YHA Franz Josef

Well where to start ... it is a very big hostel and during my stay it was crowded. The facilities were not really clean but this is just a result of ignorant guests that don't care about others.
Kitchen is big and offers multiple ovens and places to cook with gas or electric.

Free WI-FI

Towels just 1$ donation

Really beautiful location

Inter City Bus drop & pick up at hostel

Nice staff and good value for money

My review comes with some fine print... I arrived at 12:15am after a 13 hour drive from Picton (the main highway to Franz Josef was closed due to a rock / land slide). We were exhausted and just wanted to sleep. The address in google maps will point you too far down the road FYI! So we wandered around in the dark a bit...
Once we found it? It was a huge relief. They had provided us a door code earlier in the day to enter for after-hours check-in and it was super easy to get our key and find our room.
Granted, everyone was in their rooms so that probably helped it seem more quiet and clean but I was still surprised with just HOW quiet and clean it was... the room was small (2 twin beds and a small set of drawers w/ towels and extra blanket), but it served its purpose. The bathroom was just down the hall and was very clean and bright and spacious.
We only walked by the kitchen a couple of times but it seemed very big and welcoming and clean.
If I visited Franz Josef again, I would definitely stay here. Everything (heli / hikes, cafe, short hikes) are within walking distance too.

This place is huge! This is not a small hostel - it's more of a hotel. It's got tons of rooms, a small laundry room and a big kitchen. The kitchen has TONS of space to cook and a good amount of storage space. Interestingly, they have both gas and electric stoves. There is plenty of communal seating as well as communal puzzles that are always in process as well as a pool table and movie room. This is right in Franz Josef and in walking distance to all the restaurants and bars. Rooms are clean enough! We stayed in a double with en suite and it was totally worth having our own bathroom. It was great to have your own space to bathe and hang out. I'd definitely stay here again.