Kiwis welcome in stranded fans

back to me. We are a two-hour drive from Wellington and we have a nice rural setting.”

People from Rotorua, Tauranga and Hamilton are among the hundreds opening their doors.

Deanna Raytcheff has a room in the capital going free.

“We have a bar with a good fridge which could have some cold beers in if you are lucky,” she posted.

“There is an exercise [bike] in garage if you need to cycle off some alcohol lol.”

Robyn Winder has offered her Hamilton front lawn for campervans for the Chiefs game.

“Have three boys from Wales and two boys from London who have taken it up,” she said. “It’s a great idea. I’m just 15 minutes walk from the stadium.”

A few Lions fans are shocked at New Zealand accommodation prices at the time of the tour.

English supporter Paul Luckett will be here from Coventry with his son, but says he’s struggling to find somewhere to stay for the Wellington test.

“I couldn’t pay those prices, they are a rip-off,” he told Newstalk ZB.

Consumer New Zealand chief executive Suzanne Chetwin said despite it not being “very moral”, accommodation providers could charge anything as long as they provided the service advertised.

Demand for homes, apartments and even spare rooms is also through the roof during the tour, with 2500 arrivals from the UK booked through Airbnb by February this year.

Some Auckland homes near Eden Park are being offered for more than $1000 a night and a few single bedrooms, with access to shared facilities within the house, are available for over the $200 mark.