We spent a lovely 4 days in Ponsonby, a short walk from the local main high street with cafes, restaurants & shops and about 20 minutes walk to Queens Street/wharf for ferries, buses, restaurants & shops. We walked everywhere (slowly!) as some parts of the area are hilly but you can catch a bus from Ponsonby Road (think green Inner loop bus) down to the central area.
The stand alone cottage was perfect for us, at the bottom of the garden from the main house but you had complete privacy & it was very quiet at night. The bed was soooo comfortable and the shower a good size with instant hot water. There was also a washing machine in the bathroom.
The open plan kitchen/lounge was really smart & modern and although no oven or hob, there was a microwave, toaster, kettle, coffee machine, fridge, dishwasher and plenty of space to prepare a quick breakfast or light evening meal, like a sandwich or salad but plenty of choice to eat out in the area anyway.
We enjoyed our stay very much.