Hello, my dear Frankies!

I'm not going to say much this week, because I really want you to check out this week's features on our amazing locals.

There are heaps of gorgeous local experiences you can gift to your loved ones this Christmas - support local AND give your friends and family memories they'll never forget ♥

Let's get into it!

R. and the Frankie Team xx

Best local experiences to gift this Christmas 🎄✨

Give them a story, not more stuff 🎁

This week, we’ve rounded up local experiences you can gift around Franklin - from pottery and photography sessions to spa days and steam trains. It’s basically a menu of “remember when…?” moments waiting to happen.

1. For the “no more toys, please” families

​Casey Van Liefde Photography​
​Perfect for: women who need an "empowerment" boost or branding photos if mum's also rnning a side hustle!
Think relaxed, natural family sessions, newborn shoots, empowerment boudoir or the famous branding sessions! Perfect “capture this season of life” gift for families.
​Check out vouchers here!​

​ila. creative​
​Perfect for: families, couples and anyone who loves that warm, candid, “caught in the moment” look.
Kat is a lifestyle and portrait photographer based in Waiuku, shooting families, maternity, kids, couples and even branding and events. Great option if you want something relaxed, local and very “this is us.”
​Check out gift vouchers here!​

​Marie Clare Creative​
​Perfect for: women who never step in front of the camera, mums, and anyone who needs a confidence boost!
Marie-Clare specialises in empowering portraits, maternity and family sessions, often in stunning outdoor locations like Karioitahi and Waiuku Forest. Her work is all about natural, authentic images that still feel a little bit magical - a beautiful gift for someone who’s always the one taking the photos.
​Find out more about booking sessions here​

2. For the “I’d rather make something” people🎨🧵

​Little Batch Wax Co. - Candle Workshops​
Hands-on candle making in a cosy warehouse space, choosing your own scent and pouring your own soy candle and being creatice for a morning or evening ♥ They also have a Candle Club subscription and gift cards for an ongoing treat!
​Check out workshops here!​

​Half Pint Pottery - Hunua Gorge​
Wheel-throwing, beginner courses, and paint-your-own sessions in a little studio near the Hunua Ranges - perfect for the friend who’s always wanted to try clay but never booked it. Expect muddy hands, laughter, and at least one gloriously wonky mug. ​
​​Check out workshops here!​

​R Ceramics - Hunua and pop-up workshops​
Small-batch, wheel-thrown and hand-built ceramics by Bex, the potter behind those gorgeous whimsical mugs and vases you’ve seen at markets and online. R Ceramics runs pop-up mug and vase-making workshops through the year (often teaming up with locals like Little Batch Wax Co. and Your Local Coffee), plus has an online shop full of gift-worthy pieces. This is a great “experience now and later” gift – buy them a beautiful mug today and add an IOU for the next R Ceramics workshop that pops up.
​Check them out here!​

And special mention to Franklin Arts Centre who often have art and craft workshops, and Stable Light Gallery who have photography workshops! Keep an eye on these guys to find the perfect gift for those who love to create!

3. For the “please send help, I’m tired” humans

​Castaways Resort & Bersantai Day Spa - Karioitahi​
Clifftop views, spa baths, massages, lunch or dinner packages - you can go full “mini retreat” with their gift cards. Ideal for parents, grandparents, or that one friend who is permanently running on 2% battery.

​Beau Monde or 23Therapies - Pukekohe​
Both of these are beautiful day spas and beauty clinics offering facials, massages and beauty treatments for the people in your life who need a bit of pampering. Beau Monde vouchers here, and 23Therapies here!

​Living Being Well – Pukekohe​
Infrared sauna, red light therapy, oxygen-assisted cardio and vibra-plate sessions - basically a full wellness centre for tired bodies. See our feature below, or get over to their website here!

​Recovery Lane, Waiuku or Counties Recovery House, Pukekohe​
Gorgeous recovery centres with infra-red saunas, ice baths and compression therapy for all the active people in your life! Multi-pass packages make a great gift for sporty types, tradies or anyone whose joints sound like a glow-stick when they stand up (me!). Get the vouchers through their Instagram profiles!!

4. For food lovers & kitchen experimenters

​Nourish Holistic Nutrition – Cook & Eat Experiences (Waiuku)​
Group cooking classes and “Cook and Eat for Health” gatherings on a rural property - lots of whole foods, conversation and shared meals. Perfect for someone who wants to feel better but doesn’t want anything that feels like a diet or a lecture.
​Gift cards available here!​

​Pōkeno Whisky - Distillery tours & tastings​
New Zealand’s largest single malt whisky distillery is just down the road in Pōkeno. You can book a distillery tour with tastings on Saturdays - walk through the stills and warehouses, then finish with a guided tasting of their single malts. Great for the whisky nerd in your life (or the hard-to-buy-for dad/uncle/brother who definitely doesn’t need another Bunnings voucher)

​Pizzata - pizza courses, tastings & Italian long lunches​
Pizzata runs hands-on pizza-making classes, guided wine tastings and events like the Italian Long Table Lunch in Pukekohe (hundreds of people, one very long table, endless slices). Perfect for the pizza lovers in your life!

5. For the “get us out of the house” crowd

​Glenbrook Vintage Railway - Steam Train Experience​
Steam trains, stations, conductor hats… there’s a reason kids (and quite a few adults) lose their minds over it. Tickets or family passes make an excellent whānau gift, especially if you wrap them with a toy train or conductor cap.
​Find a trip or event to suit everyone!​

​Castaways & Karioitahi Beach​
A night away, a glam-camping stay, or just a lunch-and-beach-walk combo. Easy to DIY: gift card plus a little printed “itinerary” you make yourself.

Awhitu Peninsula Adventures & Pleasant Valley Blueberries​
Create your own “experience voucher” for an Awhitu Regional Park picnic, Manukau Heads Lighthouse visit, and a blueberry-picking stop with real fruit ice creams. Very low-tech, very high on memories.

How to wrap an experience 🎁

To make these feel fun under the tree:

• Print or handwrite a “ticket” or voucher, even if you’re just promising a DIY day out.
• Add a tiny prop to match: a mini candle with a candle workshop voucher, a toy train with railway tickets, a lavender sachet with a garden visit, a wooden spoon with a cooking class.
• Add one line that sets the scene: “Wear comfy clothes, we’re getting our hands covered in clay,” or “Pack your togs, we’re going adventuring.”

And this year, instead of adding to the cupboard of random stuff, you can fill 2026 with steam trains, clay-splattered aprons, spa robes, blueberry-stained fingers and family photos where everyone is actually in the frame.

Frankie Favourites: Living Being Well

Give the Gift of Actually Feeling Good This Christmas 🎄✨

Sure, you could buy your best friend some more “stuff”…or, you could gift them 30 minutes where no one needs them, no notifications are dinging, and their body finally gets to fully exhale...

​Living Being Well in Pukekohe is basically a little wellness clubhouse for grown-ups - complete with infrared sauna, full-body red light therapy, Vibra-Train, ThinAir adaptive oxygen therapy, naturopath/nutrition support, and even sunbeds for a safely managed glow! It’s all tucked away on Nelson Street, a local, family-owned team - headed by Angela - who are genuinely obsessed with helping people feel better in real life, not just on Instagram.

A gift voucher here isn’t just “one more thing” to clutter the house. It’s:

• A blissfully warm infrared sauna session to sweat out the year and de-stress tight shoulders.
• Full-body red light therapy to help tired, overworked skin look more alive (and yes, the anti-ageing benefits are a big fan favourite).
• Vibra-Train sessions that squeeze a proper workout into 15 minutes - perfect for the “no time but also my jeans are tight” crowd.
• A chat with their naturopath and weight-loss clinic if someone’s ready for deeper, more sustainable changes and is sick of quick fixes.

You can go cosy (a single sauna or red light session), generous (a wee bundle of treatments), or be the absolute Christmas hero and shout a mini “wellness reset” by loading up a bigger voucher for someone to use across different services. Living Being Well offers both memberships and casual options, so vouchers are easy to use whether they’re a total newbie or already wellness-curious.

This is also a brilliant option for:

• Tired mums who “don’t need anything” (lies).
• Tradies and desk-workers with sore backs and tight hips.
• Sporty teens or partners who’d love access to recovery options as well as training.
• That one person who’s really tricky to buy for but always takes care of everyone else.

To sort a voucher, get in touch with Angela and the team, via their website, email at info@livingbeingwell.co.nz or give them a call on 09 238 1951 - they’re super happy to talk you through options and help you match the right goodies to the right person.

And pop this on your own wish list, too. Future-you, stepping into a warm sauna on a dreary January day, will be very pleased with present-you.

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tesnus stoac

Unscramble the letters above to find the Franklin-related phrase! Answer at the bottom of the newsletter!

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Thursday

🎁 VIP Christmas Night at Botanical on Bowen​
Botanical on Bowen – 5:30pm
Festive late-night shopping with bubbles on arrival, goodie bags for the first 50 customers, storewide discounts and fun spot prizes. Follow here!​

🎄 Counties Energy Christmas Lights – Trains at Night​
Glenbrook Vintage Railway – 6–11pm
Magical Christmas light experience with illuminated trains, Santa visits, Christmas markets, food trucks and more. Tickets and details​

🌙 Luna Bites Night Market​
Navigation Homes Stadium – 5–9pm
Big night market with top food vendors, sweet treats, viral bakes, retail stalls and live entertainment. Free entry and family-friendly.

🪵 Fun & Social Pottery Workshop – Pokeno​
Pokeno Community Centre – 6–8pm
Stress-free, social pottery night with Waikato Mobile Pottery; make your own pieces in a fun, beginner-friendly session. Info and bookings​

🍹 Thursday Cocktail Happy Hour​
Little Ed – 6–7pm
All your favourite cocktails, just a little bit cheaper to ease you into the evening.

🎨 Y Studio – After School Art Club​
Waiuku Library & Pukekohe Library – 3:30–4:30pm
Drop-in creative studio for high schoolers to explore different art mediums and ideas with Franklin Arts Centre and Hariata; no bookings needed.

🧠 Quiz Trivia Night at Blue Ox Babe​
Blue Ox Babe – 7pm
Classic pub quiz vibes with teams, questions and plenty of laughs.

🚚 Food Trucks at Pukekohe Park Raceway​
Pukekohe Park Country Racetrack – 4:30–8:30pm
Weekly street food gathering with Thai, Asian, Mexican, Indian, Greek/Turkish, hāngi and gourmet burgers.

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Friday

🍔 Food Trucks at Roulston Street Carpark​
Roulston Street Carpark, Pukekohe – 4:30–8:30pm
Weekly food truck hub with an eclectic mix of international street food at competitive prices.

💄 Timeless Beauty – Makeup & Skincare for 50+​
Pukekohe Library – 10am
Festive, feel-good Clarins session for women 50+ with easy everyday makeup and skincare tips. Register via 027 303 1586 or email franklinoutreach@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

🧑‍💻 Waiuku Coding Makerspace​
Waiuku Library – 3:30–4:30pm
Fortnightly kids coding club (ages 7+) run by a local volunteer; limited spaces, registrations essential via franklinoutreach@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

🎶 Beats By Bingo – Christmas Edition at Bracu​
Bracu, 49 Main Road, Bombay – 6:30pm
Music bingo party with a two-course menu, Disco Dad on the decks, dance-offs and prizes. Tickets​

🎬 Paerata Rise Christmas Movie Night – The Santa Clause​
Green in front of Rise ’n Shine Café Paerata – from 8:50pm
Outdoor Christmas movie under the stars with free popcorn (while it lasts), giveaways and cosy festive vibes.

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Saturday

🎄 Karaka Christmas Market​
Karaka Learning Centre Hall, 113 Harbourside Drive – 9am–12:30pm
Country-style Christmas market with 75+ stalls, food, coffee, pony rides, face painting, live music and handmade gifts.

🎁 Pukekohe Christmas Fair​
Pukekohe Showgrounds – from 10am
Family Christmas fair with NZ-made gifts, crafts, indulgent food and drinks, kids’ activities and a visit from Santa.

🎡 Pukekohe Gypsy Fair​
Bledisloe Park, Pukekohe – 9am–5pm (two-day event)
Travelling fair with live music, house trucks, rides, handmade crafts and chill-out zones for an affordable family day out.

🎀 Furoshiki – Waste-Free Gift Wrapping Workshop​
Waiuku Zero Waste, 5 Hosking Place – 10–11:30am
Learn Japanese fabric wrapping techniques and sew your own reusable gift bag; free to register with koha for fabrics. Tickets​

🪓 Waiuku Axeman’s Annual Chop​
Waiuku Cosmopolitan Club – 9:30am–3:30pm (two-day event)
Woodchopping competition with local crews in action; support the team and enjoy the atmosphere across the weekend.

🎅 Possum Bourne Village Christmas Market Pop-Up​
Possum Bourne Village, 5 Lisle Farm Drive – 9am–1pm
Christmas market with stalls, fundraising for Bowel Cancer NZ, and a friendly village vibe; limited parking, so carpool or bus recommended.

🎨 Free Art Workshop with Margaret Feeney – Wild Animal Habitats​
Waiuku Community Hall, 8 King St – 11am–3pm
Create ceramic habitats for local wildlife with artist guidance; contact margaretfeeneyart@protonmail.com to register.

✂️ Christmas Crafts at Waiuku Library​
Waiuku Library – 10:30–11:30am
Drop-in craft session to make festive Christmas decorations.

🌙 Moon Bloom Markets Christmas Fair​
Spookers / 833 Kingseat Road, Kingseat – 1–7pm
Spooky Christmas market with Krampus photos, whimsical vendors, face painting, live music and café treats at Spookers.

👻 Sip ’n Spook Ceramic Painting Workshop​
At Moon Bloom Christmas Fair, Spookers – 4–6pm
Paint two handmade ceramic ghosts with all materials, glazing, firing and a complimentary drink included. Tickets​

🏮 Parol (Lantern) Making Competition – Awards Day​
Franklin: The Centre, 12 Massey Ave – 3:30–5:30pm
Celebrate Filipino Christmas lanterns with an exhibition, prizegiving and sustainable, creative designs.

🎉 Paskong Pinoy – Christmas Celebration​
Foyer, Franklin: The Centre, 12 Massey Ave – 3:30–5:30pm
Experience Filipino-style Christmas with festive displays and a warm community gathering for friends and whānau.

🎧 Little Ed Pre-Christmas Party​
Little Ed – from 5pm
Pre-Christmas bash with disco and house music from DJs Funky T and Coatsville Collective.

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Sunday

🛍️ Franklin Market at Pukekohe Park​
Pukekohe Park Raceway – from 8am
Upmarket Sunday market with produce, crafts, antiques, food trucks, live music and car boot stalls.

👟 STRIDE TRIBE Run Club – Sunday Session​
21 Martyn Street, Waiuku – 5pm
Free, pressure-free 3km walk/run for all paces and fitness levels; come for the movement and stay for the community. More info​

🧃 Your Sunday Coffee Run – Christmas Edition​
Your Local Coffee Brew Bar & Roastery, 173 Manukau Rd – 7am–12pm
Run or walk with friends, then enjoy Christmas-spiced cold brew and tart tastings with your local bakery and roastery.

🎄 Waiau Pa Christmas Market​
Waiau Pa School Events Centre, 571 Waiau Pa Road – 9am–1pm
Indoor/outdoor Christmas craft market with food, gifts, face painting, balloon twisting, ice cream and family fun.

🎭 Austen Found – Pukekohe​
2 Harrington Ave, Pukekohe – 7:30pm
Improvised Jane Austen-style musical comedy with acclaimed performers, full of swoons, laughs and sharp wit; rated PG 14.

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monday

🧠 Monday Quiz Night at Appetite​
Appetite – 7pm
Fun quiz night to kick off the week with questions, laughs and a bit of friendly competition.

🎲 Monday Board Game Night at Otakumart​
Otakumart – from 6pm
Free weekly board game evening; bring your own games or try something from the store’s collection in a relaxed setting.

🤱 Pilates, Prams & Coffee at the Park​
Seddon Park (next to Your Local Coffee Roasters, 3 West Street), 10:15am
A feel-good morning for mums and bubs (under 1). Enjoy a 45-minute pram-friendly pilates flow with Sam from The Wellness Club, then reward your tired self with a coffee and a relaxed catch-up with friends. More info & tickets​

🏋️ Kids Holiday Programme at CrossFit Pukekohe​
CrossFit Pukekohe – 11am–3pm
Holiday programme running weekdays with a kids’ CrossFit class, short nutrition lesson, fun activity and free play. $35 per day; register via info@crossfitpukekohe.com

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Tuesday

🎨 Painting Club at Franklin Arts Centre​
Franklin Arts Centre, 12 Massey Ave – 6–8pm
Bring your own painting project for two hours of focused creative time and connection with other local artists (term time only).

👟 STRIDE TRIBE Run Club – Tuesday Session​
21 Martyn Street, Waiuku – 7pm
Free 3km community walk/run with fun vibes and zero expectations; great midweek movement. More info​

🧠 Tuesday Quiz Night at Ed Street​
Ed Street, 27 Edinburgh Street – evening
Lively pub quiz with prizes and plenty of banter at Ed Street.

🧵 Tuesday Drop-Ins: Sew Your Own Fabric Gift Wrap​
Foyer outside Franklin Arts Centre, 12 Massey Ave – 10am–12pm
Drop-in sewing session to make reusable fabric gift wrap for a more sustainable Christmas; free event, no booking needed.

🍷 Italian Christmas Wine Tasting at Pizzata Deli​
Pizzata Deli, 5a/2 Glasgow Road – 6:30pm
Relaxed Italian tasting with bubbles, three sparkling wines, Aperol Spritz, limoncello cocktails, panettone and chocolates. Tickets​

🍸 Cocktail Experience at The Good Home​
The Good Home Pukekohe, 65 Edinburgh Street – 6:30pm
Interactive mixology night with cocktails from around the world, matching bites, stories behind the spirits, a take-home gift and spot prizes. Tickets​

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Wednesday

🍺 Malt ’n Steel Quiz Nights​
Malt ’n Steel, Waiuku – 7pm
Weekly quiz night for teams of 2–8 with prizes up for grabs; book ahead to secure a table. More info​

😂 Comedy Quiz Night at The Village Bar​
The Village Bar, Patumahoe – evening
Free midweek comedy pub quiz hosted by Crack-Up Quiz Nights; call 09 236 3571 to book your table.

🧑‍🎓 Anti-Social Social Club for Teens​
Pukekohe Library, 12 Massey Ave – 3:30pm
Inclusive after-school hangout for teens of all personalities with changing activities in a safe, relaxed space.

🧠 Wednesday Quiz Night at Ed Street​
Ed Street, 27 Edinburgh Street – evening
Midweek quiz session with fun questions and prizes at a local favourite spot.

🧱 Wednesday Drop-Ins: Air-Dry Clay Decorations​
Foyer outside Franklin Arts Centre, 12 Massey Ave – 10am–12pm
Create your own air-dry clay Christmas decorations; free drop-in craft session, no bookings needed.

🎄 Beats By Bingo – Christmas Show at The Franklin​
Franklin Taphouse & Kitchen – 7:30pm
Festive musical bingo hosted by Disco Dad with throwback tunes, Christmas bangers and prizes; free to play, book a table with The Franklin.

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Word Scramble answer: Sunset Coast

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