Enjoying a cuppa at Umupuia Beach, looking out towards Waiheke Island in the east.
Photography credit: Dom Thomas

Enjoying a cuppa at Umupuia Beach, looking out towards Waiheke Island in the east.
Photography credit: Dom Thomas
On Franklin’s eastern edge, Duder Regional Park stretches out into the Hauraki Gulf, a peninsula surrounded by sea and sky. It’s the first part of the region to greet each sunrise, as the day breaks across the water and the land glows gold. For early walkers, it feels...
The Clevedon Farmers Market, a Sunday tradition, is a must-visit for food lovers seeking fresh, locally grown produce. With over 60 seasonal and permanent stalls offering everything from fresh vegetables to artisan products, the market also hosts Twilight Markets in...
Nick Jones and Josephine Elworthy are staunch Clevedoners. Their work invigorates some of the village’s most historic buildings. It's a marriage of business nous, equestrian sport and unbreakable community spirit. Under the banner of Hololio - Hawaiian for running...
Franklin’s Fertile Foundations The area between metropolitan Auckland and the Waikato plains has long served as a food basket: Māori valued the plentiful natural resources and proximity to trading routes; European settlers cleared the land for agriculture; and market...
Photo supplied by Logan Soole At 19 I was skipping college to play Mario-Kart. At that age Logan Soole had done several years of community volunteering and been elected to the Franklin Local Board. Even now, in my 50s, meeting the now 25-year-old on Zoom from the UK,...
Pukekohe, the high street of Franklin, showcases a handful of beautifully restored historic buildings, now home to inviting eateries and unique spots that celebrate the town’s past.