Pukekohe, was I there....
Which is precisely why I go there.
Though that's no reason for a tiki tourist to not take the time to visit.
The drive down is easy as pie. Head south along the motorway from Auckland, exit at the Drury turnoff, then turn right and stay on the main track. Twenty to thirty minutes past this point (depending on driving speed), and after driving past Wesley College and through Paerata, you're there. Or you can take the train or a bus, both will get you there easily, though that may make seeing the sites a bit difficult.
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| Yes I was! And so were they :) |
Pukekohe is not a tourist destination per se, but if you're looking for a rural day out surrounded by lovely farmland,, market gardens, hydroponics and country type folk close to the city, without going completely hick, then this is where you should come.
There are plenty of boutique shops with knick knaks, art, and clothes and the number of eateries and cafe's offering good food have quadrupled in the last few years. My latest visit with the nieces required a food stop. We chose the Pizza Box for a quick bite.
Pizza Box provided lots of room, with plenty of comfy seats and the pizza, iced coffee and fruit smoothies got the thumbs up.
When you get to Pukekohe what is there to do other than sampling the local cuisine, enjoying a good coffee and wondering the streets (or rather street) of town looking at the shops. Franklin Country website has a number of good ideas, but here is what I have done in Pukekohe.
A drive to the top of Pukekohe Hill will give you some nice views of the surrounding area.
For a taste of local history have a look at the Pukekohe Pioneer Cottage.
If you go during summer, I believe the 50 meter swimming pool with high diving board is still open for business.
If you go on a winter weekend you will most definitely catch teams playing sport - mainly rugby or netball - at the local grounds.
Check out the racing calendar at the Franklin Trotting Club before you go and you'll likely find a horse racing meet to attend. And if your horsepower preference is mechanical there is a calendar for that too at the Pukekohe Park Raceway. If not there, then a little further south at Hamptdon Downs where you can pay and drive a race car yourself.
Golf is always on the cards. In fact you pass the golf course about 7km's after the Drury turn off.
Planning your visit to Pukekohe around the Franklin A&P (aka Agricultural and Pastoral) show at the beginnig of the year will let you experience local farming and produce at it's best.
I suggest you time your drive home on a Friday or Saturday evening so that you can call in to Spookers and be totally freaked out, in a fun way of course. If you are travelling with young ones that may not be such a good plan, though they provide over 8year old activities that run from 11am for the kids.
Pukekohe is not really far enough from Auckland that you have to stay the night, however, should you choose to do so, B&B's and farm stays are available, as are a few hotels and motels if you'd rather.
Unfortuatley I can't provide a personal recommendation for any accomodation unless you plan on staying with my brother and his family - which is where I stay whenever I venture south to Pukekohe.
