The Lifeboat NZ — Restaurant in West Coast

The water is by your side and the wind is coming in. On your left the ocean is raging the channel flowing on the right.

You reach the end. The end of the Earth. A mirage appears. A little blue boat sitting on the edge of the rocks with two smiling people aboard.

As you move closer the smiles get bigger. The man with the grey cap starts to wave. You've been travelling for days. You start to think.

What am I seeing?

You keep walking. The mirage isn't fading. You get closer to the boat.

The man with the grey cap calls out.

Hello! Would you like some coffee.

You realise it's not a mirage. It's the Lifeboat. The Lifeboat NZ. The little blue boat at the edge of the world.

A smell hits your nose. It's familiar. Sweet. Reminds you of when you were young. What is it? Then you see the man with the grey cap open the oven to the left. He pulls out a steaming circle of gold.

You ask a question.

What's that?

It's a Stroopwafel.

A what?

A Stroopwafel. A Dutch cookie. With butter and honey and cinnamon.

Cinnamon. That's it.

Driving through the rain. Across Arthur's Pass. Right to the edge of Greymouth and now you've found fresh Stroopwafels and coffee. Filter coffee. Coffee which has the smoothness of tea but the flavour of coffee.

I'll take a coffee and a large Stroopwafel please.

You learn the mans name. It's Richard. His partner Monique pours water into the kettle sitting over the fire. The steam starts to come out.

Richard tips the kettle over the cup. The water seeps through the beans through the paper into the cup. You can smell it. Fresh coffee fresh Stroopwafels cinnamon butter honey. All of it. The Lifeboat blocks the wind coming off the ocean. Blocks the wind so you can get the best coffee on the West Coast.

Coming out here you didn't think there would be much. Then The Lifeboat NZ appeared. Two smiling faces. Two delicious offerings.

You blow the steam off the coffee. Take a sip and then bite the Stroopwafel. Sip bite sip bite. Richard tells you about his time in Greymouth. How he and Monique met in primary school. Sip bite sip bite.

It's done. You're at the bottom of the coffee but the stories are still going. It's time for seconds. Sip bite sip bite.

All the way from the other side of the world and you found The Lifeboat NZ. Two coffees two waffles two amazing people....

Actually my husband and I went there 2 years ago, back in March 2017 when The Lifeboat was only a few months open. We spent some time here since Richard was soooo nice, talkative, and kind to us. He told us a little bit about his life, and we told him about our lives and dreams. It was really a nice talk with this super friendly guy. I always remember him, his great coffee (one of the best we tasted in NZ), and his Dutch stroopwafel (as sweet as the owner). In the end when we had to leave his small lovely shop, he gave us another stroopwafel for free with the shape of heart, and a message: "Just follow your heart. You have the energy, you have each other." I would never forget that kindness and sincereness from Richard. I would highly recommend this place for a visit to taste his coffee and stroopwafel, and definitely a chat with Richard. I hope we can visit this place again in...

It is a very cute cafe with the sweet and very welcoming owners! I would highly recommend to check it out and to get a cap of a perfect hot chocolate with a waffle and a good chat with the owners. Like a bonus there is an amazing view to the beach, the snow capped mountains in the background and the birds. Hot chocolate, by the way, is the best I’ve ever tried in NZ. It’s from real chocolate! And the best freshly made waffles! Yummy!!! Take several waffles with you because you will remember it delicious taste forever and regret that you had just...