Kopupaka Playground is a children's playground at Paparimu, in the rural Franklin district south of Auckland, and it holds a 4.7 rating on Google. A good playground earns its keep by giving children of different ages something to climb, swing and balance on, with soft-fall surfacing underfoot and shade and seating nearby so parents can linger. In country districts like Franklin, a playground often doubles as a meeting point, a reason for families from outlying roads to catch up while the children burn off energy. When choosing one, locals tend to look for a fence between the equipment and the road, and in summer an early visit beats the midday heat — hats, drink bottles and a picnic stretch a short stop into a proper outing. For families around Paparimu, Kopupaka makes a ready-made afternoon out in the Franklin countryside.