Staying in Grant’s garden studio was the perfect experience for me. It’s in a quiet and private setting, inspirational for anyone who appreciates a beautiful urban ecosystem. The studio is spacious and comfortable and creatively furnished, with a largish attractive bathroom. The bed is comfortable and the two sets of French doors let you feel part of the garden. There are even three hens! Across the road is access to lovely Grey Lynn Park, which is great for walking or cycling, and acts as a shortcut to other parts of the suburb. Grey Lynn is my favourite part of Auckland: the streets are lined with beautiful character houses and there’s a bohemian feel that attracts - and is fed by - creative people. I’m told there’s a great community here. I didn’t have a car but you can easily walk to a supermarket, other food shops and cafes. Ponsonby is 15 minutes’ walk away and the 105 bus takes you into the central city in about 20 minutes. Auckland’s public transport system is very good.