Wildlife, bush and nearby cafes make this a perfect spot for a private couple, writes Diana Clement.
Tucked in the bush and overlooking the Manukau Harbour, Laingholm attracts two sorts of people - hermits who tuck themselves away out of sight, and the community minded folk who devour every word of the Laingholm Roundabout freesheet and get involved in Laingholm School activities. Jim Janse and Myrddin Gwynedd chose the suburb for its privacy. Jim runs real estate marketing company panoview and Myrddin is a self-employed celebrity news and gossip blogger who writes Oh, The Scandal! and Blogger Bites Back.
Myrddin: "We were renting in this area before we bought. We came to an open home even though we had no intention of buying the house but we fell in love.
"It was a home and income with a flat underneath and we realised we could afford it.
"We love this area and our house in spades. We love the aspect and the outlook. From the deck you can see Muddy Creek and South Titirangi. The house is enclosed by bush and we feel privileged to be here. We've got wood pigeons, rosellas, tui and a resident morepork.
"I grew up in a very isolated community in North Wales and we are both big on seclusion. So this place is perfect. Yet it is only 25 minutes by car to downtown Auckland.
"Jim has photographed a lot of houses around here in Laingholm and they have incredible 180 degree views. Yet properties here have a lower profile and are cheaper than Titirangi because the area is not perceived as equally desirable."
Jim and Myrddin's picks:
* Laingholm Beach: We both work long hours and when we need to blow away the cobwebs we stroll down to Laingholm beach, which takes about 10 minutes. It's a small and intimate beach. If this was Britain we would be surrounded by a mass of people, yet we often have the whole beach to ourselves.
* Hardware Cafe: There aren't any cafes in Laingholm, so we usually go to the Hardware Cafe in Titirangi. I have meetings there with my designer and developer and Jim uses it for networking with real estate agents. It's our office away from home. 404 Titirangi Road. Ph (09) 817 5059, thehardwarecafe.co.nz
* Fairy Falls walk: We often go for bush walks especially around the Arataki Visitor Centre. Our favourite is the Fairy Falls Track. Arataki Visitor Centre, Scenic Drive.
* Titirangi Village Market: We love going to this market. It's on the last Sunday of every month. Most items for sale are by local craftspeople and artists and there is live folk music. There is always tasty stuff to nibble on and it has a nice vibe. One of my favourite things I bought there was a driftwood shelf. Titirangi War Memorial Hall, 500 South Titirangi Rd, Titirangi. titirangi-village-market.co.nz
* Titirangi Post Office: It's not the most obvious "favourite place", but we really love the personal, efficient service we get from the owners (Shrikand and Aboli Bhave). Unit 1/ 400 Titirangi Rd Titirangi, ph (09) 817 3080.
* Bunga Raya Restaurant: It's probably stretching it to say this is in our neighbourhood. But the Bunga Raya Malaysian Restaurant is our favourite. It's only a 10-minute drive from home and we go there restaurant when we don't want to cook. 3062 Great North Rd, New Lynn, ph (09) 827 8666.
* Other favourite places: Toby's Restaurant at 120 Park Rd, Titirangi, ph (09) 817 2022, Takahe Restaurant, 421 Titirangi Rd, ph (09) 817 5057, and the Tavola Bakery & Cafe, Lopdell House, 418 Titirangi Rd, ph (09) 817 8549
