Ian Griffin checks into Air New Zealand's elusive domestic Koru Lounge, in Wellington.
Where is it? After realising the usual lounge behind security is being renovated and with the international salon not opening until two hours before departure, you might think your capital city Koru options are exhausted. However, this bold Sydney-bound Koru fan refused to be defeated and having heard a rumour about a third Wellington Koru Lounge I set out to tick it off my list of conquests.
The greeting: I couldn't fault the hearty welcome from the Air New Zealand staff when I eventually happened upon this remote outpost of our national airline's corporate empire. This is probably because staff interaction with actual passengers is rare given the lounge's extraordinary location, hidden atop a nondescript staircase in a far-flung corner of Wellington Airport. Luckily, my international ticket and puppy-eyed desperation for tasty Koru comestibles proved acceptable to the understanding staff gatekeeping this hush-hush lounge.
First impression: Bloody hell. There really are three lounges in Wellington! What's with that? Also, the decor is really, really aqua. It is so turquoise that anyone with a fake tan will stand out almost as much as an Aucklander on Burns Night in Dunedin. As the photograph shows, my own suitcase was seriously out of kilter with the predominant corporate colour.
What's there: Once your eyes have adjusted to the extraordinary hue, there's a good selection of areas where you can relax or work. Although I defy anyone with healthy eyesight to relax ...
