Comfy den just the spot for Lions fans
A converted industrial site in Lower Hutt might be just the ticket for Lions fans needing accommodation around Wellington.
The former work site in Wainuiomata, owned by David Williams from Greenstone Concrete and Asphalt, features a big metal warehouse and three onsite portacom units complete with four toilets, three kitchens, two showers and enough mattresses to sleep a rugby team.
Nestled among car repair workshops and a lumber yard down Waiu St, the converted warehouse has been turned into a big recreation room with a band stage with instruments, Sky TV and a gym, all heated by a fireplace.
Staying in an industrial part of Wainuiomata might not be every Lions fan’s dream, but the upside was ‘‘you can party as loud as you want’’, Williams’ grandson Taajhon Wiremu said. ‘‘It’s peaceful here at night. No noise control down here for a Lions celebration.’’
Accommodation is already at a premium in Wellington as tens of thousands of travelling British and Irish Lions fans head for the capital for the games against the Hurricanes on June 27 and the All Blacks on July 1.
Earlier this month, it was reported that eight plane-loads of Lions fans look set to fly out of Wellington as soon as the test finishes, because the capital has run out of accommodation.
Williams said the family business had plenty of spare space, and they wanted to make a few dollars off the back of demand. ‘‘And if not, we won’t lose any sleep.’’
Pricing was ‘‘flexible’’ and would depend on the size and number of groups, and whether they wanted optional extras such as transport to the city and meals, he said.
The site spans roughly 900 square metres, with space to park multiple motorhomes, about a 20-minute drive from Westpac Stadium. The business that used to operate from the site has since shifted to Seaview.