Swain-selected stayFranz Josef, South IslandTe Waonui Forest RetreatA distinctive base for a journey designed around you.Selected by our Destination ExpertsExploreThe storyGalleryExperiencesPlan your stayThe stayWhat to know about this stay.Te Waonui Forest Retreat sets 100 rooms across four wings linked by covered walkways through West Coast rainforest near Franz Josef Glacier, each with a private balcony or courtyard and natural wool carpets and organic cotton bedspreads that match the surrounding forest more than they announce luxury for its own sake. A helicopter flight to Franz Josef or Fox Glacier, ice folding down through rainforest toward the sea, tends to reorganize people's sense of scale for the rest of the trip.Eco-rafting down the Whataroa River, heli-hiking and ice climbing cover the more physical days, and the Canopy restaurant's five-course degustation dinner plus the Amaia Luxury Spa absorb whatever energy is left by evening. A closer lookTe Waonui Forest Retreat, in detail.Beyond the stayExperiences nearbyA helicopter flight to Franz Josef or Fox Glacier is the obvious centerpiece here, and seeing either glacier from the air, ice folding down through the rainforest toward the sea, tends to reorganize people's sense of scale for the rest of the trip. Eco-rafting down the Whataroa River covers the water side of an adventurous stay, while heli-hiking and ice climbing push further for guests chasing something more physical. Back at the lodge, the Canopy restaurant's five-course degustation dinner and the Amaia Luxury Spa absorb whatever energy is left, set inside a retreat built from four rainforest-linked wings that make even a short walk to dinner feel like part of the experience. Plan with SwainAdd Te Waonui Forest Retreat to your journey.Tell us where you want to go and how you like to travel. We will recommend the right route, length of stay, and experiences.Start planning →
