Legacy Te Waonui Hotel Franz Josef

The scenic location amongst trees

The services, the forniture, the very poor breakfast and dinner

The host of the Legacy was exceptional. Very helpful, welcoming and happy to go above and beyond to ensure the guests enjoy their stay. The bed was extremely comfortable, ensuring a great nights sleep. The room was also very comfortable, and given the outside air temperature, was also nicely warm. Breakfast was fantastic. Although the buffet breakfast wasn’t available due to being out of season, we were catered for exceptionally well. I cannot express our gratitude enough, a fabulous stay.

Nothing.

We had an absolutely fantastic stay at Legacy Te Waonui Franz Josef and cannot recommend it highly enough! From the moment we arrived, the host was incredibly welcoming, genuinely friendly, and more than happy to help with anything we needed. Their warmth made us feel right at home instantly. Our room was a haven of relaxation. The space was beautifully comfortable, and the bed was top-tier, ensuring we both had a brilliant, uninterrupted night's sleep. Because our visit was out of season, the standard buffet wasn’t available, but the host went above and beyond to make sure we didn't miss out. They served up a hearty, plentiful breakfast that was sooooo good! It is rare to find this perfect balance of luxury comfort and deeply personal, attentive service. We will definitely be back!

Our stay here was pre-arranged as part of the NZ Tranzrail Glacier Escape package. We went in mid-winter to mark my partner's birthday, aware that while we would see snow, the weather could be unpredictable! We couldn't have got better weather and Tranzrail's accommodation choice was perfect . The Retreat is just 2/3 minutes walk from Franz Josef village and the activities included in our package. Our room and bathroom were very well appointed. I love a bathroom with a bath as well as a shower! The staff were most helpful and attentive. The 5 course dinner (included) was delicious; the chef managed to mark my partner's birthday even though he didnt order dessert! Surprisingly, the Retreat was almost empty of guests. It's apparent that it has facilities to cater for larger numbers in the busy season (when the weather is warmer) but, based on our experience, I'd strongly recommend a winter visit.

Uniquement l’accueil et le service de la personne en charge du petit déjeuner !

Ne mérite absolument pas 5 étoiles. Hôtel désert et fantôme ! Nous sommes sortis dîner et sommes rentrés à l’hôtel à 7:45pm, nous souhaitions prendre un verre dans leur salon, il n’y avait absolument personne pour nous servir, pas de réceptionniste, rien ! Nous avons demandé à écourter notre séjour d’une nuit comme le service n’était pas à la hauteur et que nous semblions déranger. Cela nous a été refusé. Nous sommes malgré tout parti mais la nuit non honoré nous a été facturé ! Ils feraient mieux de fermer l’établissement en basse saison !

Lovely place to stay, our room, the service, the location and restaurant was all very good. The staff are very friendly and made our stay very enjoyable . A thank you to Janice who looked after us so well. We will definitely return Kathryn & Robert

We had the most amazing stay at this fantastic hotel. Pure luxury & amazing staff. Especially Janice, our waitress, who was wonderful and so welcoming & Amanda on reception. So helpful & accommodating.We absolutely loved everything about this beautiful hotel. Thank you!

Pity we were only here for one night! Would have been happy to stay for a whole week nestled among the trees with all the sounds of the birds. An amazing hotel so different from anything else we have stayed in, like being in the middle of the rain forest but without any discomfort. Would come back here in a flash.

The hotel is lovely. It is on the edge of a rain forest. You hear beautiful bird songs and you can see glow worms at night around the property. There are great hikes nearby. The staff is so helpful. Janice in the dining room made all of our meals there enjoyable. The food was consistently excellent.

My wife and I stayed here for one night with our hiking group in connection with our visit to the Franz Josef glacier. The guestrooms are comfortable and charming and each room sports a patio that basically adjoins a rainforest in the middle of the hotel It’s very cool and I’ve never seen anything like it. It was very quiet. Our dinner in the hotel restaurant was excellent. Nice hotel in a remote place.

This was one of eight accommodations we stayed in during our road trip in New Zealand. It was the second most expensive so we were expecting a high standard of accommodation and maybe even a little bit of luxury! Unfortunately this was not the case as the room was dated and somewhat basic. The price we paid did not reflect the standard of room we got which was extremely disappointing.

From the moment we were greeted , to luggage taken to our room. With a 5 course dinner that was amazing , but what stood out more were the staff that made our night , special shout out to Janice? Who looked after our table for the night . This was our mid holiday treat and did not disappoint. 15 March 26

We stayed here for two nights on our trip around NZ and found for the money we paid it was not value for money. We arrived early and tried to check in which we expected our room would not be ready which was fine. As we had a kayak experience to get to we did the check in process and we just needed to collect our keys when we returned. When we came to collect our key we had to repeat our name five times and then the clerk still look as if he could not understand. We were finally given a key we went to our room and then discovered we had been given the wrong room. We had to return to reception to finally get the correct room. We had paid to get 2 degustation dinners and then told we couldn’t have one and told we had to go the the other restaurant which was pizza, a very mediocre salad and dessert bar. At every meal and breakfast service was slow and dishes not cleared. Was a very disappointing experience

The hotel is surrounded by gardens, and this includes your view thru the patio doors. The room is larger than most with a king size bed, two comfortable chairs, and a desk. Lovely bathroom with a large soaking tub/shower combo. Do note it is a big step into and out of the tub. Breakfast in the dining area includes hot eggs, bacon, grilled tomato and mushrooms, coffee and juices, pastries. Also the usual yogurt, cereals, fruit. Dinner is a real treat with fresh ingredients delivered by a friendly staff. Menu entrees includes domestic venison, steaks, lamb chops, salmon. We arrived in time for dinner, and left early in the morning; still a memorable visit.

Location. Dinner was great too as was the spa.

Wonderful stay at thr Legacy. Great location. Probably the best hotel in Franz Josef. Staff were outstanding. Went out of their way to make our stay special.

hebergement et personnel pas la restauration ! le soir le diner etait inclus dans le prix de la chambre assez cher et nous avons mange chacun une pizza, il ne restait pas fgrand chose comme salade ni fruits et gateaux pas appétisssants.. petit dej ok sans plus

toute la restauration

Friendly staff

The room was very dated. Extremely poor value for money. Food mediocre.

Lage

Viel zu teuer im Vergleich zu anderen Hotels , in denen wir waren Essen mittelmäßig, unter dem gehobenen Schnitt, den wir in Neuseeland genossen haben

Fantastic location in the settlement of Franz Josef. The hotel is surrounded by rainforest vegetation and has some stunning views of the mountains. The rooms are a little dated but they are large and comfortable. Food in both the Canopy restaurant and the more casual area was a very high standard. Reception staff were friendly but I have to be honest and say we were disappointed with the service both nights in the two dining areas. On the second night we were given our bill before asking for it twice as if they could not wait to get rid of us and it was not even 9pm. NZ is an incredibly early eating country, goodness knows what Italians and Spanish would make of it !! However, this would not put me off staying here and perhaps we are being a little harsh.

La situation, l'environnement et surtout la végétation entourant l'hôtel

L'ajout d'une piscine chauffée serait top, mais pas nécessaire

Large room and nicely decorated and appointed hotel. The location is perfect and the landscape around is very green and lush. It makes things simple to have half-board so that dinner is included in the reservation.

The serving staff in the restaurant for dinner was woefully under-trained and amateurish for this standing of hotel. They did not know how to serve wine or properly take care of guests. It's a disappointment that a hotel like this does not have a gym or more facilities.

The hotel is lovely in itself but it also offers massages you can book in the lobby. Ranzim was my masseuse and was amazing. The massage was very professional and extremely relaxing - would definitely recommend.

Pleasant one-night stay despite a large tour bus of guests utilizing same hotel. Delicious dinner served in downstairs bar: open fire pizza oven and grilled entrees were prepared with detail and enjoyed in a relaxed setting. Buffet breakfast was abundant and appreciated before another travel day. Best part of stay was trying the bath products in guest rooms: lovely aroma!

Contrôle de l’AirCon

Stayed for 3 nights - enjoyed the property- staff helpful & food was good Highlight was having a couples massage with Flo & Ranzin - Best Ever!!!

Mooi en schoon hotel, vriendelijk personeel. Eten was heerlijk metname diner.

Ontbijt paste niet bij de rest van de ambiance. Was redelijk karig qua keuze metname kaas en vleeswaren.

The most amazing place, the staff are amazing and always willing to help. To be honest, I loved my room so much I didn't want to leave and go and do anything. The view from the entrance to the deck was exactly that Te Waonui ō Tane. Tane Mahuta's domain. Clean, fun and the most comfortable beds. He mihi nui ki a koutou katoa.

It was in beautiful forest surroundings. Close to town which is probably a 5-10 min walk. The hotel was top notch in all areas. Our room was lovely with beds that were comfy as. The bathroom was setup for luxury and pampering. I heard the hot tubs and massages were to die for! Service was outstanding and friendly. Staff couldn't do enough for you, so 10/10 for friendliness and comfort. Would stay there again! Waiharakeke Crew.

We arrived with fairly high expectations, and unfortunately this stay fell short. Even with lower expectations, this is not a place we would return to. What we liked • Upper-floor rooms & greenery — if you’re on an upper floor (location-dependent), you do look out onto a good amount of greenery, which is pleasant. • Vegan options at dinner — credit where it’s due: the kitchen made a real effort with vegan dinner options. Breakfast accommodations were offered but were just okay. • Standout staff member — the highlight of our stay was being greeted by Julian, a lovely young French staff member. He went out of his way to show us where we could see glowworms in the evening—just a few steps away—and that was genuinely special. • Downstairs restaurant — we appreciated the Argentinian pizza chef. • Location — it’s an easy walk into town, which is convenient. The nearby West Coast Wildlife Centre is small but excellent. Highly recommend the behind-the-scenes tour. What could be improved • Check-in experience — we had emailed multiple times in advance to ensure an upper-floor room. At check-in, the interaction felt transactional rather than welcoming. When we asked to confirm our floor, we were initially told no, followed by a long pause and an “I’ll see what I can do,” without warmth or reassurance. One staff member was quite lovely; the other less so. • Atmosphere & interiors — carpet everywhere: in the rooms and in the downstairs dining area. Combined with plastic pulled down even on dry, pleasant days, the space felt more like an average cruise ship than a forest retreat. • Breakfast experience — the buffet area was very tight and crowded, clearly geared toward large tour groups. Nothing stood out, and there were no alternative milks available for lattes; guests are expected to use the self-serve machine. • Tour-group focus — if you enjoy being surrounded by large tour groups, this may suit you. If not, it’s worth noting. • Concierge guidance — it was surprisingly difficult to get good recommendations for things to do from the hotel. Overall, while there were a few bright spots—particularly Julian and the nearby wildlife experience—the property did not live up to its positioning or price point for us.

Old style structure, dark . Highly unprepared staff . Rooms unhygienic and hair laying around. Bad food for breakfast and dinner. No SPA. Not at all a 5 star hotel

This is probably the nicest hotel in the Franz Joseph Glacier area. The rooms were very comfortable and the staff was very friendly.

Staff were lovely. The spa was wonderful - I had one of the best massages I have ever had. The food was just alright. We had the five course degustation dinner twice. The preparation was good, but the ingredient quality did not match the preparation. Wine served at the bar was several days old based on taste, so at dinner the second night I asked the server to open a new bottle of wine, which she did without hesitation.

We loved this hotel. It was in a great location. Very peaceful. The rings were well-equipped. The staff was amazing. The food was very good and service was great.

The staff are keen but not well managed /trained. Our room was not cleaned properly after our first night. The bathroom had been given a quick wipe but not finished. Our first night dinner had to be sent back. There is no means of getting a soft drink during the day as the bar isn’t open until 5pm and there is no mini bar available so you can boil a kettle to make yourself tea. This is barely 3 star.

They should offered an elevated Boxed breakfast in the morning for early tours Thanks

price-quality ratio in general, food, henkilökunta

Location

Amenities were not worth the room rates. Bathrooms were too small. Breakfast was okay, but dinner menu was the same each night and the meals were just okay.

It was very peaceful

Comfortable

Expensive for an average room

Beautiful and natural surroundings. Comfy beds and normal room amenities.

Got wet when raining outside to get to dinner and breakfast.

Spent 3 nights at Legacy Te Waonui Hotel Franz Josef 23rd to 26th December., our 2nd stay within the year. Dinners were really good, particularly the Christmas day buffet dinner. Good selection for breakfast. The room was well positioned with very nice outlook. once our room was changed to one on the ground floor within the hotel.. The chocolates left in the room each evening were delicious.

Tariff is extremely expensive. On Christmas eve a fire alarm went off at 10:15pm. Our room was right next to an outside exit onto a sheltered walkway yet we were sent back along a corridor to the very smokey reception area which was the closest area to the source of the smoke.. Dressed in pj's and dressing gown we were sent out through the reception area into the carpark in the rain. Eventually umbrellas were handed out. The fire truck attended and had to use torches to search the garden beds for the hydrant. After about 30 minutes of standing around in the rain and cold, around 11 degrees, in clothing unsuitable for the weather conditions we were eventualy sent down a very dark and wet road and into the reception/breakfast area of another hotel. Information was never forthcoming and we had to rely on asking staff what was happening, who didn't know either. We eventually returned to our room at about 1:40 am.. There was never any explanation nor apology given for which was rumoured to be a chimney fire. The lack of information not acceptable from such a high priced establishment. At no stage were announcements made to keep all hotel guests informed as to what had happened and when we could possibly return to our rooms. The lounge bar was often unattended and an untrained bar attendant claimed stock was unavailable when there was a shelf full of requested beer pointed out to him by another staff member.

Good location, great restaurant & friendly staff

Rooms a bit dark. A heated towel rail would be nice

The best customer service. The greeting at the door the help with navigating the internet for my husbands phone the 5 course dinner and the attention to detail made this the best experience ever along with the beautiful grounds

2 day stay at this wonderful hotel. The five-course meal was absolutely fantastic, and the hotel’s location was truly beautiful, but what really made our stay special was the staff. They were exceptional. In particular, Brenda from Mexico, and a lovely young lady from India (whose name we unfortunately can’t remember), and the wonderful Kiwi couple. I Everyone was so attentive and genuinely caring. They even checked on us when we’d been out cycling for a while and kindly helped my sister-in-law with remedies for her bites. Every member of the team was delightful. Well done for assembling such an outstanding group of people.

O conforto do quarto e o canto dos passarinhos. Chegamos antes do horário, os funcionários foram gentis e autorizaram o early check in.

Lage

Durchgelegene Matratzen, kaputte Badeimer, moebel abgestossen. Restaurant eher eine Atmosphäre eines Speisesaals, Frühstücksangebot nicht entsprechend des Preises, beim Abendessen war der Käseteller schwitzend warm u aufgerollt. Als wir diesen zurückgegeben haben kam der Käse umgedreht zurück…. Kommunikation zwischen Housekeeping u Rezeption klappte gar nicht. Uns wurde gesagt dass das Zimmer fertig ist, war es aber nicht. Personal war stets sehr freundlich. Wirkte häufig leider etwas hilflos u demotiviert.

The hotel is precious, green view and very relaxing. Breakfast and dinner were good with many options. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Weirdly when we arrived around 3pm we were advised to go to the supermarket in town for drinks and snacks as they could provide neither! The place does seem to be staffed by gap year students and those on temporary working visas. They were generally lovely but inexperienced, and the placed seem short of staff. One poor guy had to run up and down form the restaurant to the lounge in the evening if anyone ordered a cocktail. Our room and bathroom were nice. Choice was limited at dinner, although okay if you choose well and breakfast was poor.

We chose this hotel partly because of the advertised 5-course chef’s dinner — what a disappointment. The food was poorly executed: cold appetizers, burnt gnocchi, and raw steak that had to be sent back. The “chef” seemed inexperienced, and much of the hotel appears run by interns. The rooms themselves are just alright, but definitely dated. Due to the high humidity, there was a noticeable musky smell, which made the room feel less comfortable. The decor is very dark and heavy, which felt out of place — especially in a rainforest setting where you’d expect something light, white, and airy. If I were planning my NZ trip again, I would choose going to Mount Cook instead. Beautiful location, but not enough good places to stay — not worth the money.

great location. food and staff amazing! but they had not cleaned the soot out their chimney and there was a fire. we had to evacuate in the rain and walk across the street in pajamas to another hotel lobby for 3 hours. they did not refund any of us, but if we would have not shown up for our reservation, we would have been charged. we basically didn't sleep that night and had to get up early. other than that, it wasn't the staffs fault, but the owner for not keeping it updated and safe. staff was so very kind in cafe and food was amazing.

Overall, we were very disappointed with the stay. Despite the hotel’s branding and pre-arrival messaging, the experience felt much more like a motel than an upmarket hotel, with noticeable gaps in service, maintenance and overall quality. What stood out: • Service: many staff struggled with English, which made even basic interactions difficult at times and gave the impression that requests weren’t always fully understood • Overall feel: very few thoughtful touches and no real sense of quality or refinement anywhere in the hotel • Breakfast: very basic and poor quality, well below expectations for the price point • Dinner: the strongest part of the stay and better than expected given the rest of the hotel, though still underwhelming versus the hotel write-up and pre-check-in expectations. The restaurant felt more like a dining hall and lacked atmosphere, with only the small outdoor terrace offering pleasant seating • Location: the main positive — proximity to Franz Josef Glacier and limited nearby alternatives are likely what drive demand Overall, the hotel relies heavily on its location rather than the quality of the experience. Without significant improvements to service, food quality and overall presentation, it doesn’t justify its positioning or pricing.

The restaurant is exceptional. We had 2 excellent dinners after many many losy meals elsewhere. The staff are great too.

It's not a great value, but we find that everyplace here is overpriced at this time.

Staff eccellente, cibo ottimo, vasca da bagno. Ho avuto un infortunio durante il soggiorno e lo staff è stato molto gentile aiutandomi e portandomi a una infermieristica locale.

Accesso alla camera lontano e all'esterno (tipo motel), stanza piccola e senza vista tranne che su piante a breve distanza, necessità di prenotare ora cena.

Location and staff

Rooms were dark and dated

Außergewöhnlich schönes Hotel mit wunderschöner Einrichtung, super Betten, top modernen Bädern, und fantastischer Gartenanlage (man fühlt sich wie mitten im Urwald). Das Hotel & die Anlage sind sehr gut in Stand gehalten. Top Lage - zentral, trotzdem ruhig.

Das Restaurant war sowohl was Abendessen als auch Frühstück betrifft enttäuschend. Im Ort kann man deutlich besser Essen. Was den Service beim Essen betrifft, so sind viele Mitarbeiter vor Ort, das heißt aber nicht, dass man gut umsorgt wird. Teller bleiben ewig stehen, Besteck kann man sich selbst vom Nachbartisch nehmen.

This is a true five-star hotel in every sense. The level of service is exceptional, with thoughtful attention throughout the day, and the bedding and linens are genuinely premium. The hotel is set in a quiet, beautiful location surrounded by native forest, yet it is very conveniently located close to everything in the area. The staff are incredibly friendly, professional, and impressive, with people from all over the world who clearly take pride in their work. The overall atmosphere feels refined and luxurious, and the restaurant is outstanding, easily comparable to Michelin-level dining in both quality and service.

Dinner was good, breakfast was also yummy, the coffee a etc in the room were well presented. The rooms were well appointed.

Definitely not a 5 stars hotel, and terribly overpriced/ overrated at $800/ night for a party of 3. The rooms feel dated, also spacious. Mostly new, untrained staff at dining. First evening, they forgot our drinks. Then brought with drinks w/ only 4 tables occupied. Second night, they forgot napkins and the waitress kept insisting on “…which temperature for beef tartare…”. We pointed out that tartare is always raw - she seemed unaware of the meal and had to inquire in the kitchen as she obviously was not aware of what Beef Tartare is. Given, that they only serve a set meal w/ the same options (9) per night, one would expect the staff to know what items they are serving. We noticed a sign for HOT POOLS adjacent to the hotel as well as a sign in the hotel. Upon our inquiry what it is and opening hours, they had to “Google” it to answer our question. The response was “ it’s not part of the hotel” - yes, but it is next door and you have signage in the hotel. It seems there is a lack of overall curiosity and knowledge. The hotel pretends to be so much more than they actually are. It takes 2-3 days to get a response if you email them. It is most likely the highest marketed property as most others are motels/ backpacker style accommodations. Do not expect more than 3-3.5* despite the hefty price tag. Franz Josef is a great location.

Henkilökunta oli palvelualtista, vaikka eivät olleet varautuneet kriisitilanteeseen.

Jouluaattona 10pm oli tulipalo, joka näytti aiheutuneen kiinteistön huonosta ylläpidosta. Jouduimme lähtemään naapurii hotelliin rankkasateessa ja pääsimme palaamaan vasta klo 1:30 nukkumaan. Illalliset ja aamiaiset olivat pettymys suhteessa hintatasoon.

Beautiful location. Beautiful rooms. Staff were wonderful especially in the restaurant.

I was on the menu at night. I’ve never been bitten this much by bed bugs before. Perhaps they should have a regular fumigation of rooms.

Service from all staff was excellent Friendly & helpful at both reception desk and dining area. Standard of food was also excellent, especially the evening meal. Rooms very clean & bed comfortable. Only advice would be to upgrade the TVs to smart TVs. Great location for the glacier walks & helicopter hikes.

Part of a coach tour, very nice clean bedroom, large comfy twin beds, well equipped with a balcony looking out on the trees and ferns, vert decent breakfast with great choice of nuts and berries to add to the muesli, clean and roomy bathroom with nice shower. Speedy porterage and friendly service. No tea or coffee again the afternoon which was a shame but overall top notch.

Stayed for two nights in October, had plenty of rain, but that only added to the charm of the location - the property is backing into the rainforest, and the lush greenery right outside our room was so serene and peaceful. The room was very spacious and clean, the beds were super comfy, and the breakfast was nice. Loved our time there, and we are definitely staying there again next time we are in Franz Josef.

The staff is amazing. (Brenda in reception is especially wonderful.) The breakfast was delicious with lots of options and the restaurant had lovely views. The location is perfect. Close to town, different hikes and to many dining options.

Some of the furnishings in the room need to be updated, specifically the chairs which looked worn, and the mattress which was lumpy.

Lovely garden where the balcony room is. Awesome view of snow-capped mountains outside my room door. Staff are very friendly and approachable. Valet cum porter is very patient and professional in parking our car and bringing the luggage to our rooms.

Nothing negative.

We liked the way we were received, the comfort of the room. We expected more from the dinner and found it to be average only.

Luxury hotel. Wonderful attentive staff. Surrounded by rainforest. Very good breakfast. Superb 5 course degustation.

The hotel is fantastic, location near the town center, very clean and the food outstanding especially the 5-course meals at dinner. Come hungry

What a fabulous hotel. We stayed here for four nights, and could not have had a better experience. We had a room on the first floor with a balcony. Immaculately clean, with extremely comfortable beds. Staff outstanding, very friendly and very helpful. Service was brilliant. Breakfast was lovely, with lots to choose from. Location is fabulous, and as we were celebrating my mother's birthday, the staff went out of their way to make the stay incredibly special. If you stay in Franz Josef, be sure to stay here. Absolutely brilliant experience.

Lovely welcome, drink on checking in was a lovely touch. Easy parking, very clean and comfortable. Loved the bush right outside our room. Dinner in the restaurant was delicious and the staff were very attentive. Bottled Water delivered to the room at night another lovely touch.Was everything I had hoped for. Loved the Kiwi crossings, just didn’t see the Kiwis.

Nothing.

Lovely spacious room , comfortable bed definitely recommend

The doona was heavy and too warm . No alternative options. Restaurant was expensive for dinner, we had one meal there but chose to eat in local restaurants due to hefty prices. Breakfast was good.

Ambiance Very welcoming Calm atmosphere with forest all around

Bedside lamp unable to read

Beautiful setting in the bush. Clean rooms, good food and service.

A bit stale/musty, the rooms could do with an airing. Not unclean or damp.

Hotel immerso nel verde. Cibo buonissimo

Ristorante posti buonissimi, ma servizio un po’ deludente

Beautiful view from room! Luxurious room and great restaurant. Because of rain, we set by the fire in the bar most of our visit but definitely a great place to stay.

Great room modern luxe. Great Bed. Large Bathroom Nice Balcony giving the idea you are in a Rainforest. Nice bar. Breakfast nice and good. Staff very friendly specially Emiliano Great Hotel with a matching price.

Lighting/exposure in the room is perhaps a litte dark

Clean, comfortable, warm, welcoming, great location and amenities, parking, food, friendly staff ☺️

Very clean hotel. Secluded in the rainforest. You have a porch within a foot of the rainforest canopy. Rooms are very clean . Facility is quite nice.