Gretchen's House is a lovely find, beautiful light, comfortable furnishings, thoughtful amenities and all in the very beautiful historic (and lovers of white picket fences!) suburb of Ponsonby.
The wifi works brilliantly, the outdoor deck is lovely in the afternoon sun, the kitchen is equipped with everything you need and Gretchen's check in directions are clear and easy to understand.
Ponsonby Rd is a short walk with its lovely boutiques, multiple food choices and the fabulous Ponsonby Central... However, for us the real find was the Jervois Rd shops in Herne Bay, a four minute walk the other way. Amazing wine shop, French eateries, delightful cafes and amazing Japanese. We did not have a bad meal on this strip, and the friendliness of the locals was just divine.
Ponsonby has a global reputation for a very good reason, and Gretchen's House is a lovely home base to explore it from. Highly recommended.