Name: Kahere Retreat
Address: 11 Potters Lane, 7856 Franz Josef, New Zealand, Franz Josef, Franz Josef, Franz Josef, 7856, New Zealand
Rating: 8

Smoking areas

Smoke-free property

Heating

Garden

Outdoor furniture

General

Non-smoking rooms

Fridge

Hairdryer

Shower/Bathtub

Shower

Linens

Toiletries

Rooms

Restaurant

Kettle

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

German

English

Languages Spoken

Barbecue grill(s)

Recreation

Free parking

Parking

Beach/pool towels

Pool and beach

Conference Hall

Business

Pets allowed

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Room amenities

Kahere Retreat

Franz Josef

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

20-beds

21-beds

22-beds

23-beds

24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

27-beds

28-beds

29-beds

3-beds

30-beds

31-beds

32-beds

33-beds

34-beds

35-beds

36-beds

37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

park access

Super cute cottage and very comfortable beds. Surprise benefit of an outdoor spa and sauna. Clearly a labour of love from the owners. Will hope to stay again and recommend to friends and family. Perfect for our family of 2 adults and 2 school age kids.

Perfect family getaway

Eco-tiny house vibes, the chalets are just perfect for couple or young families. They have clearly been built with real love and a personal touch which is visible in the details of the finishing. Best for self catering as they are a little out of Franz Josef village, but the kitchenette is thoughtfully appointed with everything you need to make a great meal including a nice oven and gas hob. The master bed was so comfy with beautiful linen and waking to rain on the roof just over our heads was a scrummy. The shared spa and sauna with mountain views was a treat - and the spa is the cleanest water I’ve ever seen in a share situation. Only thing is the stairs are steep so if may not be great for those with poor mobility. No TV (which is a plus in my eyes) but great wifi. 

The negative reviews here are missing the point. This is an escape to a beautifully designed  and appointed tiny house / chalet in the middle of one of the most beautiful spots in NZ, not a hotel. Can I live here please?

Wonderful eco-chalet vibes

Stayed for two nights. What a unique place to stay.  Two bedroom “tiny house” with everything we needed.  Very clean, great location, very quiet.  Highlight was the hosts Asking us to watch fireworks their friend brought.  It was great to get to meet the hosts family and friends, everyone was so nice.  It was an experience we will not forget

Great stay

Just spent two fabulous nights here in chalet no 2 . The chalets are cosy and warm with good facilities. The heated deck area was good for a night in and the spa pool was great for warming up after a day walking on all the local tracks. You can see the care and attention the owners have poured into Kahere and you are sure to have a warm welcome from them and Frankie the dog.

A hidden gem in Franz Josef

If you want quirky, something different but also immaculately clean, shower pressure off the chart and a comfy bed this is the place.
We stayed one night whilst transiting through had a meal in town and walk about.
Yes this place is 5km out of town but your undisturbed nights sleep is worth that.
Thoroughly impressed, kudos team Kahere we will be back.

#Support local owner operated 

Glorious

We stayed at Kahere Retreat for a couple of nights last week. What a great location and place. 

Check in was super easy. 

We stayed in Chalet 3. Beautiful lodge, hand built by Danny (owner) with great little touches inside. We really loved the lodges. 

The lodge was equipped with a double and two single beds, full kitchen and little lounge with lovely deck. 

A great addition was Bo, the owners dog. 

Would stay again in a heartbeat. 

Fantastic!!!

This was a fantastic place to stay during our time in Franz Josef.  Only 10 minutes out of the main town centre, there’s no cell phone service and the wifi is spotty at best, there’s no TV, but our family really enjoyed being off the grid for a couple of nights and in comfort.  

The owners have built a number of modern log cabins that have all been beautifully crafted.  We had villa cabin number 4 which was at the back of the property.  It had 2 single beds and a queen bed upstairs and a lounge room that looked out on the rest of the property .  There’s a dog called Beau who loves to play with kids so bring a tennis ball if you have one.

There is a microwave and fridge so you can cook and store the basics, but we felt this was the most cost effective way to stay in Franz Josef.  Would highly recommend this to anyone.

A great way to get off the grid

We felt in awe from the get-go. Welcomed by a letter enclosed in a jar, this was an innovative self check-in nothing like we had quite experienced before. 
We instantly fell in love with the beautifully designed and handcrafted cabin-like accommodation. Each room was meticulously perfected, forming a rustic and cosy feel. The kitchen facilities were great, the bathroom was nice and roomy, and the second-storey bedrooms were gorgeous. I can only really fault the low water pressure of the showers, but guess that this could be a thoughtful, eco-friendly setting which fits the make of the lodge- in which case I'd applaud. 
It was a treat to see the woodwork studio on our walk around the retreat; we could just truly acknowledge the craftsmanship put into each splendid cabin and its surrounds. 
We were also lucky enough to be visited by the owner's gorgeous dog Bo! A tip: if you're wanting to pat and have a play, be sure to find a nice stick for a game of fetch. 
It was wonderful to truly immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of Franz Josef, without the distraction of a TV and the sounds of city cars. 
A magical 2 night getaway which was a truly unique experience. We're already dreaming to be back again!

A charming cottage in the heart of Franz Josef

Cabin 4 was one of the newer ones, hand built, homey, cosy and quaint.  Roomy kitchen and bathroom and leather couches in the lounge area. (Bonus: no TV).  Outside dining setting was great for a summer night.  If you want a hotel - stay in a hotel!  The cabins are scattered about a rural property, booking in was informal and added to the friendly laid back atmosphere.  It seems to me that Unit 1 may miss out on privacy where it is located. 

Upstairs bedrooms for the able and agile only, we were fine with it.  Would definitely book and stay again.  

Memorable FJ visit

Really quaint and lovely 2 bedroom cabins about a 10 minute drive out of Franz Josef township.  They are set down a laneway, with garden setting and mountain views.  There is a self check in system, which works well, so you dont have to phone ahead.  Be aware that for much of the West Coast road there is no phone service at all.  In Franz Josef there is service.  
The cabins are going back to nature, in that they are made in a bespoke, hand made way.  There is no TV, or high tech features here.  That is part of its charm though.
Despite the fact that there are 2 bedrooms the cabin is very cosy and tight for space.  One bedroom has twin beds, the other has a queen/double, both are set in the eaves with a steep wooden staircase.  The bedrooms have fly screens and fans.
The bathroom is downstairs and is spacious.
The kitchen has an oven and stove top, no microwave, no dishwasher, but again, the low tech approach is what it is about.
There are 2 comfy leather sofas in the cabin, looking out across the gardens towards the mountains.
There is no inside dining space.  Given we had damp cool weather, we ended up eating on our laps one night, and eating in town the next night.  There is an outside dining area, which is covered so could be used in wet weather if warm enough.
It was lovely, and a real charming place.  
My only issue really was the lack of space in the living area.  
Still recommend as a place to stay, and would stay there again myself.

Kahere Retreat

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