Franz Alpine Retreat

4.0 star property
Motel with free parking, near Glacier Hot Pools

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Franz Alpine Retreat

Unit, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Mountain View | View from room
Iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
Mountain view
2 Bedroom Cottage | Private kitchen | Fridge, microwave, coffee/tea maker, electric kettle
Courtyard view

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available
  • Room service
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
2 Donovan Drive, Sh 6, Franz Josef Glacier, 7886
  • Westcoast Wildlife Centre
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Glacier Hot Pools
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Waiho Hot Tubs
    ‪4 min drive‬

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Room options

Unit, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Mountain View

  • Mountain view
  • 377 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Chalet 2 Bedrooms Disabled Access

  • 743 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

Unit, 1 Queen bed

  • 377 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Chalet, 2 Bedrooms

  • 743 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 King Bed

Chalet, 2 Bedrooms, Courtyard Area

  • 743 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Cottage, 1 Queen Bed, Kitchen, Courtyard Area

  • 430 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Chalet, 1 Bedroom

  • 742 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

2 Bedroom Cottage

  • 861 sq ft
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Queen Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Chalet, 2 Bedrooms, Garden View

  • 743 sq ft
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Double Bed and 3 Twin Beds

About the neighborhood

Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Alpine Retreat places you within 3 miles (5 km) of popular attractions like Westcoast Wildlife Centre and Glacier Hot Pools. This 17-room, 4-star motel has in-room conveniences like balconies, refrigerators, and microwaves.

What's nearby

  • Westcoast Wildlife Centre - 4 min drive - 3.0 miles
  • Glacier Hot Pools - 4 min drive - 3.0 miles
  • Waiho Hot Tubs - 4 min drive - 3.0 miles
  • Our Lady of the Alps - 5 min drive - 3.2 miles
  • St James Anglican Church - 5 min drive - 3.4 miles

Getting around

  • Hokitika (HKK) - 112 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Snakebite - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Monsoon Restaurant at Rainforest - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Full of Beans - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪The Landing Restaurant & Bar - Franz Josef - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Alice May - ‬4 min drive

About this property

Franz Alpine Retreat

Motel with free parking, near Glacier Hot Pools
Guests staying at Franz Alpine Retreat enjoy free WiFi in public areas, a terrace, and a garden. Free parking is included with your stay. Front-desk staff can assist with tours/tickets and securing valuables.
21-inch flat-screen TVs come with satellite channels, and guests can stay connected with free WiFi. Bathrooms offer hydromassage showers, hair dryers, and free toiletries. Balconies or patios, refrigerators, and microwaves are also available. Housekeeping is available on request.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Languages

Chinese (Mandarin), English

Similar properties

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily continental breakfast available 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee: NZD 15 for adults and NZD 15 for children

Things to do

  • Helicopter/airplane tours

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Change of towels on request
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • In the mountains
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Grab bar near toilet
  • No elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking

More

  • Built in 2008
  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Hydromassage showerhead
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 21-inch flat-screen TV with satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Room service
  • Toaster

More

  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Portable fan

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 7:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The property charges 2.5 percent for credit card payments
The front desk is open daily from 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email with check-in instructions and key retrieval information; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 7:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours), key retrieval

Pets

  • Service animals exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for NZD 45.0 per night

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay these charges at the property:

  • Deposit: NZD 50 per day
  • Breakage deposit: NZD 50 per day

These are all of the charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

These fees and deposits will be charged at check-in, check-out, or the time of service.

  • Fee for continental breakfast: approximately NZD 15 for adults and NZD 15 for children
  • Rollaway bed fee: NZD 45.0 per night
  • Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of 2.5 percent

This list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits might not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector
  • Check-in: 3:00 PM
  • Check-out: 10 AM
  • Minimum check-in age: 18
The front desk is available during limited hours. Driving? This property offers free parking.

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit or credit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
  • This property accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and cash.
  • Onsite safety features include a smoke detector.

Additional information about polices, regulations, and more:

  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed in guestrooms.
  • Nearby construction work may cause some noise disturbance.
  • There are no elevators.

National rating

For the benefit of our customers, we have provided a rating based on our rating system.

Property is also known as

Franz Alpine Retreat Cabin
Franz Alpine Retreat Cabin Franz Josef Glacier
Franz Alpine Retreat Franz Josef Glacier
Jag Escape Franz Alpine Retreat Cabin Franz Josef Glacier
Jag Escape Franz Alpine Retreat Cabin
Jag Escape Franz Alpine Retreat Franz Josef Glacier
Jag Escape Franz Alpine Retreat
Franz Alpine Retreat Motel
Jag Escape Franz Alpine Retreat
Franz Alpine Retreat Franz Josef Glacier
Franz Alpine Retreat Motel Franz Josef Glacier

Frequently asked questions

What's there to do within easy reach of Franz Alpine Retreat?

This motel is located in Franz Josef Glacier, close to Glacier Hot Pools, Waiho Hot Tubs, and Westcoast Wildlife Centre. You'll also find Our Lady of the Alps and Te Wahipounamu within a short drive.

How much does it cost to stay at Franz Alpine Retreat?

As of May 29, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Franz Alpine Retreat on Jun 8, 2025 start from $64.92, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is parking available on site at Franz Alpine Retreat?

Yes, self parking is offered for free at the motel. Accessible parking is also available for guests.

Does Franz Alpine Retreat feature a casino at the property?

No, Franz Alpine Retreat doesn't have a casino.

Is there an indoor pool at Franz Alpine Retreat?

No, there is no indoor pool at this motel.

What will couples enjoy most about a stay at Franz Alpine Retreat?

Couples staying at this motel will value amenities like a hydromassage showerhead, kitchens in some guestrooms, as well as a terrace.

Does Franz Alpine Retreat have a hot tub?

No, this motel doesn't have a spa tub.

Does Franz Alpine Retreat feature a restaurant that includes a breakfast menu?

Franz Alpine Retreat offers continental breakfast each morning for a surcharge though there is no restaurant.

Does Franz Alpine Retreat allow pets to stay free of charge?

No, pets aren't allowed at Franz Alpine Retreat though service animals are welcome.

Are there connecting rooms at Franz Alpine Retreat?

No, there aren't connecting guestrooms at this motel.

Are there rooms with balconies at Franz Alpine Retreat?

Yes, every guestroom at Franz Alpine Retreat comes with a balcony with some featuring garden or mountain views.

Franz Alpine Retreat Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 252 out of 467 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 150 out of 467 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 44 out of 467 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 13 out of 467 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 8 out of 467 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Carol

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Property was clean and in a good location for Franz Josef activities. It would have been useful to have a sink in the kitchen area, so you didn’t have to wash up in the tiny sink in the bathroom. There was an error when we checked in and we were chased for payment. The maid did not make our bed the next day and forgot to leave milk and a tea towel. When we mentioned these mistakes, they were quickly remedied.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carrie

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Large nice new facility. Loved it!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jay

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Excellent choice. 7 minutes drive from Main Street, but great location. Quiet. Modern and fresh. Multiple choices of unit size, so look for the one that is right for you. I recommend this accommodation. Parking right at your individual unit, which I prefer.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

nevet

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katherine

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved our stay. Very quiet and close to Franz Josef shops although need a car to get there. Parking was excellent (next to the unit). Facilities were excellent - we made use of the washing machine and drying racks. Lots of info available at reception for things to do in the area. Comfortable beds and everything you could need in terms of cooking and entertainment/tv.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Clean and spacious

Large 2 bed unit with beautiful views. A few min drive into town so would need a car.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steven

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sung Eun

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

david

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A quiet and comfortable getaway

Quiet spot. It rained in the evening; electricity power was cut and restored about an hour. The only sink was inside the toilet and was rather small. TV was a mini 24 inch.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Louvain, Fig Tree Pocket

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Clean, comfortable, quiet and well-appointed chalets. About 4km from town so no hustle and bustle. Basic but not 'budget' as it felt quite luxurious for what it was. Stayed in the 2 bed one bath bracken chalet - can't fault it.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Connie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful mountain view. No nonsense room with just what you need at a great price.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

D. Eliana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very nice room, clean, comfortable, warm plenty of hot water, convenient for our plans. Although our accommodation was small we love the small details very nice.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Julie

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The accommodation was okay for the time we were there. It's a short drive from Franz Josef. Facilities limited. Only microwave, kettle and toaster. No decent sink to wash up in, only the one in the bathroom and did not like the rules imposed. No strong food smells (although we didn't cook anything strong, not to wipe make-up on the towels, flannels). Heating wasn't on nor was the fridge when we arrived and no note to say the fridge needed to be switched on. Reception not manned either: had to telephone for someone to appear. All bars, restaurants, food stores 5km away in Franz Josef.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gladys

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Staff lovely
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ariana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The views from this place were fantastic. It was very calm and relaxing with a nice quiet start to every morning. This is about a 5 minute drive to the main area with cafe and shops so you’ll need a car to get to and from food, but would definitely book here again without a doubt. We did not have a kitchen but the option to have one is good out here.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sapana

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bee Leng

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Anne Marie

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property is a fair way out of town but it is nice and quiet with great views across the countryside to the hills. There is a small kitchenette with microwave, crockery and cutlery, and detergent, tea towel etc, but no sink for washing dishes. This is has to be done in the bathroom! Did we not learn anything during COVID about clean and dirty workflows! There is a warning about using the shower: if you get the bedroom carpet wet you will be charged a fee. This is because the shower tap is positioned such that the water temperature cannot be regulated with the door open so you have to get under a cold shower, close the door and then regulate the temperature. Poor design and installation become the problem of the guest. Two heaters in the room: one didn't work and the other was ineffective.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lucy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Clean, spacious room - 5 minutes drive to the town centre.

10/10 Excellent

Shailesh

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Perfect stay

The motel is conveniently located and reasonably priced. Even being close to Hwy 6, it was quite. There was separate parking near cottage. It's very well maintained.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rahul

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great sized rooms, but not in town

Great sized cottage with plenty of space, which we enjoyed a lot. A fair bit of drive out of town so having a car is an absolute must. There was some issue with electricity for a while but probably not the hotel's fault. No one around at reception most of the time.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely roomy chalet in great condition. Short drive to the township.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Vonida

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great place that’s not too far of a drive for food and shops. Franz Josef is small so everything was within 15 min drive. I would say WiFi is spotty so I rarely used it.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

4/10 Poor

Stephen

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Uncomfortable, small, lots of restrictions, limited heating.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024