Auckland | Returning to the Mundane World from Fairyland 🏙️✨

Many people find Auckland uninteresting—especially after transitioning from the fairyland-like Queenstown back to the city. It’s natural to feel a sense of , so few choose to stay long in Auckland. This time, I spent four days and three nights here and found it far from boring! 😍 📍Attractions 1️⃣ Mount Victoria 🌄: A must-see in Auckland! Take a ferry from Auckland Pier to Devonport Port, then walk 20 minutes to the summit. You’ll be rewarded with stunning urban skyline views and a glimpse of Rangitoto Island Volcano. 🏙️🌋 If you can’t make it by sunset, head to West Haven Port instead. The sight of countless sailboats glowing in the twilight is breathtaking—truly worthy of the title “City of Sails”! ⛵🌆 2️⃣ Auckland Zoo 🐾: As New Zealand’s largest zoo, its superstar is undoubtedly the national treasure—the Kiwi! 🥝🐦 This adorable bird is rarely seen outside NZ. The zoo is divided by continent with a well-planned layout. The guide map provided at entry even notes feeding and talk times for different animals—so thoughtful! 💯 🏨Hotel A major reason I enjoyed Auckland so much was this newly opened InterContinental! 🏨💖 1️⃣ Perfect location—surrounded by bustling shopping streets, with the pier in front and DFS Duty-Free behind. Airport buses and trains stop nearby, and popular restaurants and supermarkets are within easy reach. It has every convenience you could ask for! 🚶♀️🍽️🛒 2️⃣ Amazing breakfast! 🍳🥑 Beyond the bread and salad bar, the menu is impressive. From calorie-packed maple syrup waffles to healthy avocado toast and salads, there’s something for everyone. I ate here for three days without repetition! 😋 3️⃣ Fully automated room controls—everything can be managed via bedside buttons. Each floor has a self-service water station (those who’ve stayed in NZ hotels know how crucial this is!), providing chilled water straight away. ♻️🌊 4️⃣ Toiletries are BYREDO’s Tropical Jazz line—I personally detected a hint of New Zealand feijoa! 🧴💚 Very Oceania-specific, and I absolutely loved the scent! 🍛Restaurant I only recommend one place: The Occidental! 🍻😍 I had dinner here two nights in a row—great value for money! They offer daily discounted dishes (with drink purchase), still very affordable. Portions are huge—one main course is enough per person. It’s labeled Belgian cuisine, tasty and far more suited to the Chinese palate than those overly fancy high-end restaurants! 👍🍽️ #NewZealandTravel #OffbeatAndFunCities #AucklandTourism 🌏✈️