Breakers Gets A Makeover

May to September is our quiet season at Breakers Boutique Accommodation, a chance to recharge our batteries after a busy summer season but also time to do maintenance on the property and any renovations and redecorating.

The last couple of years we have had some major upgrades done to our home. The exterior recladding is now all complete as well as replacement double glazed doors and windows throughout. The exterior has been completely repainted. A big job done by Stephen with a friend helping with the beams on both buildings and the balcony on the main house.

After getting a new kitchen last year and new carpet, this year it was time for the guest/lounge area with a total repaint. We've moved away from our traditional neutral tones and thrown in some colour. Still in keeping with our surroundings with a feature back wall and same colour in the dining area. The colour is called Paradise which we thought apt given our slogan of "come share our wee slice of paradise". It is a lovely bluey/green, a good reflection of environment surrounding us. The rest of the walls are White Pointer - a mellow white but aptly named again given that Emma one of our dogs is an English Black and White Pointer. There are a lot of wooden beams throughout the lounge kitchen area given that the house was originally built in the 1970s and that is the style. They had previously been stained but they have now been painted out black. The contrasts with the black beams, white walls and splash of colour with "paradise" we think is quite striking and very welcoming.

Earlier in the year we replaced all the interior doors so Stephen spent his time getting them painted and he has done a fantastic job. All the door hardware has also been replaced. We also have a new lounge suite in the guest lounge and new buffet and lounge unit and Stephen has also painted the wine cabinet and coffee table, helping bring the decor all together and give the place a much more modern feel.

We haven’t forgotten our guest rooms as these are where our guests spend the majority of their time so want to ensure they stay looking inviting and fresh. New duvet covers were purchased for all the guest rooms together with new artwork for the walls. Utilising Stephen’s photography skills our local signwriter reproduced the images onto aluminum backing. They look fantastic – really bringing the images to life.

It was time for an repaint update for our Kowhai room (previously Breakwater room), upstairs in the main house. Again, we have moved away from the full neutral tone and thrown some colour in with green feature wall behind the bed and the rest of the walls in double white pointer, keeping the continuity from downstairs.

The biggest change for the Kowhai room is the ensuite bathroom, with the entire room being painted in green with white trim on the skirtings and architrave. It was a bit daunting at first not really knowing what it was going to look like, but we are thrilled with the result. The entire shower unit and hardware have also been replaced together with light fittings and all towel rails and we’ve gone for black with these, giving the ensuite a more modern look and a nice wow factor.

A big job that doesn’t really show but is a huge relief for us is the roof and gutterings were all replaced. With the house being built in the 1970s this was well overdue. Now we can relax and enjoy the rainfall without worrying about the chances of anything leaking.

Last but not least, as there have been other small updates but we completed the entrance. Much more welcoming right from the outset now or even passing by. Lovely timber railings and gate that draw you in and if driving by, make you look and hopefully think I’d love to stay there……. 

For us Breakers is a never ending labour of love. We feel it is a privilege to live here in this wee slice of paradise and love sharing it with our guests from all over the world. Seeing the looks of amazement and joy when they see the sea views really makes our hearts sing. Breakers Boutique Accommodation -  a Sense of Place where forever memories are made. Hope you’ll come make some for yourself real soon.

Kayaking Kotorepi – Nine Mile Creek Waterfall, West Coast

Our address is Nine Mile Creek, also known as Kotorepi. The creek meanders down and around the side of our property in the form of a waterfall. It is not your standard waterfall but looks like is manmade – made from concrete. It isn’t though, is just a natural rock slide.

After some big rains the waterfall goes from often a gentle trickle to a raging torrent of water pouring down the slide.

Now this is a fabulous sight in its own right but for the young kayakers completing the Tai Poutini Outdoor Education Course in Greymouth it is like putting cream on your dessert – sheer joy.

Talk about a nice bunch of young people. While most people are hunkering down inside in the dry, these guys rock up here with the biggest smiles on their faces, filled with excitement.

They knock on the door to check with us that it is ok to use our private track to access the beach and check out the conditions of the waterfall – making sure there aren’t any big logs in the way at the bottom creating a safety issue. They are so polite and so respectful, they are a joy to deal with.

When they come back up from the beach, they are pumped with enthusiasm and give us the thumbs up as they head back out the driveway to get themselves organised for the kayak trip down.

Their enthusiasm for the rain is infectious and their thumbs up is the cue for us to get ourselves ready, throw on our rain jackets and head down to the beach to watch the “show”.

It is a pleasure to meet such lovely, polite and fun loving young people – well done team. See you next rains.

Cream with your Coffee – What Causes Beach Foam

Now that is a strange title I hear you say. Cream with your Coffee is a wee joke we have for whenever we see the beach foam – seriously looks like you could scoop some up and add it to your cuppa. All jokes aside though it is really interesting to know what actually causes that “cream”. In this blog I’m going to explain to you the science behind the beach foam you see washed up on the beach during a stormy sea.

When we see the beach foam many of us automatically think of it as pollution – the rough seas grabbing all the scum in the ocean and then dumping it on the beach. Previously that is what I’d always thought, and walking through it, well that was a definite “oohh yuk! moment” . If you thought that too well we were wrong (*) – it is far from pollution and in fact generally only occurs on clean beaches. I know, clean beaches and New Zealand is renowned as having some of the cleanest beaches in the world – hence why we see all this “sea scum”.

Turns out beach foam in NZ generally has nothing to do with pollution. It is actually a natural phenomenon, a natural product of one of the world’s purest and most natural landscapes, drawn from both land and sea and associated with many of the NZ surf beaches and the tiny organisms that live there.

David Bellamy’s “Moa’s Ark the Voyage of New Zealand” sums it up best.

“From the land comes a solution of history, natural chemicals dissolved from the forest soil and made of the remains of mosses, tree ferns, podocarps and flowering plants.  This gold-tinted tincture of natural history then mixes and mingles with the abundant slippums that protect the kelp and other seaweeds from abrasion, to produce this natural detergent-like complex which is then beaten into foam and what we see on our beaches.”

Like all detergents, it picks up and holds all manner of things including not only plants and animal plankton – all of which are far too small to see with the naked eye, but also tiny bits of debris and fine silt.  National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research marine ecologist and plankton specialist Janet Bradford describes the foam being made up of smashed up cells of phytoplankton, single-celled algae and the nutrients they release when pounded by waves on these surf beaches.  Janet says high energy surf beaches have their own special ecosystem dominated by diatoms, some of which live only in this environment.  Diatoms can look brown or even like black oil – hence the colour of the foam, making it look like a form of pollution.

The major driving force behind the whole process is wave action.  Waves pump water through the sand thus releasing nitrates and other nutrients.  Waves also set up certain circulation patterns in the water that trap these nutrients in the surf zone.  Wave action not only smashes up the diatoms and other phytoplankton that make up the bloom, but also pulls in air bubbles to produce foam.  This foam is typical of exposed sandy beaches, particularly West Coast beaches of New Zealand.

The wonderment of nature – rather than being inhospitable places to live, NZ beaches that are constantly pounded by waves are actually full of life and beach foam is not a sign of pollution but in fact the outward sign of their enormous productivity.

Another reason the West Coast has to be one of the best places in the world to visit – it is just a bonus that we live here!

Jan  and Stephen run Breakers Boutique Accommodation on the Punakaiki Coastline – north of Greymouth and is based overlooking the Nine Mile Beach – one of the great surf beaches on the West Coast and a great location for beach foam.

*Disclaimer Not all beach foam is harmless, unfortunately in some parts of the world due to human activities there is an element of toxic pollution included.

International Dog Day

So apparently 26 August is International Dog Day so seemed a fitting time to introduce our Breakers “boys”. We actually have a male and a female but having always had boys in the past our Emma is constantly getting called one of the “boys”. She doesn’t mind – any love is good love.

First up Ansel our German Short-haired Pointer. Ansel is now 7 years old going on 7 months. We think he will retain his puppy-like characteristics forever. Most of the time this is a good thing but sometimes….. He is a bit of an introvert when it comes to other dogs, he isn’t a dominate dog but what we call his own man. Not interested in being the alpha male but does like things his own way. He pretends to be aloof but loves a good cuddle and plenty of attention. Running fast would have to be his all time favourite pass-time.

Emma is an English Pointer. Have to admit didn’t really think was any difference between an English Pointer and a German Short-haired Pointer until we got one for ourselves. More of a boxy face but still oh so cute. Emma is a sweet heart. Bit of a hard start to life but once she came to live with us at 11 months old, well let’s just say she landed on her feet. She loves her little brother. She is what we’d call, or definitely Ansel would call, a typical little sister – ANNOYING!!! Anything Ansel has she has to have too, any cuddles, she buts in as if to say don’t forget about me, any toy, stick on the beach, you name it if Ansel has it she has to try and take it off him. Despite her little sister tendencies, Emmy has a very gentle nature. She is super submissive with other dogs but loves nothing more than to be everyone’s friend. She is great with younger or insecure dogs, playing Mother Hen and taking them under her wing so to speak and putting them at ease.

Our kids – the fur kids as we like to call them aka Spud and Pumpkin, love getting out for runs on the beach or bush walks. Lucky to have a beachfront abode they generally get a run down to “our” beach most days even just for a quick meander and sniff around.

One of their favourite things to do is to visit a sandy beach – be it seaside or banks of a river, if it is sandy then it is all go as it must feel so lovely for their paws.

Going bush is also a favourite (really any outing is but for the sake of this blog….). We love to getting out and exploring and nothing better than the kids being able to come too. The freedom, the smells – it really is a dog’s delight.

We like to call Ansel and Emma Breaker’s Ambassadors as they feature in all of our marketing, most often on our social media posts. They are often a highlight with our guests – many guests arriving asking for the dogs before they even say hello to us sometimes.

They take their roles very seriously as far as head of entertainment and general health & mental well-being and ensure all visitors are made welcome.

If you’d like to visit with Ansel and Emma then check out our website and make a booking – we would all love to welcome you.

Happy International Dog Day to all dogs worldwide but especially to these two.

Jan and Stephen run Breakers Boutique Accommodation on the Coast Road north of Greymouth. They, along with their faithful friends Ansel and Emma, enjoy getting out and about exploring the many wonders of the West Coast and sharing their discoveries.

Pretty stoked to get featured in an article by NewstalkZB Travel Writer Mike Yardley.

Mike came and stayed with us at Breakers while experiencing some of the offerings of the Grey District including the Pounamu Pathway and Garth Wilson Jade Carver.

It was a pleasure to have Mike stay with us, have him experience our homemade pizza offering and share our wee slice of paradise.

Mike Yardley: Cultural Jewels in Greymouth

Enrobed by chiselled cliff tops, wild beaches and the serene Grey Valley, the West Coast’s biggest town of Greymouth is so much more than just a gateway to the region. Explorer Thomas Brunner named the river in honour Governor George Edward Grey, which also gave rise to the town’s name. The town centre is built on the site of the former Māori pa called Māwhera, which translates as 'wide spread river mouth’. The latest attraction in town that is the worth the trip alone is Pounamu Pathway – Māwhera. 

Continue to read his article here 

Wētā Workshop has partnered with Poutini Ngāi Tahu.....

The Kawatiri Coastal Cycle trail is a trail currently going from the Buller bridge at Westport to just past Carters Beach. A trust was set up and a passionate group of volunteers applied for funding to make this dream come true. There has been great buy-in by the community and the end result is a proposed trail running from Westport to Charleston, eventually some 55kms long.

With a recent trip north to the Buller region we thought it was time we checked out the progress of the cycle trail so far. I say cycle trail but it can be walked (or run!) too. It is classed as grade 2 – a lovely family friendly, even gravel surface initially following the Buller River before it reaches Carters beach and then heads along the coast towards Cape Foulwind.

More of the trail is currently being worked on through to Cape Foulwind and on to Tauranga Bay but as there is machinery and workman still working the trail they haven’t opened that section up yet.

It has been quite the undertaking and no shortcuts taken in the quality of the trail. Nice and wide making for easy passing for two way “traffic” and the boardwalks through the native bush sections protecting the wetland and waterways are seriously second to none.

There are information boards and interpretation panels strategically positioned along the way pointing out the fascinating history of early Maori and European settlers and other notes of interest. It is always fascinating stopping and reading these boards and learning more of the history of the region. Through the bush sections there are tags pointing out the various flora and their significance to being found in the area.

So far the trail is in its infancy with what is known as the Pūwaha section open Westport to Carters Beach. That alone is a wonderful diverse ecology and views so I can only imagine what the rest of this trail is eventually going to be like.

Well done to all involved – the spirit of the West Coast is alive and well in Buller, West Coast.

The Kawatiri Coastal Trail needs donations to help support the maintenance and ongoing operations. The Trust welcomes donations to ensure this incredible community asset moves forward, giving enjoyment and health benefits to all that use it.

Jan and Stephen run Breakers Boutique Accommodation on the West Coast north of Greymouth.  They have a passion for exploring the region and sharing their backyard with visitors to the West Coast.

The Grey District is known as the Heart of the West Coast.  An easy 2 hour drive south to the glacier region and to the north we have Buller with The Great Coast Road, numerous beaches and gorgeous bush walks.

Possibly the best thing about getting out and doing a bush walk is they are free, all you need is time.  Remember the golden rule though – take only photographs, leave only footprints.

This little blog is to showcase some of our bush walks and we’ve put together a little piece of five of our favourite.  Now these are in no particular order.  Each time we visit these areas we say “this is our favourite walk” – until we visit the next spot again and then  it is our favourite walk. They all have something different to offer be it just beautiful scenery, peace and tranquility, birdlife or history.

So first up:

Brunner Mine Site

Located on the banks of the Grey River accessible from either side – Dobson or Taylorville. Brunner Mine site is a most fascinating piece of not just West Coast history but New Zealand history.  It is the site of NZ’s worst industrial disaster, back in 1886 when 65 men/boys tragically lost their lives in a coal mine explosion.

Learn more about Grey District, Heart of the West Coast - 5 short walks

Well it seems an apt time to showcase our own Grey District – heart of the West Coast.  A great place to base yourself to explore north and south – east and west, no not west, you’ll be in Australia.  Come on!

I can vouch for it being a great place to base yourself for exploring the West Coast – well yes mainly because we live here but we do all our exploring from here so just goes to show how easy it is….. no bias in that statement at all.

The Grey District has everything – it is the gateway to the Great Coast Road, named one of the top ten coastal drives in the world by Lonely Planet and worth a visit on its own.  

Learn more of the Grey District, Heart of the West Coast

Breakers Boutique Accommodation has the good fortune of being truly beachfront.  This however is only one of our many natural attractions.  When checking in our guests we show our guests where the beach access is and point out it is a rugged West Coast beach with wonderful coloured stones and strewn with driftwood.  Not only that though, running down the side of the property is a waterfall - our very own (well not really our own but seems like it given our small population base :-)  ).  Often on mention of the waterfall our guests eyes light up - there is just something about waterfalls eh.

With much rain of late the waterfall has been very impressive with huge flow and incredible noise.

Take a listen for yourselves, although on this occasion I think the sound of the gushing water may be drowned out by something else dear to our hearts here at Breakers...... do you know what it is?

Breakers Waterfall in Flood

Ross is a historic gold town just south of Hokitika on the Glacier Highway.

Gold was first found in the area in the 1860s and thus the town of Ross was established. With a population of around 300 people it is hard to believe it was once more like 4000 in the height of the gold rush days.

Recently we had a couple of nights staying in Ross – at the Totara Bridge Station holiday park nestled at the end of Ross Beach Road.  What a location!  Literally right on the beach you’ll discover this almost hidden oasis.  With accommodation options suiting every budget – we were in our caravan, so there are powered and unpowered sites, dorm bunk rooms, double rooms or self catering units.  Now I say rooms and units but these are more like pods.  They are actually recycled shipping containers that have been converted and to say they are cool well that would be an under-statement, even down to the communal kitchen and ablution block – really tastefully done.

Ross is possibly more known of late as being either the finish or the start of the West Coast Wilderness Trail – part of the NZ Cycle Trial system around New Zealand.  The West Coast Wilderness Trail goes from Greymouth to Ross – some 139kms through some of the most stunning West Coast scenery on offer.  The Totara Bridge Station is a great accommodation option for people using the cycleway.

We weren’t here to do any biking (I know – what!) but with two days up our sleeves we had plenty of time to explore the offerings of Ross.  Compulsory would be a walk on the beach.  Predominately a sandy beach, from the Ross Beach road you can head off in either direction – literally for miles.  Nico and I didn’t venture too far but did enjoy just meandering with the sand between our toes and relaxing in the sunshine.  Stephen and Ziggy headed off to the south – out towards the point.  There is a seal colony out here so you often get seals anywhere along the beach lazing in the sunshine.

One thing I never get sick of are West Coast sunsets.  I know we live by the sea and get to see them all the time  but I just can’t help myself – they draw you in and each one is different and special in its own right – no matter what beach you are on.  I’m obviously not alone in my thinking as some of the locals came down both nights we were here, pulled up, watched the sunset and then headed back home for the night.

For us after we’d seen the sunset,  we headed into Ross for dinner at the Historic Empire Hotel.  Talk about your traditional Kiwi country pub.  This place rocked!  So much atmosphere and history – you could almost feel it oozing from the walls.  The bar was filled with locals and visitors alike.  Quite a few workmen in the area at the moment – for gold mining and tree planting apparently.  Everyone was friendly and eager with a smile.  Maria behind the bar and Christine out in the kitchen were all smiles and the bistro buffet was just what the doctor ordered.  After a cold beer or two by the roaring fire and with satiated tummies it was time to head back to base and hit the hay for the night.

My only regret during our stay was not getting out to take some night photos.  The star lit skies would have to have been some of the best I’ve seen for a very long time.  We get some awesome star lit skies at home but the two nights we had in Ross they were quite out of this world – and you’re just going to have to trust me on that.

Next day after another compulsory short walk on the beach, we headed into Ross to the Goldfields Museum and Information Centre.  While Stephen did a walk about town, I chatted with the lovely lady in the Information Centre who was super friendly and helpful.  Nico and I then went back to base to make a picnic lunch while Stephen and Ziggy headed off to check out the historic Gold Heritage Trail.

This is a lovely walk in the back of Ross, following the water race as it wound its way up the hillside.  There are lots of relics and information boards with a cool old miners hut at the top of the trail before the trail joins with the historic Ross cemetery.

It was here that Nico and I joined Stephen and Ziggy for our lunch.  Something about sitting in among the graves and headstones – we find it very peaceful and therapeutic.  Not bad views from up here either! Peek-a-boo I see you……

Now to give you an indication of how Ross was once a thriving metropolis (remember earlier I mentioned a population of 300 now v 4000 back in the late 1800s) well Ross has two historic cemeteries.  Knowing how we love cemeteries an investigation of the second cemetery was compulsory – aaahh I think we’re in heaven – excuse the pun.  What we did wonder is if perhaps one cemetery was Catholic and the other Protestant – they both certainly seemed of similar age historically.  The latter of our cemetery visits though is also the current use cemetery and again what a location – what a view.  Sitting atop a hill with views in all directions.  Think we’ve found our lunch stop when we next need a place to stop on route to – well anywhere…..

Our afternoon excursion saw us taking a drive further south from Ross (about 15kms or so), turning down Beach Road off SH6 just before the Waitaha River bridge, passing through the little settlement of Kakapotahi and coming out at the river mouth of the Waitaha River.  The beach was strewn with driftwood – as far as the eye could see.  It would be a driftwood sculpture’s idea of heaven – talk about untamed natural wilderness.  The boys and I were content to find a nice log and sit and relax and enjoy the views while Stephen took some (more tee hee) photographs.  Watching the surf pound in against the shoreline is rather mesmerizing to say the least.

Back to base to feed the boys and catch another stunning sunset.  Once again some of the locals turned up – like us they just sat and watched and then headed off again.  I could watch a sunset every night of the week and it was great to see I wasn’t alone in that thinking.  The sun setting into the sea should not be taken for granted, not every one is so lucky. This one set the sky on fire – so much so it made it look like the holiday park accommodation was on fire with the reflections in their windows.  Rest assured a call to the local fire brigade was not necessary.

With the boys tummies satiated – yep our turn and it was back to the Empire Hotel for a traditional country pub feed.  Something else I could do every night of the week – but then I’d be the size of a house so while watching a sunset whenever you like is allowable – and even advised, eating pub food too often is definitely not.  We enjoyed it while we could though and then back to check the boys and settle in for the night.

On a more heartbreaking note – we want to dedicate this blog posting to our beautiful boy Nico who recently passed away.  Our family chain has broken and our hearts are broken with it.  He was one super special dog – our big fella, our gentle giant, so full of love and joy.  So glad to have had this final road trip with him – he loved coming on our adventures, loved meeting new people and exploring new places.  Rest easy our beautiful boy – you will remain forever in our hearts. xo

Jan and Stephen run Breakers Boutique Accommodation on the Great Coast Road north of Greymouth.  Together with their much-loved faithful companions Nico and Ziggy they enjoy getting out and exploring the region they’ve been lucky enough to call home – The Untamed Natural Wilderness West Coast.