Staying at Steve’s cute abode was awesome. I stayed there for one month, and from the beginning Steve and his family were very warm, helpful, kind, and generous. Their home is just 10 min. outside of the city centre which was perfect for me. The surroundings are beautiful and there’s a great view of the hills from the bedroom.
The room is upstairs within their home, but has a separate and private entrance. There was a parking spot for my car, too. There’s a small refrigerator to store my essentials, microwave, a hot water kettle, and the basic utensils and cutting board to prepare a little food. It was perfect for me as I mainly ate out. If I did want to cook, they gave me full use of their kitchen. They had everything I needed there. If you’re a very light sleeper, you can hear movement in the house (all older NZ homes don’t have insulation) during the mornings as they’re getting ready, and they most likely heard me, but it didn’t bother me at all. I was practically up at the same time they were.
With the weather changes, it can get quite hot and chilly within the same day in the room. I like it both ways, and they provided extra blankets in case I got cold. There’s a dining table, small couch, and TV with cable. The shower was great and the soap they provided smelled awesome. I got to use their laundry facilities whenever I needed.
You can find many of these things anywhere. What sets Steve and his family apart from other hosts (I used to be a Super Host) is their attention to how I was doing during my stay, invited me down for tea, took me on an amazing hike to Mt. Arthur, watched movies with them, and shared some wonderful conversations during my stay. It felt like I was a part of the family.
Whether for one night or a long-stay, Steve’s home will be a great stop along your journey. It was one that I will remember for the rest of my life.