Titirangi: Rustic beauty

This hidden paradise boasts heaps of character wrapped up in a cute bach-style home with modern interiors. By CHARLOTTE COSSAR.

Yes, it does have a quaint village feel, is surrounded by exceptional stands of native bush and handy to the infamous west coast beaches, but I am still surprised by the die-hard passion Titirangi residents express for the area.

One such homeowner is Victor Hopwood, who with son Adrian Hopwood, owns this picturesque cottage in Otitori Bay Rd.

Victor, who moved to New Zealand in the 1960s, was living in Royal Oak when he first discovered the hidden paradise of Titirangi and its rustic charm.

"It must have been about 1962 or 1963 and I had an old Triumph sports car. I went for a bit of a drive and discovered Titirangi. I just fell in love with it."

Attracted by its remoteness and complete lack of any urban traps, Victor made the decision to make Titirangi his home - and he hasn't left.

"One doesn't travel 12,000 miles in order to live in suburban England again," says Victor.

Loving the bush because it was a complete contrast to anything he had ever known, Victor built his first home in nearby Beach Rd, where he lived for 25 years.

Having to find a home for his son Adrian, who was moving up from Tauranga, Victor found this cottage three years ago. Caught up in the emotion of the auction, Victor just had to have it.

"It was like all the other places in the last 40 years that I have lived in in Titirangi, it seemed to have the potential for so much sun and light. It grabbed me."

Victor attributes the love affair with the house to its rustic appearance that reminded him of the baches that were so prevalent the first time he saw the area. "It was just like a little photograph of the times back when I first came here."

Built in 1942 by a lady who lived in Takapuna and used it to retire to at the weekend, the cottage, as described by Victor, looked like Dracula's kitchen when he bought it. "It could only be inhabited by a male - it was doom and gloom, you had to have a torch on even in daylight."

With only one bedroom, two conservatories along the western side, a bathroom and a small living area, Victor and Adrian have completely transformed the cottage into a modern, light and spacious home.

With views out one side to the Manukau Harbour and the other to Huia, Adrian has injected bright colours into the home to match his retro furniture. Splashes of grey, purple, greens and blue line the walls, and are stunningly offset with kauri floorboards and white cork tiles.

Warmed by an open fireplace, the cosy lounge flows to the kitchen and opens to the garden, while two bedrooms and a bathroom are along a small hallway.

Surrounded by beautiful bush, with a reserve on one side, the home is only minutes from the village and two beaches are at the bottom of the road.

Although the pair haven't done anything to the outside of the home, it awaits an owner wanting to inject their own touch to the garden.

Bush Haven, as it is named with a sign hanging above the door, has loads of potential for buyers looking for a bush retreat discreetly removed from the urban hum.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 9 Otitori Bay Rd, Titirangi.

FEATURES: A two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage surrounded by native bush and exceptional kauri; open fireplace; contemporary kitchen and bathroom; minutes from Titirangi village and two beaches; garage; off-street parking for three vehicles; development potential.

SIZE: Land area 1012sq m.

AUCTION: On site, August 8, at midday.

AGENTS: Jan Fleet and Shannon Webber, Harveys, Blockhouse Bay. Ph Jan 021 377 030 mob; Shannon 021 337 134 mob.