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One of the coolest things about being a travel blogger is meeting the most interesting people. This is coming from someone who doesn’t consider himself a sociable person. Hello, introvert friends!
A few years ago, while a friend was traveling overseas, I booked a super cute Airbnb on Airbnb waiheke island. New Zealand’s mulled wine destination has been beckoning to me for years. After that, I became friends with Tim, the owner of Airbnb. When he transforms one of Reefton’s oldest homes into a Gold Rush-era style resort, I’ll be sure to be one of the first there.
A comfortable vacation? Small fire? history? West Coast? Tell me more!
The way I travel has changed over the years. Growing up, I didn’t travel much. I will travel to the city as often as I can as soon as I can afford travel. I want to see it all. By my thirties, I had slowed down. Being happy to take my time, my values shifted to slowing down and even returning to my favorite places again and again. Often where I live is a destination in itself.
besides west coast New Zealand hasn’t stopped calling me for ten years.
Brewers Night Inn It’s unlike anywhere I’ve lived before. There’s a strong Victorian vibe inside, but don’t worry – you don’t have to share it with other guests. Formerly the home of legendary brewer Stewart Monteith (Monteith’s is New Zealand’s super-famous beer), it has been lovingly renovated from an original 1870s cottage.
It is carefully crafted to mimic the look of a 19th century gold mining cabin. south island But equipped with modern comforts. From 1864 to 1867, thousands flocked to the West Coast. Here, once gold is discovered, it doesn’t take long for prospectors to follow.
In 1866, Hokitika was New Zealand’s largest settlement, with a population of over 25,000 and more than 100 pubs. This is hard to imagine considering that the total population of the West Coast today is only about 30,000. If you’ve been to Hokitika today, it’s even harder to imagine. I think there were maybe four bars there.
Blink and you might miss it; refton Drive north and inland for about an hour and a half. In 1870 the first gold-bearing quartz reefs were discovered at Reefton. This earned it the nickname “Reef Town”, which is today Reefton.
Reefton was so important that it was the first town in New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere to have electricity and street lights, earning it the nickname “City of Light”. But like Hokitika and many other gold mining towns, once the supply dried up, so did the town.
Today, less than a thousand New Zealanders call Reefton home, although it’s starting to come back with some cool ventures, like a crowdfunding campaign launched by the Reefton Distillery Company a few years ago that brought people to the Quiet little town. The first spirit they released was called “Little Biddy Gin” and was inspired by Bridget Goodwin, an alcoholic, four-foot-tall gold miner.
Reefton is still relatively undiscovered and is the perfect place for a mini-break. There are lots of trails and activities nearby. Mass tourism is certainly not here yet.
Reefton is a sleepy, historic mining town that has experienced something of a renaissance in the past few years. This is a place I often pass by but never spend the night. For someone who works a lot, it’s great to snuggle up Brew Night Inn It’s been a few days. I have lots of plans to hike and explore. But in the end, I mostly just sat on the couch and read by the fire. This is what I love about holidays.
So many thoughtful details that go above and beyond what you would expect from a stay like this. Huge concrete soaking tub, copper furniture, cozy linens, historic Rimu wood walls, newsprint and vintage wallpaper, cozy lighting, hidden closets and a big brown leather couch that you won’t want to leave. Did I mention it’s pet-friendly?
Brewer’s Night Inn features a music room with a century-old West Coast piano, turntables and an epic stereo system, as well as carefully curated seasonal music. This was a bit lost on me considering my taste in music leans towards Taylor Swift and Shakira, but as someone who loves travel and unique spaces, this room blew me away!
Just a few minutes walk from Reefton’s main street, everything about my stay here was perfect. You bet I’ll be back!
Huge thanks to Brewer’s Night Inn for hosting me in Reefton – as always, I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own, just as you wouldn’t expect too much from me
