Holly Homestead Bed & Breakfast

I had an absolutely wonderful stay here! Bernie and Gerard were perfect hosts, the rooms were lovely, and the breakfast was delicious. What more can you ask for!! Highly recommend!!

Best stay in NZ! You will never find an accommodation with more love. Truly unique interior with a lot of wood. In the room are 4 ways to heat up (heater, blow heater, heater lights, bed heating)

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay with Bernie and Gerard. The house has a lot of character and is spotlessly clean. Bed super comfortable and lots of extra touches in the rooms which were bright airy, and very spacious. Bernie is very informative and always on hand to offer information/advice. Breakfast was varied and delicious. The location of this B&B is fab because you get a little woodland walk into town and it is a great location for exploring the glaciers and lake walks. |We would highly recommend staying here.

We thoroughly enjoyed our two nights at Holly Homestead. Bernie was so welcoming as we first arrived; we met Gerard at breakfast the next morning as he expertly manned the kitchen and provided delicious hot, made to order breakfasts. It was fun to sit at the breakfast table and meet people from around the world. We arrived to clouds and no views of mountains, but Bernie checked the forecast and let us know we would have luck later the next day and early on the morning of our departure. She even called the kayak operators for us to make sure it was a brighter day in that direction and that our kayak trip would go ahead as planned. She advised us the best place and directions on how to go see the glacier and it was gorgeous. The little town is cute and provides several options for meals. We highly recommend a stay at Holly Homestead if you are in Franz Josef.

This gorgeous, 1926 built home is an incredibly beautiful and well decorated property with spacious grounds, perfect for relaxing and disconnecting. Upon arrival, Bernie will likely meet you at your vehicle and help you bring your luggage to your room. Settle in and then allow her to guide you around the house, the shared common areas, kitchen and dining room are lovely opportunities to socialise with other guests. With a cold or hot drink in hand, meet your neighbours and let Bernie provide you with map and menus of local eateries. Whether you are a first time visitor or returning traveller, Bernie offers very helpful suggestions so take this time to ask any burning questions. ||We stayed in Room 2 and also had a sneak peak of Room 3 before it was occupied. The cleanliness of these rooms is second to none, every reflective surface shone brightly. ||Breakfast was meticulously prepared by Bernie the night before and cooked by Gerard. Sitting at the large dining table, admire the polish utensils with mesmerising views of Franz Josef. As you enjoy a continental breakfast with fresh fruit and yoghurt, peep the odd clock on the wall and make discussion with fellow travellers as Gerard takes your cooked food order. No better start to the day. ||I cannot speak any higher of our stay at Holly Homestead, my partner and I cannot wait to revisit and enjoy another homemade shortbread biscuit.

Bernie welcomed us in to her homely b&b and showed us around her lovely home and business. We settled into our comfy yet spacious room and were offered a tray of coffee to sit and relax whilst Bernie gave us her tips on where to dine that evening. We slept so well as the bed was divine, the room so clean and the bathroom a joy. Breakfast was delicious and Bernie was kind enough to serve it to us at 7am as we had an early start on our helicopter trip and hike at Franz Josef Glacier. I had fruit, Museli and yoghurt and Mark had an omelette. Divine toast too. 10 out of 10 for hospitality Bernie. Wishing you all the very best, Alex and Mark, Malvern, UK X

We had a wonderful one-night stay at Holly Homestead but wish we had stayed longer! It was fabulous in every respect. We had a complete suite, lounge, bedroom and large modern bathroom with both tub and shower. The bed/pillows were very comfortable and the lounge area was spacious with large windows on two sides giving fabulous views of the mountains. We had a choice of cooked breakfast as well as the usual continental choices. On arrival we were offered tea/coffee with home-baked cookies [that were also available in our room]. We were also given lots of advice about restaurants and things to do locally. We were made extremely welcome and it is one of our favourite memories of our trip.

We had two wonderful days with Bernie & Jarrard. They provided us with everything and looked after us. The breakfast was great (thanks Jarrad) and the home-Baker Cookies from Bernie were delicious. We felt completely comfortable at the Holly Homestead B&B. The center was easily and quickly accessible on foot through the “rainforest”. |We enjoyed the sunset from the balcony with a glass of wine - it was perfect. |Many thanks Bernie & Jarrad from|Susi & Martin

Located just minutes from downtown Franz Josef, Holly Homestead is a cozy, charming B&B. Although the structure dates back to the 1920's, it's been restored with all the modern amenities - no need to trudge out back to the outhouse in the middle of the night. Bernie & Gerard were on a well deserved holiday when my wife and I visited but we were dutifully welcomed by Sharon and her friendly dog, Jack. Sharon didn't have as good of knowledge of the immediate area, as she's not a local resident, but she did provide a few restaurant recommendations that turned out to be excellent. Breakfasts both of the mornings we were at Holly Homestead were very good. We very much enjoyed the open, "country kitchen". We also really enjoyed our evenings sipping a glass of complimentary Port in the front reading room - a very nice touch.

This review is a bit delayed following our trip to NZ earlier this year, however before anymore time went by, I needed to make sure I wrote something up regarding this phenomenal B&B. My wife and I were in Franz Josef in March, and we are still talking about the Holly Homestead experience to this day. Bernie was so welcoming, and even though we arrived a bit later in the day (well after the daily happy hour), she still rolled out the red carpet for us. If ever you are in the glaciers region, be sure to check in with Holly Homestead for availability. Arrival - Bernie welcomed us warmly and invited us in to the dining room for a glass of wine and and friendly conversation. She provided us with suggested destinations in the area and along the coastal highway (also included as part of her reservation confirmation email, which enhanced our enjoyment of the drive from Queenstown), and also offered a few suggestions for dinner in town. The lovely conversation was followed by a tour of the house, including a thorough overview of our room. It was such a wonderful surprise to have been offered an upgrade to the suite, and we thoroughly enjoyed the decor and comfort of that room. Our room and the house were so comfortable, it was almost a shame to have to leave for a short time for dinner in town. The Room - Again, it was such a nice surprise to have been offered the upgrade. The suite featured ample space, and was quite the haven for a little R&R after a day of driving. The custom decor was very nice, and we even took a few ideas away for our own home. We were particularly fond of the classic-yet-modern design of the bathroom. The living room was surrounded by windows, all of which offer beautiful views to the surrounding area and mountains. There was also french door access to the upper patio directly from the room. Two sofas, several tables, a wet bar area, and countless fine touches complete the amenities of the main area. The bedroom featured a plush bed, more beautiful windows, and a dresser. Amenities - Aside from Bernie's over and above efforts to ensure all are welcome and comfortable, she also offers: a lounge room with evening beverages, happy hour, customized hot breakfast based on timing of your choosing, the upper patio for sunshine and relaxation, free wifi, a nice book within the room featuring a history of the home and the family, and fragrant toiletries within the room (we loved them so much, we asked Bernie for a sample and we have since ordered our own direct from her supplier). Departure - The only sour point is that we had to leave. We hope that we'll get a chance to return sometime in the future.

I've never been an advocate of Bed & Breakfasts in general. I haven't stayed in a lot of them and I always imagined there was the possibility of awkwardness with other guests since it is much more intimate than a traditional hotel. I was very pleasantly surprised with Holly Homestead and Bernie could not have been more accommodating. In addition to the beautiful room and bathroom (we had the most gorgeous vintage bathtub!), Bernie has a guest sitting room available and offered us cookies, teas, and beer to enjoy before heading out to dinner. She was so friendly and made us feel welcome right off the bat. The location is perfect - a quick drive into town but my husband and I actually walked on the path that runs along the road. It took us about 20 minutes at a very leisurely pace. We were sad to leave in the morning and that we were only able to stay one night. We were able to enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast before we did so, though. Fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, cheese, eggs, meats and fish - really anything you can imagine was available. A wonderful stay and definitely a housing highlight of our trip!