Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
36-44 Main Rd Off State Hwy 6, Franz Josef, Westland Tai Poutini National Park 7856 New Zealand
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Avg. $143 /night, 3/25 - 3/26
$157
per night
$129
per night
$101
per night
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About
#11 of 12 hotels in Franz Josef
Location
4.6
Rooms
4.0
Value
3.8
Cleanliness
4.4
Service
4.2
Sleep Quality
4.2
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier sits at the edge of the Westland World Heritage Park, and is just moments from one of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural attractions, the Franz Josef Glacier. Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier makes the most of its alpine location and offers quality accommodation in two separate hotel ‘wings’. Stay in either the Douglas or Graham wing, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings within Franz Josef village. Our hotel is in a premium location, making it the perfect place to base yourself while exploring the magnificent Westland region.Our professional, friendly staff look forward to welcoming you and helping to make your stay enjoyable and comfortable. Your visit will be made even more memorable by the many natural wonders in the area. Just be sure to bring your camera!
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Bar / lounge
Bicycle rental
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Parking
Wifi
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Meeting rooms
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Desk
Private balcony
Room service
Safe
Minibar
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Telephone
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Electric kettle
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Qualmark.
HOTEL STYLE
Business
Mountain View
Languages Spoken
English
Location
36-44 Main Rd Off State Hwy 6, Franz Josef, Westland Tai Poutini National Park 7856 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 travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 79 out of 100
79
Christchurch Intl Airport
118.3 mi•
See all flights
Rental Cars
11 Restaurants
within 0.3 miles
Reviews
4.0
1,212 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Nestled amid breathtaking scenery, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier has garnered appreciation for its well-appointed rooms boasting excellent views. However, guests have called out for updates, particularly noting the less-than-satisfactory value, with pricey breakfasts and discomfort in room quality. Although the hotel basks in a prime location favored by many, noise from nearby helicopter activity has been a point of concern.
The ambiance exudes quaint charm, yet lacks in modern touches like air conditioning. Service quality appears to be a mixed bag, with reports of both commendable attentiveness and disorganization.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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Detailed Reviews
Rooms were very clean, beds were very comfortable and the tea cubby was very well stocked with tea coffee and hot choclate, they even provided a small bottle of fresh milk. Bathroom was very well stocked and clean, towels are very nice and large. We were provided with a free breakfast buffett and it was absolutely amazing, food of all varities from breakfast meats to fruits and cereals, lots of locally sourced produce. There is a few resturants and shops nearby, resturants are a loittle pricey but there is a supermarket near as well. I would highly reccomend for anyone travelling to the area. The views from this location are absolutely fantastic.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
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.
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The accommodation was clean and well maintained, but unfortunately many rooms had the location directly to the helicopter departure point, which was very noisy. The staff in the service area worked unfortunately without any commitment and the breakfast buffet is not recommended. In our room it dripped in the bathroom from one of the pipes under the sink, which is why the floor was wet and slippery. We stayed two nights there and I let you know right at the beginning. It was unfortunately not repaired at check-out they said they had looked but found nothing. The wet towel could have been a clue under the dripping water pipe g...
Otherwise, however, recommended.
Otherwise, however, recommended.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Traveled 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 lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveler reviews.
Very efficient and friendly check in - one of the family is vegan and they rang the room to tell us what the chef could offer for evening meal which was very considerate. We were informed we had to drink water that had been boiled due to water safety issues - it would have been nice to have had some bottled water provided and a reminder in the room as they even said we shouldn’t brush our teeth with the tap water and I forgot! We did get a couple of bottles the next day but there was 3 of us! The shower in the room was excellent and they even provided a brolly which proved very useful. A canopied walkway meant you could access reception without getting wet though! Evening meal was good although they seemed short staffed. Breakfast was also decent with fresh fruit and hot food choices plus the usual pastries. We left early at 7am and that seemed to be a very busy period at breakfast but we managed to get what we needed before departure.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Traveled 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 Sunil Siraboina, Guest Services / Front Office at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Responded Nov 25, 2023
Kia ora andreakD3712LP Thankyou for your feedback, we value your business and hope to see you in near future. Ngā mihi nui.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The best thing I can say about this hotel is that it is well located. Rooms are dated. I booked a double king room with a view of the mountains. It was very expensive and not worth the money. The tv only has local channels. They are old - they need to upgrade to smart tvs. They also need to provide Nespresso machines in the room - this is not 1970.
Do not have breakfast here - we were charged $70 for 2 for a buffet breakfast which at 8.30am was almost empty- I had to ask for food to be restocked. The only coffee provided was instant sachets - ridiculous. There are other places for breakfast and you will save $$.
I did complain about the lack of coffee and the ridiculous price of the ordinary buffet to a manager on duty, he took it on board very kindly reduced the price of our breakfast.
Do not have breakfast here - we were charged $70 for 2 for a buffet breakfast which at 8.30am was almost empty- I had to ask for food to be restocked. The only coffee provided was instant sachets - ridiculous. There are other places for breakfast and you will save $$.
I did complain about the lack of coffee and the ridiculous price of the ordinary buffet to a manager on duty, he took it on board very kindly reduced the price of our breakfast.
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Avoid having breakfast here - better and cheaper places in town
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 Sunil Siraboina, Guest Services / Front Office at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Responded Nov 2, 2024
Kia ora KJ63, Thank you for your feedback, please accept our apologies for falling short of your expectations with our room and breakfast offerings. Glad to know Manager on duty has given some discount to restore your faith in our operations. Ngā mihi nui.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stay FAR away! Avoid if at all possible!!! This may be the worst hotel we’ve ever stayed in. The checkin front desk was completely incompetent telling us we bought a dinner at the restaurant on the hotel with our reservation. When we told them we don’t want it he told us all of the restaurants in town don’t serve food that night (new years Eve) WHAT?! He then told us our room was on the first floor and asked if we needed a lift. Again what?! Why would we need a lift if our room was on the first floor?? We ignored it all and tried to make the most of our 2 night stay bad we planned to hike the glacier and that was the only reason we were there.
Turns out our room was NOT on the first floor (fine but why tell us that?) and the ENTIRE building smells like a barn. Stains on carpet, stains on pillows, bed, rust in bathroom and here the kicker… NO air-conditioning but even worse the room was SO hot and smelled so bad it made us sick.
Needless to say we spent ONE very uncomfortable night and then left as fast as we could the next morning (they refused to refund us for the night we didn’t even stay but honestly I wasn’t even mad about it. We paid to NOT stay in this disgusting place one more night)
Do yourself a favor and find another stop on way from Queenstown or even if you are local and looking for a quick stay DONT. Camp outside instead.
I never write reviews but felt compelled to given our terrible experience.
Turns out our room was NOT on the first floor (fine but why tell us that?) and the ENTIRE building smells like a barn. Stains on carpet, stains on pillows, bed, rust in bathroom and here the kicker… NO air-conditioning but even worse the room was SO hot and smelled so bad it made us sick.
Needless to say we spent ONE very uncomfortable night and then left as fast as we could the next morning (they refused to refund us for the night we didn’t even stay but honestly I wasn’t even mad about it. We paid to NOT stay in this disgusting place one more night)
Do yourself a favor and find another stop on way from Queenstown or even if you are local and looking for a quick stay DONT. Camp outside instead.
I never write reviews but felt compelled to given our terrible experience.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Traveled 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 Sunil Siraboina, Guest Services / Front Office at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Responded 3 weeks ago
Dear Getaway 18939319313, On behalf of all the hard working team at the property please accept apologies for falling short of your expectations. Kind regards, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The reception staff were very friendly and helpful.
We were given a complimentary room upgrade to Room 12 which had a view to the mountains, which we only saw clearly on the morning of check out because the weather finally cleared. We stayed two nights room only. The room ground floor and clean. We could park right outside. Good amenities in the room.
The only issue we had were the coil beds which were soft and lumpy. There was a thick mattress topper but we found the king size bed very uncomfortable. The second night I slept in the single bed which was alittle bed without so much undulations.
We did not eat in the restaurant for breakfast or dinner as the was a tour group booked in the same time and other good options to eat nearby.
We were given a complimentary room upgrade to Room 12 which had a view to the mountains, which we only saw clearly on the morning of check out because the weather finally cleared. We stayed two nights room only. The room ground floor and clean. We could park right outside. Good amenities in the room.
The only issue we had were the coil beds which were soft and lumpy. There was a thick mattress topper but we found the king size bed very uncomfortable. The second night I slept in the single bed which was alittle bed without so much undulations.
We did not eat in the restaurant for breakfast or dinner as the was a tour group booked in the same time and other good options to eat nearby.
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: If you have back pronlems and need a firm bed, check with hotel about quality of the mattress....
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 Sunil Siraboina, Guest Services / Front Office at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Responded Nov 2, 2024
Dear melissawQ5015ZD, Thank you for taking the time to review us, we hope to see you again in the future. Glad to know you have enjoyed the mountain view which is a popular amongst our guests, apologies you did not like our bedding. Kind Regards, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Team.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier is a beautiful hotel near the center of town, making it easy to walk to restaurants and bars, the grocery mart, several galleries, the West Coast Wildlife Center, and several hiking trails. I had a room on the 2nd floor which was spacious and very clean. The toiletries that the hotel provided were high end ones that you can find at a spa. A fan is place in the room as there is no a/c and it was a bit stuffy in April.
Our tour included dinner and breakfast at the hotel restaurant which both times were good as they not only had the typical Western entrees but included a couple of Asian ones like curry chicken and rice. The bar and open fire were nice touches to the small lounge area.
Our tour included dinner and breakfast at the hotel restaurant which both times were good as they not only had the typical Western entrees but included a couple of Asian ones like curry chicken and rice. The bar and open fire were nice touches to the small lounge area.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
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.
Response from Sunil Siraboina, Guest Services / Front Office at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Responded Oct 19, 2023
Thank you for the review
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is easily the best one in the small village but that is definitely not too damn with faint praise. The hotel is modern and very nicely decorated in keeping with the alpine area with an airy feel in the common areas and lots of glass to view the alps and tidy landscaping. Our room was very clean and comfortable. The restaurant has a limited menu, which was not surprising considering how remote the village is, but the meals were 5 star for service, presentation and taste. It was a really nice and unexpected surprise to find such a nice hotel in a such a remote place. The staff was great and Mel, who seems to have a number of roles at the hotel was especially friendly and helpful. If staying in the Franz Joseph, village we can't recommend it more highly.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
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.
Response from Sunil Siraboina, Guest Services / Front Office at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Responded Oct 19, 2023
Thank you for the review
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My wife went to check us in at the Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier yesterday 21st of March 2023 for a 1 night stay. She returned about 10 minutes later popped back in the car, gave me a beautiful 😍 smug smile and said we've been upgraded to the Te Waonui Forest Retreat. Around the corner we drove to pull up outside reception in front of the Valet Parking sign. Before I could turn the car off a friendly polite strapping young lad met us as we exited the car and said that there was a cool complimentary drink waiting inside for us and to leave the car and bags to him, The room was beautiful, all the staff friendly and attentive especially Ashna who seamlessly organised for my mobile phone to be hand delivered to Greymouth some 150km away on the same day that we checked out. Thank you Ashna and the rest of the team for going above and beyond.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
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.
Response from Sunil Siraboina, Guest Services / Front Office at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Responded Oct 19, 2023
Thank you for the review
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Franz Josef was a not to be missed stop on our tour of New Zealand. The Scenic is an apt name for this hotel’s great position in the beautiful setting this town enjoys . Whilst just the two of us, we were allocated a superior twin queen room situated 2 minutes from reception by covered walkway, with a parking bay for our car adjacent to our accommodation. The room itself was spotlessly clean, comfortable and inviting, and features included a safe, fridge, usual tea and coffee making facilities etc. The bed was one of the most comfortable we have experienced on our holiday - really appreciated!
The hotel offers a buffet style dinner which we took advantage of for the two nights of our stay. The food on offer was plentiful, varied and delicious. Breakfast was similarly excellent and ranged from continental style offerings to ‘ the full works’ and everything in between. The staff were invariably pleasant and attentive adding to an overall excellent experience.
In summary, the Scenic offered everything we could wish for and if we were ever fortunate enough to come this way again, we would have no hesitation in repeating this booking.
The hotel offers a buffet style dinner which we took advantage of for the two nights of our stay. The food on offer was plentiful, varied and delicious. Breakfast was similarly excellent and ranged from continental style offerings to ‘ the full works’ and everything in between. The staff were invariably pleasant and attentive adding to an overall excellent experience.
In summary, the Scenic offered everything we could wish for and if we were ever fortunate enough to come this way again, we would have no hesitation in repeating this booking.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled 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 Sunil Siraboina, Guest Services / Front Office at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Responded Oct 19, 2023
Thank you for the review
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I would go to the outdoor glacier spa around the corner. The hotel gives you a voucher and towels to use.
Absolutely! We were amazed at the tea, coffee and hot chocolate sachets provided!
Sorry for the delay in responding but I was away from this page.
Re: Time of breakfast, its a few months since I stayed there and cannot remember the actual times... however, we were up and out early that day and breakfast was provided early for us ...approx. 7. am
"Probably don’t stay in a standard room - the other rooms with balconies looked better."Read full review
"Make reservations for hotel and restaurant. Very very small town but plenty of restaurants "Read full review
"don't book a room at the ground level, you will face the parking lot - but there is no elevator!"Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
$115 - $171 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
franz josef glacier hotel
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandWest Coast RegionWestland Tai Poutini National ParkFranz Josef
NUMBER OF ROOMS
130
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingSCENIC HOTEL FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER - Updated 2025
Frequently Asked Questions about Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Which popular attractions are close to Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier?
Nearby attractions include West Coast Wildlife Centre (0.08 miles), Tatare Tunnels Walk (0.2 miles), and Te Koha Gallery (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier?
Top room amenities include a minibar, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier?
Conveniently located restaurants include Alice May, BLUE ICE RESTAURANT & BAR, and Monsoon Bar & Restaurant.
Is Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.08 miles away from the center of Franz Josef.
Are any cleaning services offered at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Are there any historical sites close to Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Church of St. James (6.8 miles).
Does Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.