5 stars is not enough, not nearly. Double that, and you’d be getting close to the rating this exceptional Airbnb deserves.
Where to start. First, Joanne and Don are the most gracious hosts imaginable and set a new standard for Airbnb. Their hospitality and helpfulness rivals that of the best concierge at any local luxury hotel. As soon as they learned that I had returned to New Zealand to further explore its astonishing culinary renaissance, Don prepared a variety maps showing locations of their recommendations for the best nearby eateries.
The cottage is a radiant cathedral of luxury and comfort, a veritable Ritz Carlton of Airbnb’s, impeccably designed and appointed. For work travelers, there is a spacious desk and broadband WiFi that delivers the speed you need for transoceanic digital heavy lifting.
The only problem with the bed is that it’s so thoroughly comfortable that you may not want to get out of it in the morning. You awaken to the morning light flooding in through high-tech remote-control skylights that automatically close themselves in the event of rain and solar shades that can also be adjusted to your liking by remote. The kitchen is new and modern and comes complete with everything you need.
From the upstairs loft you’ll gaze out past soaring ceilings with a larger-than-life picture window view of beautiful Auckland wetlands. If you’re lucky, and I was, your alarm clock each morning will be the most glorious song birds who somehow seem to know when you’ve first put your feet on the floor for the day.
Located just a short 10 minute drive just across the bay from Auckland’s vibrant CBD, this Airbnb is a serene retreat that is world unto its own, offering both spaciousness and privacy. I’ve had the opportunity to stay in many exceptional Airbnbs over the years, but Joanne and Don’s cathedral cottage, as I have come to think of it, is in a league of its own. I can’t not recommend it highly enough. If it’s available during the dates of your visit to Auckland, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place or more gracious hosts.