Sans Souci
Sans Souci Inn is a small family owned operation. Your hosts Vera and Reto Balzer have designed and built the Inn over a decade ago and have been running it with a handful dedicated and loyal staff ever since.Accommodation that combines an artistic blend of Mediterranean, ecological architecture with a laid back atmosphere. Our onsite restaurant has a high reputation and meals are freshly cooked every day. All this only a short stroll from Golden Bay Pohara beach, shop and cafes.
The seven bedroom adobe inn is an artistic blend of Mediterranean and ecological architecture situated on three acres of gardens. Lush subtropical vegetation contrasts with white washed adobe (sun dried clay bricks) and the grass roof blends into the landscape. The laid back, casual and homely atmosphere is a panacea for the stressed and tired holiday maker.
Folding doors open into the court yard for summer al fresco dining. During winter the mud oven keeps the building toasty warm. This comfortable and homely atmosphere creates an environment to relax and meet with other guests.
The open plan kitchen is designed to cater for up to 25 guests in the restaurant. It also allows you to self cater. There may be restricted use of the kitchen during the evenings at high season.
The centrally detached bathroom is designed to cater for six bedrooms and is a feature and talking point of the inn. Our ecological toilets system (composting toilets) help reduce water usage and nutrient loss into water ways. They are odourless and maintained to a very high standard. Showers and bath are housed in cubicles for privacy. The central planter with hanging mirrors and integrated hand basins creates a lush tropical feel in the bathroom.
Sans Souci Inn
Reto & Vera Balzer
reto@sanssouciinn.co.nz
11 Richmond Road, Pohara, Takaka 7183
Golden Bay
New Zealand
phone/fax: +64-3-525-8663
http://sanssouciinn.co.nz/
From Wikipedia
Golden Bay lies at the edge of the junction between the Tasman Sea and Cook Strait. It stretches for 45 kilometres from the long sand spit of Farewell Spit in the north to Separation Point in Abel Tasman National Park at its southern extremity. Beyond this point, the larger of the two bays at the top of the South Island, Tasman Bay, begins.
The northern part of the bay is largely devoid of population; the southern part contains the populous but small plains around the mouth of the Takaka River. Between the two lies the small town of Collingwood. Other than the Takaka River, the Aorere River is the main watercourse to reach the sea at Golden Bay.
Abel Tasman entering the bay
Dutch explorer Abel Tasman anchored in this bay in 1642. However, the resulting hostile encounter with the local Māori when a party from his ships tried to land caused him to bestow upon it the name Murderers Bay. English explorer James Cook renamed it Golden Bay during his voyage of discovery in 1769.
Golden Bay (district)
Location of Golden Bay
The Golden Bay district, at the northwest corner of the South Island, New Zealand, and about 70 kilometres northwest of Nelson, is a coastal area bordered by the ranges of Kahurangi National Park and Abel Tasman National Park. It is largely separated from the rest of the island by steep hill country—the only road into the area traverses a steep, winding pass between the Riwaka and Takaka River valleys.
One of many beaches in Abel Tasman National Park along Golden Bay
The population of approximately 4500 triples over summer with an influx of visitors, who enjoy its natural beauty, recreational opportunities and festival culture. Golden Bay's popularity also stems in part for its remoteness and its internationally significant conservation areas, such as Farewell Spit and Te Waikoropupu Springs. It is also noted for its extensive cave systems.
The ranges, rivers, coastal plains and lowlands of Golden Bay provide a range of microclimates offering good conditions for agriculture and horticulture. Currently, the Bay's main income is generated by dairy farming, arts and crafts, and tourism.
Recently, a massive increase in the wasp population in Abel Tasman National park forced a (failed) biological and a (more successful) chemical regimen to bring down the wasp population which reached an estimated 300 colonies per square kilometre in the early 1990's. These wasps have been blamed on an alarming decrease in native insects and animal life in the park.
Takaka is the main business and shopping area for the Golden Bay district. It is located in the lower reaches of the Takaka River Valley at the southern end of the bay. Collingwood is Goldenbay's second biggest town and was once a candidate for the site of the nations capital though today it principly act as a service hub for the surrounding farming community and a destination for holiday makers during the summer month. Other settlements in Golden Bay include Pohara, Motupipi, Onekaka, Bainham and Pakawau.