Deirdre's summer house was amazing value, and complements the rural location by giving you everything you need on-site. The pool was fantastic, as were the space itself and grounds, capped off by some really nice little touches from the hosts. The area has some nice places to explore, but you'll likely never want to leave the pool.
This is a gem of a property, and should definitely be considered by anyone planning on staying in Auckland itself. Riverhead is easily accessible by motorway, and being able to escape the city to a place like this makes it an easy choice.