HAPUKU CARRIAGES

There is likely to be a fair splash of colour when a 1920s railway carriage is upcycled from vintage bits and bobs collected over the decades. Consider this Mike Gibson's excuse for preserving anything — if not everything — old. “I don't like modern stuff. I'd rather repurpose something than buy something new. I love saving it all,” he says. He fondly remembers finding a trove of old bottles beneath his grandma's bed at age 11. Today his collections have no bounds, but he does have a soft spot for vintage toys and nautical memorabilia. Nostalgia comes in all shapes and sizes at this bed-and-breakfast, from art deco furnishings to the bright clawfoot tubs that beckon outside. Taking an outdoor bath is a must in this rural retreat, especially on a clear night while listening to the lapping of nearby waves. Mike and wife Susie-lee have two self-contained units on their rural section: a restored carriage and a cosy, retro-fied cottage.

Enjoy a yarn with the owners over a breakfast of champions, including sausage, roast tomato, eggs and toast. The bed and breakfast is a 10-minute drive to town, with easy access to the nearby dunes and beach. 3 Hāpuku Road, Hāpuku.

(03) 319 6963, hapukucarriages.co.nz