The Intrepid Hotel is about rewarding the curious, say owners Alex Cassels and Sean Golding. "We want there to be a sense of discovery for guests. Each stay should be different from the last," says Cassels.

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Where did the idea come from? ‍

Alex Cassels: Sean and I love to travel and we were inspired by amazing experiences that great hotels can offer. Hotels like The Old Clare in Sydney, the Phoenix in San Francisco and the Park Hyatt in Tokyo inspired us. 

Sean Golding: We wanted to bring that excitement of staying at an independent hotel. It should be somewhere you look forward to coming back to.

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How did you want it to feel?‍

AC: Like a ‘low-luxe’ neighbourhood hotel. Comfortable, but not a home away from home. More of a destination in itself.

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Tell us about the building.

‍AC: It was built in 1909 for Cadbury. It’s heritage listed so the façade has been completely restored but we gutted, strengthened and added 18 rooms, the lobby and reception area. It was a four-year process. The Puffin, the in-house natural wine bar, was finished a year before the hotel opened. 

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What's on offer?

SG: Te Aro has fantastic cafes and restaurants, all a stone’s throw from the hotel’s front door. Travellers expect a unique hotel experience these days. Fresh coffee, a natural wine bar on site, an awesome gift shop… We think this model gives our guests the most memorable experience we can offer.

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This isn't your first rodeo.

AC: Sean’s experience is in creating unique and welcoming hospitality venues like Shepherd Restaurant and Golding’s. I’ve set up hotels, so we weren’t coming into this completely green. 

SG: Good people make a good hospitality business successful. We’ve made sure we have great people to create the best experience. 

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The Intrepid Hotel
60 Ghuznee St, Te Aro, Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington
theintrepidhotel