Staying with Jane was an ideal start to my trip to New Zealand: the neighborhood is green and quiet, the room and the rest of the unit clean, homey, and comfortable, and Jane herself is a very warm and generous person, and even invited me along to a gathering of friends and family, who were also delightful. I felt very welcome and it was a fantastic place to acclimate to the time difference (I was coming from Boston).
Skybus, the primary transportation from the airport, stops in Mount Eden Village, several blocks from her place. Jane was kind enough to accommodate my rather early arrival time, and I was so happy to find a beautiful clawfoot tub in the bathroom. After a good, revitalizing soak, I crossed the street to hike Mount Eden, a lovely viewpoint onto the city. She's also convenient to several lovely cafés (Rad Café is terrific), and within walking distance of downtown Auckland--it's a simple bus ride, but I like a good long walk to see the city, so I did that, as well as a half-day trip to Waiheke while based from Jane's place. I'm glad to have chosen the Mount Eden neighborhood as opposed to something downtown. It was fantastic being around all the spring flowers, and while Mount Eden Road is a major road, Jane's apartment is set off an intersecting road, so from the room I heard lots of birds rather than traffic. I'd stay there again in a heartbeat, and actually already recommended the place to a couple terrific women I'd met who were on vacation from Singapore.