The Black Sheep Lodge is a quaint hostel in Franz Josef that claims to be the closest hostel to the Franz Josef Glacier. The glacier heli-tours and walks are the main attraction in Franz Josef, so many travellers do not stay much longer than a couple of nights before moving on.
The hostel is equipped with a large common room that has a television, several couches and games. The kitchen is also very large, clean and functional. Dorm rooms are somewhat small, and the mattresses could use some work (I doubled-up my mattress and still had a sore back for half a week!). But to be fair, this really was the only drawback to an otherwise excellent accommodation.
Being that the hostel is purpose-built, its lodge style exterior makes it one of the more aesthetically appealing hostels in New Zealand. One main point is that unlike most of the hostels in Franz Josef, it is located outside of the town across the river. It takes about 15 minutes to walk into town, where you can find general stores, pubs, and bottle shops. To counter its distance from the town, the Franz Josef hostel has its own pay-phone and a bar that serves delicious pizza. The bar has a pool table, and occasionally runs an organized pool competition for river-surfing trips. Finally, the distance to town is not much of a bother, as most of the glacier tour operators will bring a shuttle bus out to the lodge to pick up its guests.
Overall, the hostel has a friendly atmosphere. When the Kiwi Experience passes through town, the bus drops its passengers off at the Franz Josef hostel, which makes the atmosphere even more lively. A great hostel, a great stay, reasonably priced.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
April 2004
Location/Contact
3 Average from 3 Ratings
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