Situated in a quiet street in the middle of a very colourful suburb of Auckland City, this historic eleven room small hotel accommodation displays a very strong sense of place.

Its décor reflects its location with a happy blend of Pacific and New Zealand elements - Polynesian masks, tapa cloth, sculptures, ceramics and paintings - and a sunny mix of blue aqua and earth-yellow colours on the walls. Many of these artefacts were bought from the boutique shops of Ponsonby. Within walking distance is, probably, the widest selection of restaurants and cafes in New Zealand.

The rooms and suites are spacious, comfortable and bright and a lot of thought has gone into equipping them with almost anything you might need for a stay. I particularly like the sitting room with its comfortable loungers, tea and coffee making facility and loads of books, magazines and CDs, and the adjacent breakfast room which spills out onto a wide verandah. Here the Great Ponsonby's breakfast was served. It was a congenial affair with lots of good-hearted banter between guests and hosts. All the classical dishes are available but I chose one that further enhanced the local flavour - kumera cakes, and grilled fish.