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- By David Mallowes, Walks Out East
An easy 2km wander for families or dog walkers, and you can also do it at any time on your own. Well-formed and easy farm tracks, a little muddy, but fun and interesting. Then relax in a beautiful setting with a coffee and an iconic bun. A short rural drive from Franklin makes for a wonderful half-day out, maybe extend with a visit to Clevedon Village.
To enjoy this loop, I suggest arriving earlyish between 8am and midday to beat the crowds, wear your gumboots if it has rained recently, and set out on a mini adventure. Greet the huge Corten steel dog (by Clevedon’s James Wright) in the carpark, book an indoor or outdoor table for later, and maybe take some photos of the flower beds.
Then it’s time to view the huge water buffalo, llamas, black faced sheep, curious Friesian cattle, and ducks. Follow the informative signs. The track circles through gardens, bush, gently undulating paddocks, wetlands, past huge poplar and other trees, and back to an impressive view of the cafe villa and the playground digger.
If that’s not enough, there are often fun events – Mother’s Day high teas, Easter egg hunts, Bottoms Up brunch, Valentine’s Lovebirds brunch and many others.
In 2024, the Manurewa Nathan Homestead had to close for earthquake strengthening. The busy Hill House cafe needed a new home and reopened in the beautiful Pah Homestead in Hillsborough. Soon after, there was an unexpected opportunity to open another in a heritage villa on a 140-acre Clevedon farm owned by the Green family.
Dogs on leash, walkable with strollers if you can manage slightly rutted tracks.
Address: 400 Papakura-Clevedon Road. A big thank you to Leilana, Mike and Peter for leading two excellent, very popular guided walks around the farm as part of the East Auckland Tourism Walkfest.
For more information, photos, printable maps, and a walk video link, visit Facebook page WalksOutEast.
QR code https://www.facebook.com/walks
