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.

Changing it Up - Room Names Get a Revamp

We’re changing things up a bit at Breakers Boutique Accommodation. We’ve been doing heaps of maintenance and renovations/redecorating over the last couple of years and thought it was also time to give our guest room names a makeover too. We’ve decided to make them more in theme with our beautiful nature that we are lucky enough to be surrounded by.

Breakthrough room – this is our smaller room upstairs in the main house and it has been changed to Koromiko.

Koromiko is a native shrub found in the South Island with pretty little white or lilac flowers. It is an important plant in Māori medicine and a favourite for the bees and bumblebees in our garden.

Breakwater room – this is our larger room upstairs in the main house and it’s new name is Kowhai. The Kowhai tree is arguably one of the most well known native trees in NZ and with its brilliant bright yellow flower it is our unofficial national flower.

The Kowhai tree is a delightful tree to have in the garden and popular with the native birdlife, in particular the Kereru (native wood pigeon), Bellbird and Tui who love to feast on the flowers. Māori hold the Kowahi Tree in high esteem, as they value the durability of its hard wood and many medicinal properties.

Sunset suite – one of two rooms in our garden annex building and Sunset is now known as Nikau. The Nikau is NZ’s only native palm tree and the most southern member of the palm family. They are generally only found in tropical or sub-tropical climates, and we are lucky enough to have them growing in our garden and they are prolific all along the Coast Road.

The Nikau sprouts large clusters of mauve flowers with bright red “fruit” which take about one year to ripen. They are a favourite with the native birds, particularly the Kereru (wood pigeon). Through the ages they have always been important to Maori life where the leaves were used to thatch houses, to wrap food before cooking, to weave into hats, mats, baskets and leggings for traveling through rough undergrowth. The hard berries were made into necklaces or eaten when green. The immature flower can also be cooked and eaten – tasting a bit like cauliflower.

Driftwood suite – the second of our two rooms in our garden annex building. This is also our disabled friendly room with sliding shower in the bathroom and railings by the toilet and in the shower (wet walk-in shower). Driftwood is now renamed Koru.

The Koru is known as the symbol of life. It features in many Māori artworks based on the shape of the unfurling of the fern frond. The Koru symbolizes the way in which life both changes and stays the same – symbolizing new beginnings, new life, growth, strength and peace.

It took us a while to choose new names. We wanted them to be fitting with our surroundings and relevant to where we live. Set on 2 acres of native bush and landscaped gardens we have Koromiko, Kowhai and Nikau plants in our gardens and heaps of ferns so have the joy of often seeing the Koru. Native plants are important to the eco-system of Breakers as we love to encourage bird live and bees so we figure if they like visiting us hopefully you will all like visiting us too and enjoy staying in our rooms named after some of our favourite native plants.

Jan and Stephen run Breakers Boutique Accommodation on the Coast Road, West Coast, New Zealand. They are a beachfront b&b, overlooking the Tasman Sea. They enjoy getting out and about and exploring the West Coast and sharing their discoveries and their backyard with their guests. Don’t delay, book to stay today. You will be made most welcome.

Sluice Box Lake Daniels Walk Lewis Pass

Whenever we drive across the Lewis Pass a favourite stop is at Marble Hill Picnic Area where the hike for Lake Daniels starts.

With a backdrop of the towering Southern Alps and a sea of windswept tussock, it is a gorgeous stop in its own right just to soak up the atmosphere and beauty of the surrounding nature.

After an easy 5-10 minute walk in the beech forest you eventually come to a small bridge crossing aptly named The Sluice Box.

Shaped like a sluicing box from the gold mining days, it is like a little mini gorge and the waters here are often the amazing turquoise blue/green.

For our guests coming from or heading to Kaikoura, this stop is included on our suggested sightseeing stops we give them. Helps break up the drive, giving an opportunity for a wee leg stretch and some fresh air and to just be immersed in some stunning nature and scenery.

Blue Pools on Haast Pass and Hokitika Gorge are more famous for their colouring but the drive to the Hokitika Gorge is quite the detour and the walk into the Blue Pools is around 40 minutes, so for us we think this is a great compromise. Getting the added bonus of the beautiful beech forest too.

Coming from the East Coast over Lewis Pass, at the bottom of the Pass you have Maruia Springs Thermal Resort, and then at the end of the straight after about 5 minutes of driving on your left is the sign for Marble Hill Picnic Area/Lake Daniels Walk.

Coming from the West Coast after Springs Junction you have a short valley drive, straight road and then an S bend and the signage for the Picnic Area and walk is on your left as you come out of the S bend.

Follow the gravel road right to the end for the carparking for Lake Daniels Walk. There is a covered Kiosk Information Centre and you’ll see the track head off into the bush to the right of the Kiosk with the Sluice Box signposted.

Remember take only photos and leave only footprints – enjoy 

Jan and Stephen run Breakers Boutique Accommodation, beachfront bed and breakfast accommodation on the Coast Road north of Greymouth. They love getting out and exploring and love to share their explorations, especially with their guests, ensuring they make the most of the holiday to NZ and their time on the West Coast.

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 

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