From Wellington central it's a 5 minute stroll to the beautiful, upmarket Queen Street Villa. So close to a plethora of restaurants, theatres, museums and all the sights and sounds of the country's capitol yet so quiet.

This luxurious inner-city three bedroom self-contained home was ours exclusively as they only take single party bookings. Tucked into the lower slopes of Mount Victoria, with its walking and bike trails and spectacular city views, Queen Street Villa offers all the luxuries of a boutique hotel without attendant bustle.

Owners Penny and John don't live on the premises of their upmarket bed and breakfast but came in early each day to prepare our gourmet breakfast, which we chose from an extensive café-style menu. On the subject of meals, a well equipped kitchen makes self-catering an option. However our hosts encouraged us to enjoy the large number of fabulous city restaurants within easy reach, let their suggestion guide you to the perfect choice to suit the palate.

After a hard days holidaying, it's marvellous to sit in the villa's surprising oasis of a leafy bricked courtyard, enjoying the complimentary wine and cheeseboard Penny has prepared as we plan our next day's itinerary.

Having experienced its luxuries, we can certainly endorse the repeat business being a feature of Queen Street Villa's visitor book.