The soil around Pukekohe is a deep chocolate red, the gift of old volcanoes, and it grows a startling share of New Zealand's vegetables. Market gardens, many started by Chinese and Indian immigrants in the twentieth century, cover the slopes with neat rows of onions, potatoes and greens, and the area remains one of the most productive horticultural districts in the country. Pukekohe East is a rural community on the low hills to the east of the town, with long views over the fields.
The landscape is part of the South Auckland volcanic field, a scattering of eroded cones, tuff rings and craters, softer and older than the volcanoes of Auckland itself. Pukekohe Hill, the most prominent, rises above the town, and the Bombay Hills to the east mark the traditional boundary between Auckland and the Waikato. On a clear day, the views stretch across the Manukau Harbour and to the Hunua Ranges.
Pukekohe also has a place in motorsport history. Its racetrack hosted the New Zealand Grand Prix for many years, drawing famous drivers from around the world, and it remains a venue for horse racing. The roads around it are pleasant, rolling and fairly quiet, with sweeping bends over the hills and through farmland. Watch for tractors and trucks carrying produce, and for mud on the road near farm entrances. The weather can change quickly, with showers sweeping in from the Tasman.
Pukekohe has plenty of fuel stations, supermarkets and cafés. Roadside stalls sell fresh vegetables and fruit in season. It suits a short halt before heading north through Auckland towards Northland and the Bay of Islands, a long ride through farmland, forests and along the coast.