Around Auckland | Waiheke Island Day Trip · Gu Cheng’s Former Reside

“You look at me for a while, then at the clouds for a while. I think, when you look at me, you’re far away; when you look at the clouds, you’re close.” — Gu Cheng 📜 Gu Cheng’s Former Residence This is Gu Cheng’s old house — it looks like an abandoned cottage, carrying a quiet sense of nostalgia. Nearby, Waiheke Island’s sea views glow brilliantly under the sun; every shot is raw, no filters needed. The blue sea and golden light blend perfectly, making the old residence feel even more poetic 🌊🏡. Mudbrick Winery Stopped by Mudbrick Winery for a wine tasting 🍷! The 2023 Pinot Gris white wine was *by far* the best — smooth, with a lovely fruity finish that lingers. Fun fact: All the wine barrels have been moved elsewhere, so we just enjoyed tasting in the restaurant. And guess what? A huge patch of purple lavender was right in front of us — I almost missed it at first! There’s also a chubby little cat wandering around the winery, super cute 🐱💜. Ferry Ticket Tips I bought a discounted ferry ticket that only allows departure after 1 PM. Important note: You *must* board at the Downtown Ferry Terminal in the city, but the ferry stops at Devonport first before heading to Waiheke Island. Don’t mix up the terminals! ⚠️🚢 My Perfect Day Itinerary The forecast said rain all week, but Tuesday afternoon had a few hours of sunshine — I grabbed the chance and went right away! Sure enough, it rained again the next day ☔️ (good weather waits for no one!). 1. As soon as I got off the ferry, I took a bus to Gu Cheng’s former residence. It’s quite remote, tucked in the hills, so going early is better. 2. Next to the residence, there’s a hilltop reserve — I went for a short hike, then walked down to the town center. 3. Wandered around the center, sat by the beach to watch the sea for a bit 🏖️. 4. Headed to the winery for tasting (it closes at 5 PM!) and stayed to catch the sunset 🌇. 5. Ate at Red Crab, a Thai restaurant in town — the food was delicious! 6. Took the bus back to the ferry terminal and boarded the 7 PM ferry back to Auckland. Timing was spot-on — it was such a perfect day! #NewZealandWHV #Auckland #WaihekeIsland #GuCheng #WineTastingAdventure ✨