Imagine living beside one of the great natural wonders of the world in the shadow of towering snow-capped Alps – and earning a large income to do it.

The Glenfern Villas offer first-class accommodation on New Zealand’s South Island at Franz Josef, home of one of the world’s most awesome glaciers.

Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Westland/Tai Poutini National Park, the property not only offers incredible scenery every day but also 10 one-bedroom and eight two-bedrooms apartments.

The accommodation is spacious and fully self-contained, having full kitchens, luxury bathrooms, and large living spaces with separate dining and lounge areas.

They are finished to a high standard and contain heat pump/air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, Smart TVs and a comfortable lounge setting opening out to large decks with outdoor seating.

The apartments also have barbecues on their private decks.

There is plenty of privacy, too. The accommodation is spread out over 5,225sqm of landscaped grounds providing stunning views of surrounding bush and mountains. A bank of native ferns along the roadside provides privacy and peace.

The stunning Lake Mapourika, a marvellous place for fishing, birdwatching and kayaking, is close by, along with majestic cycle trails.

Broker Kelvyn Coffey from Coffeys Tourism said with the New Zealand borders now fully open to the rest of the world, the accommodation industry was looking at the rapid return of high profits.

He said forward bookings for the Glacier Region, particularly from overseas, were pouring in and the Glenfern Villas property was being offered at a significant discount.

The business lease is for sale at $795,000 and the current operator is offering an amazing tenure of 54 years from 2019.

Mr Coffey said before COVID shut down the Kiwi borders the Glenfern Villas were “making really good money” and the extraordinary lease tenure was being marketed at $995,000, so new leaseholders are benefitting from a huge discount despite the continued profitability of the business.

“The December figures show that the revenue for West Coast tourism actually exceeded the figures for the same period in 2019 so it has really turned the corner,” Mr Coffey said.

“A new operator will be taking over a business that is really successful in an area that is superb. You only need to take a walk for half an hour from the villas in any direction to see things that are absolutely amazing.”

The owner’s accommodation is separate and standalone two-storey home with three double bedrooms upstairs, master with ensuite and walk-in robe. Downstairs there is a spacious entry foyer.

There is also a fourth bedroom or study, a 2 1⁄2 car garage with internal access, large kitchen with walk-in pantry and spacious living areas. The living areas open out to private decks and a yard.

Mr Coffey said the Glenfern Villas had a very successful track record, enjoying excellent revenue and profitability and offering an envious way of life.

The possibility also exists to negotiate the purchase of the land and buildings from the current lessor. He said this opened up many possibilities on such a large parcel of land with the buildings available at well below replacement cost.

Geologist Julius von Haast named Franz Josef Glacier after the Austrian emperor in 1865. Its terminal face is 5km from the town of Franz Josef and its accessibility makes it a major New Zealand tourist attraction.

The town is also home to the West Coast Wildlife Centre which is dedicated to the hatching and incubation of the world's two rarest species of kiwi.