Close-up of a modern, clear glass pendant light with an elongated Edison-style filament bulb inside, hanging indoors near a window with blurred outdoor view.

ABOUT

Two smiling people, a man and a woman, in front of a large copper distillation tank.

OUR STORY

GET TO KNOW THE OWNERS

Adrian and I have called New Zealand home since 1987, when we lived on Stewart Island. We moved there from the North of Scotland, and have since lived in several places around NZ, mostly in Canterbury. 

When we first visited Reefton several years ago, it felt like home from the beginning. It’s the warmth of the people - their honesty, their ability to laugh, and their knack for creating their own happiness.

Embarking on the renovation of Wilson’s Hotel to become Nourish Reefton and Wilson’s Hotel, and bringing this old building back to life as a viable business,  has become more than just a project to us. Being part of a work whānau - where everyone who works here is held in high regard and contributes to our shared success - has made this journey deeply meaningful.

What is the most important thing to us?

He tangata, he tangata, he tangata (it is people, it is people, it is people). 

It is our guests, our staff, and all the local people, trades, services and customers who contribute to our nourishing environment, and make us thankful every day that we chose this path.

We have written about the welcome and service we would like to extend to you. Now, we hope you’ll give us the opportunity to do just that.

Ngā mihi,
Carol and the Nourish crew.

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    "Perfect place to recharge your battery at a low price! This newly established hotel has everything you need. The beds are extremely comfortable! The room and the facilities are brand new. The owners are incredible kind people who will welcome you with open arms. I wish them all the best and I look forward to coming back again!"

    Elyne Hrd

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    "Warm, Welcoming, and Delicious! Adrienne and Carol were amazing hosts - friendly, down-to-earth, and genuinely welcoming. The whole team made us feel right at home. We all had rib eye steaks - absolutely packed with flavour - and the Pepperjack Shiraz was a perfect match. Great vibes, great food, and real Kiwi hospitality. Don’t miss this spot in Reefton!"

    Maja Betts

  • View of a backyard area seen through a window with horizontal blinds, featuring a white swing, a wooden bench, small tables, potted plants, and colorful ribbons hanging from a tree branch.

    "Wow!!! The chef must be something special because the food here is amazing! The bar manager is a breath of fresh air and hands down the friendliest server I have experienced in years! Highly recommend and we will be back for sure A++++++"

    Gareth Kortegast

OUR BUSINESS

REEFTON HISTORY

Overcast sky over a small town with mountains in the background, rooftops, and trees.

Wilson’s Hotel has been part of Reefton’s story since 1888, when it was first built by James Wilson of Boatmans.

Originally constructed as two separate shops with moveable partitions, the building was cleverly designed to open as one. By 1892, accommodation had been added and it was officially advertised as Wilson’s Miners’ Hotel, welcoming locals and travellers during Reefton’s bustling gold-mining years.

The local newspaper, the Reefton Herald, once observed that within less than a quarter of a mile - from the bridge below to Kelly Street - there were already nineteen licensed premises selling spirits, far more than the population needed. It was a lively town, full of characters, stories, and social life, and Wilson’s Hotel sat right in the middle of it all.

The building was extended in the early 1900s, and today it remains the oldest continually trading hotel building in Reefton. 

More than a century later, Wilson’s remains a place of gathering, stories, and hospitality - proudly carrying its past into the present.