Ribbonwood Retreat Bed & Breakfast Accommodation Franz Josef

i loved staying with Julie and Jonathan! the property has beautiful views and a wonderful garden. They went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable, offer suggestions on where to camp, and how to spend my time, and to offer me little treats while I was there. I truly enjoyed the time that i was able to chat with both of them. breakfast was delicious, and it was a blast to meet and get to know the other guests.would highly recommend.

A warm welcome from Jonathan at Ribbonwood Retreat where we stayed a night. Well-equipped for self-catering and a comfortable place to relax in.

Our stay at Ribbonwood was one of the most memorable experiences of our honeymoon to NZ. When we made our reservation, we expected a beautiful view of the mountains from our cottage based on pictures. Well, that view and the cottage blew our expectations out of the water. But the most memorable part of our experience were the hosts, Julie and Jo.A wonderful couple, they are so warm, welcoming and hospitable, and not to mention both excellent cooks. And Jo doubles as a local travel agent, based on his years of experience in the Dept. of Conservation and passion and appreciation of NZ's natural beauty. We loved learning from Jo's wealth of knowledge. Thank you both for an incredible stay in Franz Josef!

Ribbonwood is a marvelous place to stay. The accommodations are comfortable and clean with a great ambiance. Jonathan and Julie were delightful hosts with some amazing stories about life in the Franz Joseph area. We really enjoyed our stay. I highly recommend it.

This is the place to stay if you are visiting Franz Josef. The location is a short 5 minute ride from the town center. The rooms are clean and very well maintained. The decor goes perfectly with the setting. Wife and I stayed here for 2 nights - one night in the master bedroom and the other night in the cottage. If the cottage is available, you will really love it there. Get a bottle of wine and enjoy it on the porch while watching the sun set. Its just a wonderful feeling.The best part about this B&B, though, is the warm welcome by the hosts. Jo and Julie are an amazing couple who go lengths to make sure you are comfortable. It starts with a welcome drink. I told Julie I enjoy red wine and she didn't hesitate to open 2 bottles for me to try the local wine. I was carrying 2 of my own so it ended up being a nice wine tasting hour for me. The next day at breakfast Jo made his signature eggs while Julie made amazing crepes. We ended up enjoying the breakfast for an hour while conversing with the hosts and the 2 other couples staying at the place.Julie and Jo both are very easy to strike a conversation with. They both are very knowledge about the area and their recommendations are on point. They also have a beautiful garden where they grow their own veggies and fruits. On and all I can't recommend this place enough.

Our stay with Julie and Jonathan was nothing short of spectacular! The cottage is simply beautiful, down to every little detail, and the views of the surrounding mountains and jungle are stunning. There are so many thoughtful touches that really enhance the experience, from high-quality bath products to homemade cookies with a story of their origin. The breakfast in the morning was delicious, but our favourite part was the fulfilling interactions and conversations we had with Julie and Jonathan. Can't say enough good things about this stay!

This was our second time to visit Ribbonwood. We stayed in the separate cottage from the main house. It's a beautiful place, and so relaxing and private. I guess that's why we went this time, because we needed to relax. Jo and Julie met us when we arrived with big smiles. We didn't get to meet Julie the first time we stayed and so glad we got to meet her this time. They asked what we wanted for breakfast each day, and it felt like a huge choice of menu items. We were in shock honestly because we are both pure vegetarians and still the large choice was there. They made it fun each day with a different choice or the same item which had been made even yummier with extra ingredients. They really went out of their way to make our stay as nice as it could be. The garden by their home had matured and someone had definitely been working it. It was beautiful and I think I could have sat there just thinking all day. Inside the cabin we stayed were books and info on where to go and what to do, and Julie and Jo were always there ready to help as well. When it was time to leave it felt as though we were leaving a good friend's house. They really are such nice people.

Julie and Jonathon are wonderful hosts, they make you feel so welcome and comfortable. They are located in a beautiful spot just outside of town which is quiet and scenic. Julie's crepes for breakfast were outstanding and so was her local knowledge and recommendations. I could not more highly recommend staying here, you will not regret it. This was the best bed and breakfast we have experienced on our trip to NZ.

Staying with Julie and Jo was wonderful. Being caught in a storm, we got in a little later than we planned, but we were welcomed with a warm greeting and directions to the nearest open restaurant. We stayed in a big one room cottage next to Julie and Jo’s home. The room was so comfortable and clean. It had so much space and even had a small kitchen area and dinette. The bed was very comfortable, and the shower pressure was fantastic. If this road trip stop hadn’t been just one night, we would have liked to stay longer. In the morning we walked next door to Julie and Jo’s kitchen where we were served a delicious breakfast with hot coffee and tea. Definitely recommend Julie’s crepes! After being on a road trip for so long, it was so nice to sit in someone’s home and have a homecooked meal with warm conversation. Julie and Jo even looked at our road trip itinerary and recommended some of the many stops that were definitely worth it and the best places to park for them. Even the views of the mountains on the back porch got us energized and excited for the day. Highly recommend this bed and breakfast and hope to stay there again someday!

Jo and Julie are wonderful hosts, always accessible for any questions you have, but also allow enough space so you feel like you are in your own little piece of Franz Josef. Their knowledge of the area leaves you feeling a little bit like a local, if only for a few days.We stayed in the seperate cottage as well as the large room on the second storey. They both were amazing spaces with views that made it easy to just sit and relax. Comfortable bed and a glorious shower. There were home made snacks in the room for afternoon tea as well as hand made soaps which was a lovely touch.The breakfasts are a real treat!! Home made bread, relish, fresh eggs and pretty much anything you can imagine!We would love to stay here again if we ever make it back.