Holly Homestead Bed & Breakfast — Hotel in South Island

This is the absolute best spot to stay in the whole Franz Joseph/Fox glacier area. We struck gold at this bed and breakfast... let me tell you why: This was by far our favorite place we stayed during our 4 weeks in New Zealand!! The house itself is incredibly charming; with original, vintage hardwood, beautiful bathrooms and gorgeous views all around. The house has a vintage charm, but remains spotless clean and kept in perfect condition. The pictures simply do not do it justice; its way more stunning and cozy and peaceful than any other place in Franz Joseph. When we arrived we were greeted by Bernie, who is a remarkable host! She had refreshing drinks and snacks ready for us and gave a quick rundown of the town. She was available whenever we needed her, but never in our space. She was thoughtful and paid amazing attention to detail. She's been doing this for 20+ years, so you could easily call her a professional! The B&B is a 20 min walk to town through beautiful trails or a 3 minute drive to town. A hand full of yummy eateries in franz joseph.. much more here than in Fox. We stayed for 2 nights (I wish we would have stayed for longer to explore Hokitika, go kayaking at nearby lake, hike nearby and do more glacier activities). Recommendation: if you book with franz joseph heli hiking and it gets cancelled due to poor weather, try Fox glacier, they operate on a different mountain and have better weather success and don't cancel as often as Franz J.

Overall, I can't say enough about how marvelous this bed and breakfast is. It's undoubtedly the best quality, price, comfort, views and care you will get in all of Franz Joseph/Fox area! We only hope to have the privilege to...

This gorgeous, 1926 built home is an incredibly beautiful and well decorated property with spacious grounds, perfect for relaxing and disconnecting. Upon arrival, Bernie will likely meet you at your vehicle and help you bring your luggage to your room. Settle in and then allow her to guide you around the house, the shared common areas, kitchen and dining room are lovely opportunities to socialise with other guests. With a cold or hot drink in hand, meet your neighbours and let Bernie provide you with map and menus of local eateries. Whether you are a first time visitor or returning traveller, Bernie offers very helpful suggestions so take this time to ask any burning questions. ||We stayed in Room 2 and also had a sneak peak of Room 3 before it was occupied. The cleanliness of these rooms is second to none, every reflective surface shone brightly. ||Breakfast was meticulously prepared by Bernie the night before and cooked by Gerard. Sitting at the large dining table, admire the polish utensils with mesmerising views of Franz Josef. As you enjoy a continental breakfast with fresh fruit and yoghurt, peep the odd clock on the wall and make discussion with fellow travellers as Gerard takes your cooked food order. No better start to the day. ||I cannot speak any higher of our stay at Holly Homestead, my partner and I cannot wait to revisit and enjoy another homemade...

We thoroughly enjoyed our two nights at Holly Homestead. Bernie was so welcoming as we first arrived; we met Gerard at breakfast the next morning as he expertly manned the kitchen and provided delicious hot, made to order breakfasts. It was fun to sit at the breakfast table and meet people from around the world. We arrived to clouds and no views of mountains, but Bernie checked the forecast and let us know we would have luck later the next day and early on the morning of our departure. She even called the kayak operators for us to make sure it was a brighter day in that direction and that our kayak trip would go ahead as planned. She advised us the best place and directions on how to go see the glacier and it was gorgeous. The little town is cute and provides several options for meals. We highly recommend a stay at Holly Homestead if you are in...