Victoria’s guidebook to Lovely Local
Nature bathing in the West
The west is a special place with more opportunities for nature bathing and rejuvenating than you could wish for. We are surrounded by the Waitakere Ranges with forests, bays and beaches on our doorstep. Enjoy some gentle shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) and come back feeling rejuvenated, regulated and nourished, or walk on the beaches for energy, a fluid heart and open mind.
Views, black sands, wild swims (or not!), and surfing. Enjoy an invigorating walk on the beach and excellent light food and drinks at the surf club afterwards (open in summer). In winter it's wild and you'll feel you have been fully communing with the elements.
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Piha
Views, black sands, wild swims (or not!), and surfing. Enjoy an invigorating walk on the beach and excellent light food and drinks at the surf club afterwards (open in summer). In winter it's wild and you'll feel you have been fully communing with the elements.
Wild beautiful nature, more black sand beaches, rock pools and access to scenic walks. A great location for photography, or just resting or ambling along the beach. Take a picnic and watch the sun set over the sea. In summer there is a Caravan Cafe near the beach offering coffee, cakes and other light snacks. A favourite with locals. And a special place for blowing away the cobwebs, grounding into your body and feeling the privilege of access to such awesome nature.
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Bethells Beach
Wild beautiful nature, more black sand beaches, rock pools and access to scenic walks. A great location for photography, or just resting or ambling along the beach. Take a picnic and watch the sun set over the sea. In summer there is a Caravan Cafe near the beach offering coffee, cakes and other light snacks. A favourite with locals. And a special place for blowing away the cobwebs, grounding into your body and feeling the privilege of access to such awesome nature.
Visit absolutely beautiful small-cove beach after a drive through winding west coast scenery and a 25 minute walk through forest to get down to the beach. Either for medium fitness, or you can take it really easy, double the time and don't worry about the creaky joints and not-so-spiffy muscles!
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Anawhata Beach
Visit absolutely beautiful small-cove beach after a drive through winding west coast scenery and a 25 minute walk through forest to get down to the beach. Either for medium fitness, or you can take it really easy, double the time and don't worry about the creaky joints and not-so-spiffy muscles!
A great place to find out more about the area, get maps and guides for forest and beach walks and enjoy stunning views out over the Waitakere ranges and waters. A few walks start directly from the centre into the bush in all directions. Finish off with delicious Danish ice creams in a cone. Or take a picnic to enjoy on the lawn or the sightseeing platform. Or carry on to Piha for lunch at the Piha Cafe.
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Arataki Visitor Centre - Waitakere Ranges
300 Scenic DrA great place to find out more about the area, get maps and guides for forest and beach walks and enjoy stunning views out over the Waitakere ranges and waters. A few walks start directly from the centre into the bush in all directions. Finish off with delicious Danish ice creams in a cone. Or take a picnic to enjoy on the lawn or the sightseeing platform. Or carry on to Piha for lunch at the Piha Cafe.
Lots of really beautiful walks in the area. The Waitakere Ranges is a rainforest area bursting with native trees, shrubs and birds. There are many walks within the ranges, many only 10 mins or so from Titirangi village. Get info from your host or the Arataki Visitors Centre on Scenic Drive, or download maps online.
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Waitakere Ranges Regional Parkland
Lots of really beautiful walks in the area. The Waitakere Ranges is a rainforest area bursting with native trees, shrubs and birds. There are many walks within the ranges, many only 10 mins or so from Titirangi village. Get info from your host or the Arataki Visitors Centre on Scenic Drive, or download maps online.
Food scene
A local favourite with generous and tasty portions of home cooking. Friendly and welcoming staff, lovely venue with open air verandah, hanging plants and a great vibe. One of our favourites. Five minutes from our home.
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Park Road Kitchen
120 Park RdA local favourite with generous and tasty portions of home cooking. Friendly and welcoming staff, lovely venue with open air verandah, hanging plants and a great vibe. One of our favourites. Five minutes from our home.
Best sushi, fresh, delicious and innovative. 5 minutes from home.
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Soy & Ginger
416 Titirangi RdBest sushi, fresh, delicious and innovative. 5 minutes from home.
Interesting decor - turkish-come-Scandi style with blue turkish tiles, crisp white louvred dividers, lovely custom crockery, glasses and turkish details. Good coffee and cakes and a Middle Eastern menu. Definitely worth a visit.
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Deco Eatery Cafe
418 Titirangi RdInteresting decor - turkish-come-Scandi style with blue turkish tiles, crisp white louvred dividers, lovely custom crockery, glasses and turkish details. Good coffee and cakes and a Middle Eastern menu. Definitely worth a visit.
Consistent good quality food. Best coffee in the village and a peaceful spot to read the paper. They offer gorgeous vegan banana bread and gluten free chocolate cake, amongst lots of other hot food cooked with flair.
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Vevo
400 Titirangi RdConsistent good quality food. Best coffee in the village and a peaceful spot to read the paper. They offer gorgeous vegan banana bread and gluten free chocolate cake, amongst lots of other hot food cooked with flair.
Market musts
Last Sunday of the month from 10 -2pm. People come from everywhere and the village bustles with visitors. The market is full of good quality local craft including jewellery, artworks, wood carving, great market food, delicious home made goodies to take away, plants, fresh veggies and often locally made cheese.
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Titirangi War Memorial Hall
500 S Titirangi RdLast Sunday of the month from 10 -2pm. People come from everywhere and the village bustles with visitors. The market is full of good quality local craft including jewellery, artworks, wood carving, great market food, delicious home made goodies to take away, plants, fresh veggies and often locally made cheese.
Art and crafts
Our own stunning gallery in Titirangi village, second only to the Auckland Art Gallery. It hosts a number of exhibitions ongoing, has a great gallery shop with work from local artists, jewellers, ceramicists and New Zealand writers etc. Views from the glass encased staircase take you over the bays and forests.
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Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery
420 Titirangi RdOur own stunning gallery in Titirangi village, second only to the Auckland Art Gallery. It hosts a number of exhibitions ongoing, has a great gallery shop with work from local artists, jewellers, ceramicists and New Zealand writers etc. Views from the glass encased staircase take you over the bays and forests.
Tipps für Reisende
Verkehrsmittel
Buses are best from Titirangi
Buses can get you to the city or to a local train station (New Lynn) from which you can get trains to the city and surrounding suburbs. App based taxi services are also useful. Or use 'Cheap Cabs' they have been very reliable for us and really are the cheapest.
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Layers, and a rain jacket!
Apart from the long warm days of mid-summer (December to end Feb), the weather changes through the day so the best is to layer. Winter you need rain jackets and more layers. As the saying goes 'if you don't like the weather wait 5 minutes'! 😃Light walking shoes if you want to walk in the forests or shoes that don't mind mud in winter.