Legacy Te Waonui Hotel Franz Josef

We only stayed one night, but the five-course dinner was excellent and plentiful. The food was very good, and the rooms are nice. The hotel isn’t new, so some areas feel a little dated, but the fixtures and showers have all been remodeled and give it a modern feel. It’s probably the most luxurious option in Franz Josef, within walking distance of everything, including the helicopter tours. A solid performance.

The staff were lovely, and the spa was wonderful. I had one of the best massages I’ve ever had. We tried the five-course degustation dinner twice. The preparation was good, but the ingredients didn’t seem to be at the same level. The food was just alright. At the bar, the wine tasted like the bottle had been open for several days, so on our second dinner I asked the server to open a fresh bottle. She did so without hesitation.

Dinner was outstanding, with a clearly creative and talented chef, and the evening servers were amazing. The rooms are nice, and this is the best hotel in the area. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful, with a young, vibrant attitude. Breakfast had lots of items and was fair to good, but after such a creative dinner it felt a little disappointing. Being able to order eggs might help. The dining room also had too much of a cafeteria feel. We were lucky to sit outside for dinner the previous night, which was pleasant. In the evening, I think tablecloths, candles, and a more intimate setup would be nicer.

Our room was incredibly spacious and had everything we needed. We were in a corner room, so we could hear people walking around outside, but it was bearable. We even had birds singing in the bathroom! The staff were generally helpful. We were upgraded for free from our intended stay at their sister hotel, the scienic hotel, opposite, so for what we paid, it was a great bit of holiday luxury. At the very high prices I’ve seen online, I can’t imagine it would be worth it. It’s a nice, upmarket hotel in the centre of Franz Josef township, with a massage service and a restaurant and pizza bar on site. There are no pools or anything as part of the 'spa'. Breakfast is available too, though we didn’t use any of those facilities because we found much better value in town, only a minute’s walk away. From the menus, the food seemed very overpriced, even by Franz Josef standards. The staff were quite persistent about getting you to eat at the hotel, which I didn’t appreciate. If you do eat there, be aware that reservation times are very strict.