Hostels in West Coast, New Zealand

Our stay at Haka House Franz Josef was a great experience overall. The property has a lively, social atmosphere that makes it easy to meet fellow travellers, yet it still offers quiet corners for those who prefer downtime. The common areas are spacious and well-kept, with a cozy lounge and kitchen facilities that make self-catering simple. The location is excellent—right in the heart of Franz Josef, within walking distance to cafes, shops, and the glacier activities. The bunk room we stayed in was basic but clean, with comfortable beds but limited storage and stuffy! It’s easy to see why it’s such a popular spot in town.

We arrived around 9pm ish and the property was quite dark. The reception desk had a note stick on the door indicating our room assignment. We had booked 2 rooms, but unfortunately, both had bugs (moths) in them. Since we arrived late, there were no open stores or restaurants nearby, not even a convenience store. We found a nearby bar online that was advertised as being open until 1am, but when we called, they informed us they were closing early due to a quiet night. However, they were kind and prepared some chips, samosas and spring rolls for us, which we appreciated as it was our only option for dinner. For future guests arriving late, I highly recommend advising them to purchase food in advance.

When booking the motel, it was stated that it was for 4 adults. When I checked in, I found that there was only one room and a bunk bed in the living room, which was not very comfortable. In addition, the toilet is in the room, and someone will be woken up when going to the toilet at night. It is not suitable for more than 2 people to stay.

The hotel was clean, comfortable, and offered great value for money. The room was well-maintained, cozy, and perfect for a relaxing stay after a day of exploring. ( it’s very near to the nearest viewpoint) The price was very affordable compared to other options in the area, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers. Overall, a pleasant and hassle-free stay with everything we needed.

I got upgraded to another room so I was thankful for that ! The room smelled a bit (moldish) even though the guests already there had opened the window but by night, it got better. Otherwise, the room was big and had a heater which was really convenient. I was happy to see a sink in the room but it wasn't usable unfortunately. I thought it would have been nice! The kitchen is well equipped, there are books available in the dining room! Emplacement is very good, close to the train station and a few activities.

Good location, near to train station, Woolworth and restaurants and cafes. They provide milk for coffee. Gave us suggestions on where to explore. Easy drive to Shanty Town and 30mins drive to Glow Worm Dell. However, bring your own toiletries like shampoo, conditioner and body wash - no holder to place them but on the floor. There were bugs flying in the room as the kitchen/toilet faces the garden. I had bites on my finger and a spot on my face. No power supply near the bed but on the kitchen area.

Such a spacious and lovely unit. Had everything that we needed and the spa bath was amazing!

Great motel stay with lots of space for our family of 4. It was an orange alert bad weather warning day and our helicopter trip was cancelled, so we stayed in the room and played games as a family, and did laundry!

The room is spacious, clean and tidy. It is close to the main road but unaffected by any traffic noise. The bed is comfortable. The kitchenette provides enough facilities for you to prepare the meals using microwave. One issue is that the ventilation fan inside the washroom is noisy during operation but can be turned off before going to sleep.

The hotel seems new and all the rooms were very clean. There was also a nice little kitchen and a spa bath tub, which we did not find the time to use. Special mention to the kind lady at the reception who was very helpful and informative. Thanks! We drove to visit the Fox Glacier Walk and the Lake Matheson Trail, which was about half an hour drive away. There were supermarkets nearby in case one planned to cook or dine in at the restaurants.