Westwood Lodge

I’m sorry to say this was the worst out of all the accommodation we stayed in during our NZ trip. On the positive, the rooms are large and the beds are comfortable. On the negative, it is hugely under-staffed; it really does need some TLC and updating, but worst of all, the Wi-Fi is absolutely awful. Nowadays you can’t get away with non-functioning Wi-Fi, so come on Westwood Lodge, spend some money on this place!

This place was the cutest B&B we stayed at on our road trip! It was quite empty when we stayed during festive season as well. The bathrooms are very large along with the bedrooms. We had our own porch / garden area. The breakfast was better than other hotel breakfasts we’ve had on the trip. The staff was so sweet and it felt like an old time B&B where someone welcomes you into their home and treats you like family. The fireplace was great when it was turned on. The beds have the capability to heat up, and there’s heated floors in the bathroom and a towel heater. Mini fridge in the bedroom. We stayed during the summer and it wasn’t too hot at night at all, quite a comfortable temperature so lack of AC wasn’t an issue during our stay. I was a bit worried about that before visiting. My only constructive feedback to the hotel is that they should add a screen to the sliding door so that we could leave it open for fresh air and not worry about mosquitoes. That’s a pretty quick fix so hopefully they are able to make that change next year!

We had 2 nights stay and it just wasn't enough. The place was so cozy and really comfortable. It was such an experince to remember. The staff kept in mind our request and fulfilled to the best possible. The room was beautifully done with heaters to keep us warm. The bed was very comfortable and helped us to have restful nights for our long drive. The location is great as it is close to the town and all the attractions. Thank you Kristy and Audrey for making our stay a memorable one!

My wife and I have just stayed at Westwood Lodge for 2 nights and couldn’t have been happier. Ash and Steve were so friendly and definitely made us feel at home. Our room was massive and very well kept. The guest lounge was also awesome and my wife and I spent time reading and relaxing in front of the large fireplace. We had delicious hot breakfasts on both mornings. We would definitely recommend Westwood Lodge for couples who are looking for a great place to stay in Franz Josef.

Westwood Lodge is decent but rather overpriced for what it is. Both the continental and cooked breakfast is delicious and spot on time, the bed is comfortable, and the location is quiet. However, everything else is dated and tired. The staff is friendly but not seasoned hospitality professionals – they are learning and eager.

My wife and I spent two days at Westwood Lodge, where our main objective was to heli-hike Fox Glacier. Very happy with our choice for a couple reasons. First, while there is good lodging available much close to Fox, the town of Franz Josef has much more to offer and the location was perfect - not in the middle of town, but much closer than it looks on the map. Second, the Coach House Suite was super clean, comfortable and spacious with a nice back patio facing the Southern Alps. Lastly, while the place was clearly understaffed, Alex, the fellow seemingly running the place single handedly was really terrific - friendly, courteous and very helpful with tips for dining. The only disappointment (and why only four stars) was, given the short staff, the lovely lounge area was essentially unavailable -- the bar closed, fireplace off, and no reason to hang out in what looked like a great spot to relax after a long day. With that in operation, it would be five stars for sure.