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Franz Josef Glacier hot pools and the Waiho hot tubs
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Reserve a spotAfter mud, rain or a long walk, a hot soak is the village's favorite way to finish. This page covers what a booking includes, what it costs and how to check the pools.
Editorial team, franzjosefquadbiking.com · Updated November 6, 2026 · Read in 8 min
In brief
- Private tubsWaiho Hot Tubs offers private wood-fired tubs set in rainforest.1
- PriceA 60 minute soak is listed at NZ$105 for 1 adult and NZ$155 for 2 adults.2,3
- HoursOpen daily from 10 am in summer and 2 pm in winter until after dusk.4
- TemperatureThe operator aims for 38 to 40 degrees Celsius.5
- CancellingA booking cancelled within 12 hours is not refunded.6
What is on offer in the village today
Franz Josef is a village of walkers, flyers and riders, and the soak is its standard reward. The regional tourism group's relaxation list names Waiho Hot Tubs, a private wood-fired experience in the village.7 It also names a luxury spa.8 For a trip built around the glacier, these are the options that appear on the official regional page, and the hot tubs are the ones with a full public booking page and posted prices.
You may also see a public hot pools complex on Cron Street in guides and accommodation entries. The regional accommodation list still places the Glacier Hot Pools within the Glacier Base building complex on Cron Street.9 One motel describes itself as just a minute from them.10 Opening arrangements for a public pool are for its operator to confirm, so phone the pools or check their booking page before you plan a visit around them.
This page concentrates on what can be checked in detail: the private tubs, which sit at 64B Cron Street, opposite the Department of Conservation building, a short stroll from the main street.11 The park visitor centre is at 69 Cron Street, so both are in the same short stretch of road.12 That makes the soak easy to fit between a walk or tour and dinner, with no driving required.
Fees
Soak fees, evening or morning
| Group | Standard fee | Morning fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | NZ$1052 | Not listed | 60 minutes16 |
| 2 adults | NZ$1553 | NZ$12527 | Pair fee |
| 3 adults | NZ$18525 | NZ$15525 | Max 4 adults28 |
| 4 adults | NZ$21526 | NZ$18526 | Max 4 adults28 |
| Child 5 to 14 | NZ$2029 | Not listed | Max 1 per tub28 |
Fees are the operator's, quoted as posted; an online booking fee applies and the fees can change.
Inside a private wood-fired tub
Each booking gives you your own tub for the hour. The operator describes a private wood-fired hot tub tucked amongst the lush rainforest of Franz Josef.1 The tubs are filled with fresh mountain water that is not chemically treated, and each is drained, cleaned and refilled between bookings.18,19 Admission includes the tub for the hour, drinking water, pool towels and access to private hot water showers.17 It is simple and quiet.
Heat comes from a fire in the tub, and you control the temperature. When the operator shows you the tub, it aims for water at 38 to 40 degrees Celsius, and you adjust it by adding cold water or opening the air intake.5 The operator says each tub is heated to around 39 degrees Celsius.20 Temperatures above 40 degrees are not recommended, and you control the temperature with the cold tap.14 Treat the cold tap as your friend.
Getting in is straightforward. You climb 2 sturdy steps, and there is a solid hand rail to hold.21 Each tub has its own small wooden shelter that keeps belongings dry, and private showers and toilets are provided.22 Music is not allowed, as the tubs sit close together and Waiho is a quiet place, so bring ear buds if you want to listen to something.23 Swimsuits can be hired, in limited sizes, for NZ$5.24
Prices for a soak, by group size
Prices are set by the group, not by the person, and each session is for 60 minutes.16 1 adult pays NZ$105, 2 adults pay NZ$155, 3 adults pay NZ$185, and 4 adults pay NZ$215.2,3,25,26 Children are NZ$20, and the child price applies from age 5 to 14.29 Each tub takes a maximum of 4 adults and 1 child.28 A group of friends or a family splits the fee, so the cost per head falls as the group grows.
A morning booking is cheaper. 2 adults pay NZ$125 instead of NZ$155 for a morning session, 3 pay NZ$155 instead of NZ$185, and 4 pay NZ$185 instead of NZ$215.27,25,26 An online booking fee applies on top. Add-ons are available too: a large bowl of Epsom salts is NZ$10 and a large bowl of mineral soak is NZ$20.35 Treat the chart on this page as a guide and check the operator's current list before you book.
These are fees as the operator posts them, not quotes from us, and they can change. Payment is taken at the time of booking.36 If you are weighing a soak against an activity, note that the listings on this site, such as the quad ride from $104 per person, are priced separately and in the reader's currency. Compare the fees on the operator's own page before you decide.
Pick your soak
When should you book the tub?
Pick the line closest to your plans and the answer sits beside it
If I want the lowest fee
Book a morning slot
Two adults pay NZ$125 in the morning, against NZ$155 later.27,3
If I just finished a long hike
Book at dusk
The tubs stay open daily until after dusk, so a late slot is easy.4
If It is pouring with rain
Keep the booking
The operator calls Waiho a wonderful rainy day activity.32
If I am traveling with a toddler
Choose another activity
The experience is not suitable for children under 5.31
If I am pregnant or have a heart condition
Ask a doctor first
Who is soaking
A pair, a family or a group of friends
Children from 5
A family
Parents and a child
Check the fees
Lowest per head
Four friends
Share the tub
Check the feesHours, booking and cancelling
The tubs are open daily. In summer it opens at 10 am and in winter at 2 pm, and in both seasons it stays open until after dusk, so a winter soak is an after-walk habit.4 Each booking is for 1 hour, and guests should arrive 5 minutes before the booking so that the staff can take them to their site.13 When the time is up, the tub slowly starts to drain, so do not plan to linger.39
Cancelling is not flexible, so book with some care. Bookings cancelled within 12 hours of the confirmed time, including no-shows, are not eligible for a refund.6 Depending on availability, you can reschedule up to 4 hours before the start without a penalty.40 That window is short, so check the weather before you pay, especially for a summer evening when you would also like to be outside on the quad bike or the track.
Pick your time with the rest of your day in mind. A morning soak is cheaper, but a late-afternoon or dusk soak follows a walk or tour more naturally.27 The operator calls Waiho a magical place in the rain and a wonderful rainy day activity, and the shelters keep possessions dry.32 That makes it a sound plan B when flights are grounded and the forest is dripping.
Price the day
Price a day around your soak
Type your party size and compare four activities to pair with it
Compare 4 side by side
Price a day around your soak
Type your party size and compare four activities to pair with it
- Quad rideThis site's tour · starts at, per person $104
≈
View - Lake cruiseOn Mapourika · starts at, per person $73
≈
View - Guided lookout walkValley floor · starts at, per person $65
≈
View - Wildlife centreIndoors · starts at, per person $38
≈
View
Currency conversion uses the ECB reference rate on GetYourGuide from-prices. The exact price is displayed when you book.
Your soak
From booking to the last drain
Earlier
Book and check the rule
Cancelling within 12 hours earns no refund.6
5 min before
Arrive at Cron Street
Start
Meet your tub
The staff aim for water at 38 to 40 degrees Celsius.5
During
Adjust and hydrate
Use the cold tap and avoid temperatures above 40 degrees.14,15
60 minutes
Time is up
After
Shower and dress
Private hot water showers are included in admission.17
Who can soak, and who should ask first
The operator is clear about its limits. The experience is not suitable for children under 5 years old.31 The operator does not recommend bathing during pregnancy, since the submerged fire keeps heating the water and it is possible not to notice the rising temperature.33 Guests with heart conditions or high blood pressure should not use the tubs without medical advice.34 If you are unsure, ask a doctor before you book.
Alcohol and heat do not mix well. The operator asks guests to stay well hydrated before and during use, because hot water can raise the risk of dehydration.15 Glassware is not permitted in or around the tubs, though goblets are available for your own wine, and you bring your own snacks and drink.37,41 Surfaces around the tubs may be wet, uneven or slippery, so walk slowly and take care on the steps.38
If something feels wrong, get out of the tub right away. Staff are on site during operating hours, and emergency services are reached by dialing 111.42,43 Stand up slowly after a long soak, as it is easy to feel light-headed after a hot hour. Eat something beforehand, drink water, and keep your phone and car keys in the dry shelter rather than beside the tub.
Video
A soak at Waiho Hot Tubs in Franz Josef
Mum Life Reloaded on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.
Waiho is a magical place in the rain and a wonderful Franz Josef rainy day activity.
A soak after hiking, quad riding or rain
The hot tubs pair well with the day's activity. After the Alex Knob Track, which is 17.2 km return and takes 8 hr, a hot soak is the natural finish.44 After the Roberts Point Track, which is 12.3 km return, the same is true.45 For walkers, a late-afternoon slot follows a finished track naturally, when the tub is warm. Warm water is a welcome end to the walk, and a bowl of Epsom salts is on offer.35
This site's quad tour also ends mud-spattered. It lasts 2 hours and the operator supplies gumboots, a helmet and wet weather gear, but one four-star review warns that you can still get wet. A private tub is a gentle way to warm up afterward, and you can wash off the day in the showers that come with admission.17
Rain is no reason to skip a soak. Heavy rain can arrive at any time of year in the national park, with up to 5 m falling annually.46 The regional group says there are plenty of enjoyable things to do in the rain.47 Walk to the tub in a waterproof jacket, change in the shelter and enjoy the contrast between the cold air and the warm water, with the rain drumming on the roof of the hut.
How to check the pools before you go
Always confirm opening details directly, because a plan built on out-of-date hours wastes the evening. The operator posts its hours on its own site: summer from 10 am and winter from 2 pm, until after dusk.4 Phone ahead if the weather is wild or if you have a larger party, since a tub takes only 4 adults and 1 child.28 Book online when you can, since the same page shows prices and the cancelling rule.6
For the public pools on Cron Street, treat any hours you read elsewhere as provisional. The regional accommodation entries mention those pools, and nothing there gives hours.9,10 Ask your hosts at the motel, or call the pools directly, before building an evening around them. A wrong guess costs an hour of a short day, and an easy alternative is a few steps away at the hot tubs.11
Finally, keep a plan B in your pocket. Terrace Walk is 1.8 km return and takes 30 min, and at night it rewards a torch with glow-worms under the fallen trees.48,49 The West Coast Wildlife Centre is among the indoor attractions the regional group names for wet days.50 With those fallbacks in hand, and a charged phone, a closed pool or a full tub is a small setback and not a lost evening.
FAQ
Common questions, answered fast.
Are the Franz Josef hot pools open?
The hot tubs are, daily.
The tubs open at 10 am in summer and 2 pm in winter.4
How much does a hot tub soak cost?
Can children use the hot tubs?
Yes, from age 5.
The experience is not suitable for children under 5 years old.31
Can I get a refund if it rains?
Only if you cancel early.
Cancellations within 12 hours of the booking time get no refund.6
How hot is the water?
Where are the hot tubs?
At 64B Cron Street.
They are opposite the Department of Conservation building.11
Sources
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Relaxation ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Relaxation ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Motels and self-contained ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Motels and self-contained ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Risk and safety information ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Risk and safety information ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Risk and safety information ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Risk and safety information ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Risk and safety information ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Risk and safety information ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Risk and safety information ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Risk and safety information ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Department of Conservation · Alex Knob Track ↩
- Department of Conservation · Roberts Point Track ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Things to do in the rain ↩
- Department of Conservation · Terrace Walk ↩
- Department of Conservation · Terrace Walk ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Things to do in the rain ↩
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