Frankly Fab Franklin

With cafés, vineyards, beaches, a farmers market and even a vintage steam railway and lighthouse, Franklin just may be the perfect family fun day out.

Nestled between the Auckland metro area and the Waikato plains, Franklin has often been underrated as a tourism destination and residential choice, which is a shame because it has so much to offer and is so close to the hustle and bustle of the Big Smoke while still retaining a real countryside charm.

In the early colonial days scows linked the area to the city, supplying produce from the fertile farmland, and the scowmen were particularly fond of the Waiuku settlement in Franklin, which they referred to as ‘White City’.

This was probably in reference to the pathways made with crushed shells and the heavy white-out fogs that rolled down from the hills, but it wasn’t these that gave Waiuku a special place in their hearts; instead it was the rowdy hotels and boarding houses that meant there was always something going on in this lively pioneer place! One of these, The Kentish Hotel, still remains and is the oldest continuously licensed pub in New Zealand. It’s also a great place to start or finish your Franklin odyssey.

The scowmen could be forgiven for letting their hair down when on dry land, as Franklin’s coastline was unforgiving and cruel to those that ventured out onto it. In 1863, HMS Orpheus ran aground there, with 189 of its 259 crew perishing, making it our worst maritime disaster and leading to the construction of the Manukau Heads Lighthouse in 1874. The Lighthouse is surely one of the most picturesque in New Zealand and offers stunning views, as well as being situated in native bush replete with west coast flax. It is well worth a visit, in fair weather or foul, to reimagine the days of sail and remember how important shipping was to our nation.

The days of steam are also alive and well in Franklinat the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. Known as New Zealand’s premier vintage rail experience, Glenbrook is in a league of it’s own, with staff dressed in period costume and a variety of ways to explore our railway heritage: take the steam train into Waiuku - you can even opt for the fancy first class experience - where you can spend some time before catching the return service, and the train also makes a stop at the Pukeoware workshops where you can check out the restoration processes of these mighty steam machines. And don’t worry if a visit sparks a serious love affair with vintage rail; Glenbrook organises rail appreciation trips around the country and overseas for likeminded lovers of the golden age of travel.

And while wandering back in time, check out the Waiuku Museum for huge displays of memorabilia and a replica Mainstreet. The Museum is adjacent to the Tamakae Reserve, which is home to several historic buildings, including the old Maioro School and a creamery, as well as the Waiuku Jail!

While the scowman are long gone from Waiuku, there is still always something going on in Franklin. The Clevedon Farmers Market has been going for several years and has built up a loyal following for very good reason. Located in Monument Road, Clevedon, it has all the fresh produce you could want as well as fresh bread, cheese and so much more - it’s a great place to stock up on local produce for your weekly shop as well as gourmet items for something a little special, and ready to eat yumminess like woodfired pizza mean you won’t leave hungry.

Now, some of you are probably still reading because of one word that slipped in way back in the first sentence: vineyards. Yes, Franklin has vineyards, so there is no need to get to Marlborough for a great cellar door experience. John Hill Estate’s restaurant looks out onto the vines and has an extensive menu including local oysters, awesome platters and a signature fish and chips, paired with an extensive selection of their award-winning wines. Another standout for wine lovers is Awhitu Wines, whose Greenock Syrah is worth the trip alone; again, the setting is stunning, and they are open for tastings on weekends and public holidays from 10am to 5pm. Bracu Restaurant, set in New Zealand’s largest olive grove, should also be on the list for wine lovers and gourmands; set in a beautifully restyled kauri villa, there is an allweather verandah for summer and a fireside for the cooler months, but year-round the food is spectacular.

So, with cafés, vineyards, markets - oh and six golf courses to boot! - Franklin is quite frankly fabulous.

The Lighthouse is surely one of the most picturesque in New Zealand and offers stunning views.