前布雷克伯爾希爾頓飯店

Great place to stay, Friendly hosts and locals,spent a bit of time swapping yarns and enjoying the atmosphere, it was a Monday night so a quiet time but they still put on a good meal. The accommodation was just what I was looking for, a true small town hotel, with a comfy bed and good shower ,toilet and kitchenette just across the hall and a tasty Continental breakfast included as well. It is a good half way point if you are doing a round trip from the east coast with nearby tracks that are great on a motorbike, with the usual beautiful west coast scenery. It's a true slice of authentic kiwi experience , unpretentious and relaxing. Many thanks to Phil and Cynthia , I hope to be back again one day .

Basic but comfortable room, shared bathroom not so enjoyable. The water disappeared every time they used water in the kitchen. Hosts are aware and addressing the issue. The food was excellent, highly recommend the pistachio ice cream. Every one was extremely friendly and the local people made for good laughs and company.

I was excited at the prospect of staying at this old hotel. Our previous visit to Blackball was just a day trip. I grew up in Mangawhai, Northland NZ. The parents of a primary school friend owned the old local hotel and I went to her birthday party there (in the living quarters at the back). It was somehow exciting to an 8 year old who lived on a farm. I've since stayed at a few of these 'older' establishments in NZ and the vibe is usually a fun one. I was prepared for the lack of luxury. You meet the locals who share their stories. The memorabilia on display is interesting and the old photos and newspaper clippings on the walls tell you about the lives of previous residents in the town. After arriving late afternoon we sat down for a drink and registered. While I didn't expect it to be five-star nothing prepared me for the rudeness of the woman who served us and she appeared to be in charge. She was rude, snippy, had a grumpy manner and spoke down to both my partner and myself. It was as though she had had a bad day and more work tipped her over. This carried over to the next morning during breakfast. After leaving, I was so insulted it actually ruined the rest of the day. It's unfortunate this person has to be the 'front of house' as she must put people off ever returning. I won't stay there again. I've travelled extensively worldwide and have never been treated so poorly.

Always friendly and welcoming with a roaring fire to keep the night cold out. Lots of interesting photos and articles about the history of the area posted on the walls. Food and service wwere great as usual.

This rightly famous, quirky old NZ is a real gem and a must to stay in on your travels. An experience you won't forget. Fabulous evening meal. Venison beautifully cooked. Add to that crepe suzettes and homemade pistachio icecream for dessert a real treat. Ab fab. Best meal of a 15 day trip south! A wonderful chef 👨‍🍳 Wines perfectly acceptable and there are various local beers. Hotel has so much history. The Pike River mine disaster photos and other memorabilia a stark reminder of NZ mining tragedies. Early Labour Party history and much, much more. Mine hosts a fount of local historical knowledge. There is no doubt they support a lot of the local events. Anzac Day for example. Room extremely basic, however double hung sash window provided fresh air, always a bonus. Showers and loos extremely basic but plentiful hot water. Take an extension cord if using hair dryer as only one plug outlet in the room. On the landing a large basket of hot water bottles ( no ekectric blankets) . Comfortable old sitting room with leather sofas to watch TV, read, or play Scrabble. Breakfast includes locally sourced black pudding. Cynthia's coffee 5 star excellent. Small museum next door ( interesting history of maternity nursing in NZ). Stay a night, it is like nowhere else!

Stopped in for lunch. Great welcome, very relaxed and friendly staff. A bit like visiting friends. Food is simple but plentiful, well cooked, flavorsome and a fair price. The building and decor is a comfortable piece of history. Can't wait to go back.