Comans Track is a hiking area at Kaukapakapa in Rodney, north of Auckland, and carries a 4.8 Google rating.
Rural tracks around Auckland test the footwear: the region's clay turns slick after rain, so sturdy shoes and a quick check on conditions before setting out are worth the trouble. These parts are kauri country too, where walkers are asked to clean their boots at hygiene stations and respect any track closures, because kauri dieback spreads on soil stuck to shoes. Summer brings heat, long grass and the odd stream crossing, and supplies will mean a drive back into the village rather than a shop at the trailhead. Regulars tend to go early, ahead of the sun and the farm traffic.
For a quiet taste of Rodney's rural walking without heading further afield, Comans Track is right there at Kaukapakapa.