Luxury hotel holiday Te Waonui Forest Retreat Franz Josef

Expressions Holidays recommends Te Waonui Forest Retreat in Franz Joseph Glacier to all those seeking luxurious surroundings as they explore this adventurous and iconic slice of New Zealand's South Island. From here, explore the region in helicopters, landing for a once-in-a-lifetime hike on the blue ice of Franz Joseph Glacier. Elsewhere, horse ride, hike, kayak, and white-water raft through the spectacular landscape, or get up close and personal with kiwis and other endemic wildlife. The very best of Kiwi hospitality, wines and cuisine will compliment your once-in-a-lifetime encounters with some of the South Island's most spectacular scenery.
Included in your Expressions holiday
  • Accommodation in a double or twin room on bed and breakfast
  • Scheduled flights with Air New Zealand or other airlines
  • Car hire for the duration of the holiday
  • Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
  • Optional room, car and flight upgrades. Details on request

Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Josef

Te Waonui Forest Retreat is 5-star luxury hotel in a stunning natural location. Gourmet cuisine, excellent spa facilities and luxurious accommodation provides an idyllic base from which to explore the rugged scenery and adventurous spirit of this iconic destination.

Facts in brief

Official star rating 5

Location At the base of the mountains, 30-minutes' drive from Jetty Viewpoint and ten minutes' drive from Lake Mapourika

Annual opening Open from 1 September to 30 April

Closest airport Hokitika Airport

Distance from airport Te Waonui Forest Retreat is approximately a 2-hour drive from Hokitika airport, or a 4-hour and 30-minute drive from Queenstown

Hotel facilities and services

The Canopy Restaurant, Café and Bar, Amaia Luxury Spa, Outdoor Pizza Oven, 24-hour reception, 24-hour room service, Guest laundry facilities, WIFI, Concierge service and activities desk.

Out and about nearby

Te Waonui Forest Retreat is sublimely located in Franz Joseph Glacier in the central region of New Zealand's South Island. This world-renowned region has been spell-binding visitors for years, with a healthy mix of activities on offer to suit every possible energy level. Of these, the most iconic involves scenic flights in helicopters, with landing and hiking on the glacier a real possibility. Explore the bewitching blue ice of this pristine glacial environment as expert guides walk you through the, otherwise inaccessible, upper glacier. For guests looking to stay firmly on land, choose from a variety of spectacular guided horse rides, where views of the Southern Alps, Docherty Creek, Waiho Beach, Omoeroa Bluff, Mount Cook and Tasman are all on offer. Alternatively, encounter the inquisitive endemic wildlife of the region, from Kiwi tours to a white heron sanctuary, from hiking through the native rainforest to a trip to the wildlife centre. Those looking to get out onto the water will find themselves well-catered for. Kayak or boat tour through the astoundingly rich waters of the Okarito Lagoon, where you will encounter unparalleled bird life and sublime views of the Southern Alps, Mount Cook, Mount Tasman and Franz Joseph Glacier. However you choose to enjoy this rugged, adventurous and iconic slice of New Zealand, be sure to allow time for relaxing and indulging in the local hot pools, the hotel spa, and the luxury of your boutique accommodation.

Absolutely loved it. Bespoke sense of the trip is very good. Very pleasant and efficient service.
Mrs H, Sep 2023

Holiday price guide A stay at this hotel is usually part of a tailor-made touring holiday of New Zealand which would include stays at several hotels and a variety of transport arrangements. We calculate the price of each tour on a tailor-made basis and include all arrangements. If you want to book this hotel on its own with flights and transfers as a stand-alone holiday, then please contact us for prices.

From about

Holiday Code EXH5019

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Call us on 01392 441245

Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Josef

Encircled by native bush, it's only natural to find that Te Waonui Forest Retreat is at the cutting edge of sustainable design. Here, natural lighting is abundant, and building materials have been chosen to minimise the environmental impact of the hotel. Furniture and fittings incorporate natural wool carpets, organic cotton bedspreads and even possum-skin cushioning. Soft timbered detailing, natural colour schemes, and recycled local materials feature in abundance. The result is clear. From the minute you step into Te Waonui Forest Retreat, you will feel at one with the wilderness that surrounds you. Moving from your luxuriously appointed room to the Frond Lounge Bar, enjoy a drink in the cosy surroundings of dark wood and unobtrusive lighting. On a warm day, look out at the beauty of the West Coast rainforest, whilst in the cooler months, warm your body and soul by the roaring fire. The lounge is the ideal location for a glass of New Zealand's finest wine, the perfect aperitif before moving onto The Canopy Restaurant for dinner. Here, dine amongst the trees as you savour the local cuisine in the form of a five-course degustation dinner. One of the very special aspects of Te Waonui Forest Retreat is the touring facilities on offer to guests of all ages. From here, explore the region in helicopters, landing for a once-in-a-lifetime hike on the blue ice of Franz Joseph Glacier. Elsewhere, horse ride, hike, kayak, and white-water raft through the spectacular landscape, or get up close and personal with kiwis and other endemic wildlife. With spas and hot pools also on offer, there's something on offer for every energy level as you relax and rejuvenate in your luxury boutique hotel.

Room descriptions

Te Wanoui's rooms have all been designed with luxury in mind. As standard, each room includes a private balcony or courtyard, entertainment system, minibar and heat pump with temperature control system.

Deluxe Hotel Room King These luxuriously appointed guest rooms are generously spacious and feature a Super King bed
Deluxe Hotel Room Twin Designed with families in mind, these luxuriously appointed guest rooms are more spacious, and include twin Queen beds. Room options for guests requiring greater ease of accessibility are also on offer.
Absolutely loved it. Bespoke sense of the trip is very good. Very pleasant and efficient service.
Mrs H, Sep 2023

Holiday price guide A stay at this hotel is usually part of a tailor-made touring holiday of New Zealand which would include stays at several hotels and a variety of transport arrangements. We calculate the price of each tour on a tailor-made basis and include all arrangements. If you want to book this hotel on its own with flights and transfers as a stand-alone holiday, then please contact us for prices.

From about

Holiday Code EXH5019

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Call us on 01392 441245

Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Josef

The journey and how you get there

For a holiday to Te Waonui Forest Retreat in Franz Jospeh Glacier, Expressions Holidays includes flights from London to Auckland with Air New Zealand (flying time is 24 hrs). Auckland is served by a wide variety of international airlines and we can include other airlines in your holiday. The chosen airline will depend upon any stopovers you might want to make en-route to New Zealand. Te Waonui Forest Retreat is usually included as part of a tailormade touring itinerary of New Zealand and you can reach the hotel by hire-car. You may want to fly into an airport on the South Island, for example, Queenstown and collect your hire-car there.

Absolutely loved it. Bespoke sense of the trip is very good. Very pleasant and efficient service.
Mrs H, Sep 2023

Holiday price guide A stay at this hotel is usually part of a tailor-made touring holiday of New Zealand which would include stays at several hotels and a variety of transport arrangements. We calculate the price of each tour on a tailor-made basis and include all arrangements. If you want to book this hotel on its own with flights and transfers as a stand-alone holiday, then please contact us for prices.

From about

Holiday Code EXH5019

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Call us on 01392 441245

Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Josef

About Central South Island

An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the Central South Island allows travellers to explore an amazingly varied region of New Zealand. It contains both the dry and flat farmland of the Canterbury plains just outside Christchurch and the highest mountain in New Zealand, Mount Cook, always snow-capped at 3764 metres and is at the heart of the Mount Cook National Park that has nineteen mountain peaks over 3000 metres and where glaciers cover 40 per cent of the area of the park. In between you have the alpine landscape of Arthur’s Pass, amid beech forest, tussock-covered meadows, cool lakes and ski fields. Much of the pasture is for sheep, often hardy merino who provide fine wool for luxury international fashion brands. To the west of the Alps the warm, wet climate produces lush rainforest at lower levels and at higher altitude the rainfall creates the famous glaciers of the Westland National Park; the Fox and the Franz Josef, a wonder of the world in that nowhere else at this latitude have glaciers advanced so close to the sea.

Highlights of the Central South Island

Whale and dolphin watching at Kaikoura by plane or sea, followed by a local crayfish lunch, Christchurch with its botanic gardens, Arts Centre and Art Gallery, Drive or take the train across the Southern Alps, Enjoy a scenic flight over Mount Cook, Tramping in the unspoiled alpine scenery of Arthur’s Pass with its mountain beech, alpine daisies, bellbirds and keas, Discover the natural beauty of the lush rainforests and deserted beaches with their Fiordland crested penguins near Lake Moeraki, Walk on the glaciers of Fox and Franz Josef.

Call us on 01392 441245

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