The doors of an historic West Coast hotel to the public again after 30 years.

A historic pub made famous by the Mainland Cheese advertisements is open to the public again, after nearly 30 years.

The Lake Mahinapua Hotel, just south of Hokitika, was visited exclusively by Kiwi Experience backpackers for nearly three decades, but has opened its doors to the public once again.

Lake Mahinapua Hotel general manager Chrissy Miller said she wanted to share her "slice of paradise" with the West Coast community and opened to the public last Saturday.

The pub was shut to the public when former owner Les Lisle began hosting Kiwi Experience buses almost 30 years ago. When Lisle died in 2013, Kiwi Experience decided it would no longer stop at the pub, but two years later it was bought by Kiwi Experience founder Mike Warren.

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Miller said many people stopped at the pub for photographs because they remembered the heart-warming adverts that appeared on national television in the 80s and 90s.

Mahinapua was "left as a ghost town" when Lisle died in 2013, until Warren bought it, "gave her a facelift and started getting out buses calling back in".

SUPPLIED The pub featured in a Mainland cheese commercial.

Miller has been managing the pub since 2015 and helped transform it into a backpacker haven. It includes dorm accommodation for 110, spa pools, a volley ball court and a jade carving studio. It still holds historic features like the original bar and wooden floors.

"We are a historic hotel that is world famous for the Mainland Cheese ads and also hosting Kiwi Experience dress up parties seven nights a week," she said.

supplied Former owner of the Lake Mahinapua Hotel Les Lisle began hosting nightly dress up parties for backpackers almost 30 years ago.

Miller, who lives on site with her two children and dog DJ, said it was now time for the wider public to be able to enjoy the pub.

"We have poured our heart and soul to make her where she is today and we would like to finally share our wee hidden piece of paradise to our West Coast community and also our travellers that are cruising up and down the coast," she said.

Joanne Carroll Barman Josh Tomlinson and manager Chrissy Miller behind the original bar of the reopened Lake Mahinapua Hotel.

The pub, which is just minutes walking distance to the beach and Lake Mahinapua, is now open to the public every day until 7pm during summer.

After 7pm, Kiwi Experience travellers will take over the pub for their dress up parties. Two buses stop at the pub every night during summer.