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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.
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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
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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
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
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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 are a couple of 50 somethings on a month long tour of NZ and we have a list that tells us where we are staying each day but most of the time we can't really remember much about it. We arrived at Rainforest Retreat and found we had booked a Deluxe Treehouse. which was a pleasant surprise. We were escorted to our room, which was a standalone cabin with a double bedroom, an enormous bathroom and a balcony. The cabins are arranged so that they don't overlook one another so they are really private. The quality was outstanding and the little extras such as complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks and the breakfast delivered to your room each night, for the following morning were very good. We were lucky enough to have a view of the glacier from our balcony. The bar restaurant was very good and reasonably priced. It wasn't cheap (£175 per night) but for the standard of accommodation, the location and the service, it was really good value for money. If you wanted something like this in the Alps you would be looking at £1000 per night. Not what you want if you are on a budget, but if you are looking to indulge yourself for a couple of nights - look no further. A quick tip, the hotel is 3 minutes walk from the Glacier Guides hot pools so if you are doing a heli hike or similar it is easier to go back to the hotel for your stuff than to tske it with you to the tour.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:The hotel has a range of options to suit all budgets - not just the deluxe treehouses.
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 Oscar Morgan, General Manager at Rainforest Retreat
Responded 11 Mar 2020
Kia Ora Justin Thank you for the fantastic review. We put a huge effort in so it is greatly appreciated to read reviews like yours. Thank you also for the photo you sent me of the night sky from your room. It's a stunning photo. We have shared it on our facebook page if anyone would like to have a look. I hope the rest of the trip was a fantastic one and i hope to see you back here one day. Regards Oscar
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The centre has all sorts of accommodation, from backpackers’ hostels through camper van site to the treehouses. We were in one of the deluxe tree huts, which are self-contained rooms raised one floor in the rainforest. Views were excellent (when the rain cleared). The room itself is slightly small, but very modern and well furnished and fitted with a small kitchen segment, while the bathroom is spacious and there is a big balcony with table and chairs. They provide some complimentary drinks in the fridge, and a breakfast basket is delivery to the room in the evening. It is a very different environment from the average hotel and sitting out on the balcony you feel very much in the forest, while the height means you can see the mountains. The restaurant caters for all the different clienteles with a good selection of straightforward food. When we were there it was buzzing with everyone coming back from their various activities but, despite how busy it was, they kept up with demand. Service was very good.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
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.
Rainforest Retreat is a well designed complex offering a variety of accommodation to suit any budget. We stayed in a Deluxe tree house with a sitting area and kitchenette, ample space with a generous modern bathroom and lovely rainshower. The bed was very comfortable. Stunning views out to snow capped mountains! Floor to ceiling glass and a well proportioned deck gave a sense of openess but privacy is maintained by the surrounding native bush, as well as distance between and orientation of the structures. Breakfast baskets were delivered through the evening, providing good variety and portion size for two. A short walk leads to the independently run restaurant on the premises where we happily ate on both nights of our stay, enjoying both the food and the warmth of the open wood fires! All staff at both venues were helpful and friendly. It is an easy stroll into the township and several short bush walks are nearby. Vehicle access to the tracks near the glacier are well signed and straightforward to find with a good road and ample parking. I would not hesitate to return for another visit.
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Date of stay: August 2020
Location
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.
Great location, within walking distance to the town centre. Powered camper spaces are quite cosy and we had a small van compared to others. It is a resort so there are many different types of accommodations and guests within a small site. Check in was easy and the reception staff were friendly and helpful. Facilities were adequate with a couple of small issues. There are only 3 toilets and 3 showers in the women’s block which got busy at peak times. The kitchen was the smallest we have seen in our travels. The only fridge was inconsiderately filled with peoples large cool boxes so space was limited. The bbq area was pristine and spacious with plenty of benches to use. WiFi was a bit hit and miss and very much dependent on your location within the resort. The bar was good and seemed fairly busy most evenings.
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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.
Response from Oscar Morgan, General Manager at Rainforest Retreat
Responded 11 Mar 2020
Kia Ora majmadge Thank you for staying in our holiday park with your campervan and your feedback. Please be aware there is a second facilities building with additional toilets and showers. Great to hear the staff looked after you so well. Happy Travels Oscar
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Reviews said showers were old, however are due to be upgraded this winter. I would not let this stop you from staying, I saw no issue with the showers. All facilities were in good condition and clean. Bathroom had hairdryer, which is a bonus addition for me.
We stayed in a powered site hidden in the rainforest, which was lovely and private even for such a large camp. Sites are not hugely spacious but perfectly adequate. Washing and drying is a bit expensive compared to other sites we stayed at. Wifi was good, another bonus.
Moonsoon bar serves good food. Staff are friendly just check your bill ours was wrong on two occasions and noted we were not the only ones. It was resolved without issue.
Reception staff and friendly and helpful. They also have board games for rainy days.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Room Tip:Powered site 3 is well located.
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 Oscar Morgan, General Manager at Rainforest Retreat
Responded 11 Mar 2020
Kia Ora Savvy_Trips Thank you for staying with us in your campervan. I appreciate your comments regarding our bathroom facilities. I agree they are adequate, clean and tidy and they work but i also know they are showing their age and to keep us at the high standard of the rest of our park we will be bringing them up to a whole new level in the near future. I hope you get the chance to revisit once the work is completed. All the best Oscar
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What a beautiful setting, the Rainforest Retreat sits within the wild rainforest but ideally located on the edge of Franz Josef village (under 10 minutes walk to the centre of Franz Josef). We were staying in one of the Deluxe Tree Lodges for 3 nights.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by a very lovely lady at reception who was extremely welcoming and went out of her way to inform us of all the information regarding the retreat and the local area which was valuable throughout our stay.
The treehouse speaks for itself (the photos don't even do the rooms justice). With handy parking space underneath tucked away, your lead up the stairs to a beautiful balcony overlooking the rainforest with a table and chairs which was most enjoyable in the mornings to have breakfast or as the sun was setting. There is nothing quite like the sound of birds singing whilst enjoying the views.
The room is decorated beautifully, lovely soft comfortable furnishings, mini-fridge, coffee machine and a selection of teas. The bed was super comfortable. The shower huge in size with a power shower head (shampoo conditioner and body wash provided). Robes and slippers are provided and there is a safe in the wardrobe should you require one.
Each afternoon/early evening a breakfast basket was dropped off to us (selection of cereals, yoghurt, fruit, bread, jams and muffin) fantastic size and nicely presented.
There is a fantastic onsite Bar and Restaurant (Monsoon) which has a large food and drinks menu, we visited a few times (steak and pizza were particularly delicious).
Also we were lucky enough to visit the outdoor spa at the right time and have the whole place to ourselves (sauna and hot tub) fantastic as the sun is setting 7:00/7:30pm (closes at 8pm).
My partner and I visited Frans Josef to celebrate both our birthdays. The staff really made our trip special and one to remember, highly recommend (minimum 3 nights in order to enjoy fully, escape and relax) I could have easily stayed for a further two nights.
Franz Josef is a fantastic place to visit for a few days, with plenty of hikes, coastlines to explore and an abundance of exciting adrenaline activities such as heli-hikes, scenic flights, sky diving, quad biking and kayaking, there is plenty to keep you occupied.
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Date of stay: September 2020
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.
We stayed in a deluxe treehouse with a balcony surrounded by lush trees. It was beautifully fitted out with luxurious touches everywhere, and the best bathroom with a huge shower. The room had the usual complimentary tea and coffee, but we were also treated to snacks, wine and beer in the mini fridge, and a breakfast hamper delivered to the room. Parking underneath the building, bikes on site and really nice women working at check-in who escorted us to the room in made the whole experience very enjoyable. We ate at the on site restaurant and enjoyed the large gin selection. Only downside: the room was a little small for two people with mountains of bags. The houses with spa pools on the deck looked much larger. It's a 5 minute walk to the village, shops, cafes, but so peaceful and private.
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Date of stay: February 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:The tree houses are gorgeous. If you have the budget go for the larger one with a spa pool on the...
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 review for a two-bedroom deluxe spa tree house unit - there are various other types of room/accommodation at this hotel.
We stayed here for one night in December 2020. The hotel is easy to find and is a five-minute walk to the main street with all the shops and restaurants. We were able to park our car directly under the unit. The unit is very luxurious. The two bedrooms were large with their own en suite bathrooms and the kitchen and living area (with a sofa and sofa bed) were also of a good size. The deck was huge with a good spa large enough for the four of us. There were TVs in the living area and in each bedroom, and the wifi was good. There was plenty of storage and wardrobe space and the kitchen had all the required equipment including a coffee machine. We could quite happily have stayed here for a week as it had all the comforts of home.
For breakfast they left us a basket the night before with yoghurt, little muffins, bread, jam, juice, fruit, cereal, muesli etc. I was disappointed that there was jam only, ie no peanut butter or other spreads. When we arrived there was beer, wine, water, and other drinks in the fridge. These were all complimentary. That was a lovely extra.
If you're looking to pamper yourself, then this definitely is the right place.
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Date of stay: December 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.
Stayed in Deluxe tree house, warm and comfortable with everything you need. If the weather is not great its nice to just sit on the couch and look out at the lush forest or have a private spa in the rain. The heated floor in the bathroom and the shower were great along with the provided toiletries. Good free mini bar selection and continental breakfast with fresh warm bread delivered the night before (try not to eat it all the night before if you can). The spa is amazing and well screened and all yours! Just be careful as the deck can be slippery when getting out, and unfortunately I found out the hard way! Staff are all really friendly and helpful and when I hurt my ankle they were great in assisting me with first aid.
The Monsoon restaurant is close by and serves a good variety of food and drinks and room service if you need it. Obviously with the lack of tourists and difficulty in sourcing products the menu might be different than normal.
The location is very close to all the local operators and Wildlife experience.
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Date of stay: June 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Deluxe spa is the best!
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
HK$607 - HK$2,055 (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 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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