During peak season, accommodations are woefully short in these parts. You'll be competing for rooms with lots of tour groups. On top of that, some hotels are overpriced for what they offer. My best advice is to book well ahead or travel outside the summer months; otherwise, you may find yourself staying as far away from the glaciers as Greymouth. You can experience the glaciers without staying overnight in Fox or Franz Josef townships, but the advantage of sleeping here is being close enough to jump on flights when there's a break in the weather.
In Franz Josef
The Franz Josef Top 10 Holiday Park, Main Road (tel. 0800/467-897 in NZ, or 03/752-0735; www.mountainview.co.nz), has tent and powered sites, cabins, a lodge, tourist cabins, and flats. Rainforest Retreat & Backpackers, 46 Cron St. (tel. 0800/873-346 in NZ, or 03/752-0220; www.rainforestretreat.co.nz), is nestled in native rainforest and provides some lovely, reasonably priced options for travelers on a budget. Another smart new option for a few more dollars is Glenfern Villas, State Highway 6 (tel. 0800/453-633 in NZ, or 03/752-0054; www.glenfern.co.nz), where you'll find very comfortable 1- and 2-bedroom villas with fully equipped kitchens. Plus, they're just a short walk to village shops and cafes. There are excellent B&B digs at Holly Homestead, State Highway 6 (tel. 03/752-0299; www.hollyhomestead.co.nz), where four rooms with en suites go for NZ$200 to NZ$300 (US$142-US$213/£72-£108). It's just a few minutes north of the township.
The rates include 12.5% GST and free off-street parking.
In Fox Glacier
Glacier Country Hotel, State Highway 6 (tel. 0800/696-963 in NZ, or 03/751-0847; www.scenic-circle.co.nz.), is the baby of the Scenic Circle Hotels group. You can expect modest accommodations at affordable prices, often well below the rack rates. Built in the late 1960s, it's right in the heart of the village and is older and smaller than the Franz Josef Glacier Hotels (owned by the same company). You'll find new motel rooms at The Westhaven (tel. 0800/369-452 in NZ, or 03/751-0084; www.thewesthaven.co.nz), right in the heart of the action.
