Robyn was a super host. Place was clean, quiet, and cosy. Location was amazing if you like having a number of eateries a block away. The highlight for me was a bakery that had the largest variety of baked goods I have ever seen in New Zealand. There was also a fish and chips shop, a roast shop, Chinese restaurant, and a Thai restaurant.
Also of note was a walking path a few feet away that led through several parks before ending on a nice falls. About 75 minute walk round trip for me at a normal pace.
And of course the much larger Whangarei Falls was great and it is easy to walk a couple hours from there through varied scenery with no building in view.
And for me, the Whangarei Bridge Club was only 3 blocks away and that encouraged me to stay for an extra day to play with a provided partner at a very friendly club.