Staying with David was a great pleasure while traveling solo with my six year old son. He went out of his way to ensure that we were very comfortable, even offering my son an old huge box of legos his very own son used to play with. My son and I spent some badly needed time together making a castle. In addition, David pointed out to me some great spots where I could take my family once my wife arrived outside of Auckland, introduced me to a man who owned a bike shop nearby that I might be interested in meeting, and my son and his son really hit it off.

The house was very clean, tidy and comfortable, as well as warm and inviting. Cooking in the kitchen was fun, and I had my own space on a shelf and in a separate fridge to store our food. All the lights have dimmers making the mood enchanting. Because it was cold during winter when we arrived, David lent me a pair of slippers (bring your own if you are coming in winter, as it would be handy for all the homes we've been staying in, not just this one!) and allowed my son to wear his shoes in doors after we cleaned them.

My son and I walked to the Zoo via Western Springs Park, feeding the ducks along the way. It was an awesomely memorable day out and super convenient. The Museum of Transport was also next door for another day of exploration, but alas, we didn't have time! We also shopped at the local supermarket only a five minute car ride away. Finally, this location is handy to numerous buses that take you into downtown Auckland, where we took a ferry to Waiheke Island and back.

The street in front of David's house was quiet and calm with very wide streets.

We regret not having booked three nights instead of just two because David had such a wealth of information about NZ and the local area, and staying just two nights didn't give us the opportunity to get to know him better.