accommodated (King & single bed).
The lounge area, comprising of a large settee, leather arm chair and coffee table faced the patio doors with views to the snow-capped mountains.
Out deck caught the afternoon sun & was equipped with table and three chairs. Two brollies were also available by the door, although we didn’t need them.
The king bed was very comfortable with plenty of pillows, cushions & a good weight duvet (comforter) bedside tables & lamps completed the sleeping accommodation.
The bathroom was simply superb large shower with a choice of rain head or conventional head, towels, toiletries & dressing gowns.
There’s also an ironing board, iron & safe.
The continental breakfast packs included in our package were delivered at around 6.30 the previous evening & contained cereals, bread, butter, jams, small muffins, milk & orange juice. There was sufficient bread to provide us with lunch on both days.
There is a bar/restaurant, spa pool/hot tub on site together with a laundry with numerous washers & dryers which at the time of our visit cost $4 each.
Should we ever come this way again, we’d stay here without hesitation.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2022Trip 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 is a very unique place and my postive review of my lodging (Cabin #26) might not hold for other lodgers as it seems that the Retreat has various iterations as far as lodging goes. Still, the location of the Retreat in this little town is ideal, the cabin was comfortable and spotless, and the distance to the breakfast (the Monsoon) is within steps of my cabin. There were various paths off to other rooms/cabins and I observed people doing laundry on site so it seems that there is much that I do not know about this place. However, the facts that i do know, lead me to state that this is an awesome place to stay in Franz Josef.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2023
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.
We stayed two nights in the deluxe spa retreat, it was well spaced with all the amenities you would need for a comfortable stay.
We had a full kitchen including oven, cooktop, dishwasher and fridge.
A living room with couches, tv and dining area.
Two spacious bedrooms and bathrooms.
The property was clean and very pleasant to stay in.
We unfortunately couldn’t make use of the spa because of the constant rain, I wouldn’t book the spa room again in winter purely because of the extra cost and not being able to use it but that’s no fault of the facilities itself.
Wonderful accommodation
Read more
Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Just don’t book a spa room in the middle of winter because you won’t be able to make the most of...
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.
Hi,
We stayed in the tree house and it is very private and secluded. No walking traffic or motor vehicles go past it.
So if you are after that I would highly recommend it. I can't really comment on the cabins as we didn't stay in them but if they are the ones I am thinking of they seemed quite good as well just in the main complex area.
Hope this helps.
Andrew
There are more places to choose from in the Franz Josef area.
PRICE RANGE
$65 - $583 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
rainforest retreat hotel franz josef
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandWest Coast RegionWestland Tai Poutini National ParkFranz Josef
NUMBER OF ROOMS
90
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.