Michael and his wife were superb hosts. Janaya gave me an incredible breakfast every morning, like bread pudding, dumplings, and bacon and egg sandwiches. I loved the feijoa that they gave me. Out of all the Airbnb places I've stayed, their breakfasts were off the charts. Both of them are really intelligent and interesting people. The room looked like the pictures and they gave me really clear instructions for everything, so the check-in process was very easy. 10/10, I would stay with them again. I had my own bathroom and a key to my room. They gave me a heater and electric blanket for the cold weather. They also had amazing dual-use outlets that could handle both the NZ power plugs and my own American power plugs. They provided tea and coffee and a wonderful coupon to the Polynesian Spa. If you feel like eating a quick dinner after a long day, there are small restaurants with good food really close to their home, just around the corner. When I went to church on Sunday, it was less than a kilometer away.
My only regret in Rotorua (which is completely my fault) is not realizing how close the Devon and Ranolf bus stop was to their house. I consistently walked into town instead of catching the bus. If I were to stay with them again (which I would do in a heartbeat if I visited Rotorua again), I would look at the 12 Tihi-O-Tonga via Glenholme and Polytech bus route. It wasn’t until I left and discussed Rotorua’s bus system with someone else that I even realized that the bus came so close to their home. The 12 bus will take you into town, so it’s very easy to get to and from the i-SITE center or Hobbiton bus stop and their home.
They were sweet as pie. If you are in Rotorua to visit Hobbiton (a bit over an hour away), the hot springs, or the museum, definitely consider staying at their place.