Family-friendly vacation rentals in Franz Josef / Waiau

One of our favourite Airbnbs during our road trip around the South Island. It was cosy, it was quiet, it was close enough to town and not to far from some great walks. The hot tub was such a bonus and had views of the mountain, as long as it wasn’t too cloudy. We’re glad we stayed 2 nights.

The place was a cute little place that was in an excellent location. It was handy to have a small kitchen & mini fridge to make easy meals. The bathroom was large and nicely decorated. We really loved the hot tub and sauna. The area felt like a spa.

A quaint little place with so much charm! The space had plenty of amenities — the kitchen was well-equipped, and we were able to cook our own dinner comfortably. The host was very friendly and welcoming. We especially loved stargazing at night, managed to capture some beautiful photos! The bathroom and bed were both clean and comfortable. Overall, we had a very relaxing and peaceful stay. Would definitely recommend.

Such a cool little cottage! Like being able to stay in a museum where I was with lots of things I remembered from my childhood. A very memorable stay, with a great warm fire on a chilly June night. Kath was really great and hospitable. We saw her other accommodation out back too, which looks amazing would love to come back again in the warmer months and stay there! Thanks Kath!

Couldn’t have been happier with the place we stayed at and our host. The place was situated between the mountains with a beautiful view everywhere you looked. The chalet was nice and cosy, and definitely was what we needed after a long day of exploring the area. The on site amenities such as the sauna and hot tub was a perfect touch to the stay.

Lovely location. The house is lovely. It doesn’t have a washer and dryer but you can pay for one that is available to others. Would be nice if they gave you a voucher for use as you are paying a premium for staying at the house. Other than that, would recommend to others to stay here.

Fantastic cozy retreat cabin for group of 10 in Franz Josef, only a 3 minute drive from town center, very clean and fantastic amenities with a great hot tub. Electricity went out in the middle of the night, but was understandable as there was a huge storm. Highly recommend.

What a wonderful little cottage! It was ideal for our family of three to stay the night as we made our way down the South Island. Sarah gave us very clear instructions for how to find the place (we let her know we would be arriving well after dark) and the house was clearly marked on the outside. The beds were very comfortable and there were heaters and heating blankets to keep us plenty warm overnight. Though not necessarily a fully stocked kitchen, it had what we needed to prepare breakfast. The location is amazing, with skies so dark at night we sat outside and looked at the Milky Way, and snowcapped mountains out the front window that we couldn’t stop looking at them in the morning. The small town with a grocery store and gas rotation is just minutes away. We would gladly stay here again and were sad that we only had one night.

The private huts are secluded, large and nice. Staff were helpful and friendly. Everything is walkable. Great price as well

What an amazing place to stay! Only the 2 of us but had an upgrade to a larger 2 bed deluxe retreat which was so spacious and had a hot tub too! Staff were super friendly on check in and the Monsoon restaurant on site is perfect for a meal and a drink! Would 100% stay again. Place had everything we needed and more and there is on site laundry facilities too. Try the King Tiger was a great meal too!

This place was awesome! Super nice rooms and it was super cosy. We opted for the private spa and it lived up to the expectations!! Would recommend.

Isaac's place was exactly as described, and was a short drive from Franz Josef just off highway 6. It had a lovely view of the mountains, clean kitchen, and big comfy beds. Bonus points for being one of the few places we stayed at that were heated/cooled by mini-split/heat pumps vs. having to manage the heat via a wood burning stove.

Lovely and cozy place to stay. The breakfast that Trish prepared is amazing and she has provided a lot of great food recommendations for us.

A spacious home with a lovely setting, with plenty of space to spread out. Easy walking distance to the center with a good selection of restaurants. A variety of excellent walking trails are within a short distance by car and well worth doing. We really enjoyed our stay.

A quaint little place with so much charm! The space had plenty of amenities — the kitchen was well-equipped, and we were able to cook our own dinner comfortably. The host was very friendly and welcoming. We especially loved stargazing at night, managed to capture some beautiful photos! The bathroom and bed were both clean and comfortable. Overall, we had a very relaxing and peaceful stay. Would definitely recommend.

Couldn’t have been happier with the place we stayed at and our host. The place was situated between the mountains with a beautiful view everywhere you looked. The chalet was nice and cosy, and definitely was what we needed after a long day of exploring the area. The on site amenities such as the sauna and hot tub was a perfect touch to the stay.

Trish is very helpful and friendly. We had a very wonderful and lovely breakfast with Trish. Would love to visit again next time!

Absolutely beautiful place and surroundings. Would recommend to all. Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great location, peaceful with beautiful views. The place was absolutely spotless and tidy, making it easy to settle in and get comfy. Short drive away from town centre makes it a nice private getaway while being close to all ammenities. Would definitely recommend this stay!