As we drove along the windy road towards Titirangi, the landscape grew more lush, and I wondered why we don’t visit West Auckland more often. Our destination was Te Uru, a contemporary gallery nestled in this bohemian community that sits at the edge of a subtropical rain forest, only an hour from our home.
By the time we arrived in Titirangi, we were hungry. The recommended Hardware Cafe lived up to its reputation. Filled with locals and tourists, it is the place to be in this town. My salad was loaded with both chicken, feta and the most delicious roasted nuts I have had. The coffee was perfect. We sat just inside, enjoying the outdoors through the wide-open windows.
Next, we took a walk on Titirangi Road. Here we found stores with names like Gecko in the Village (New Zealand made gifts), Murray Gray’s Gone West Books (a used book store), The Fairy Flower Shop (obvious from the name), plus art galleries and more cafes. Lopdell House, the former Titirangi Hotel (1930), is home to the “Upstairs Art Gallery” and has rooftop views worth climbing the stairs to see (so we were told after we had left). There is so much to do everywhere in Auckland.
Finally, we arrived at our destination, Te Uru: Waitakere Contemporary Gallery, one of my favourite museums in the region. We were greeted by a visitor host and even given a mini-tour. I hate to admit this, but I went in with a preconceived expectation to be disappointed as I am not a fan of modern art. This award-winning, purpose-built, contemporary gallery changed my perspective. The building itself is a work of art, utilising both natural and diffused light, the spectacular surrounding rain forest, and open spaces to create an inviting atmosphere.
Between the building and eclectic displays, I was fascinated. I think the tour helped as I previously never understood modern art. Te Uru doesn’t hold a collection of its own and changes the visiting exhibits at least every three months. The word “art” was strategically left out of their name to allow other contemporary exhibits like jewellery, textiles, photography, music and more. It’s a place to visit frequently, and free entry makes it easy to do.
They have a strong connection with local Maori Iwi, and their name was derived from Te hau a uru, the wind that blows from the west, bringing a message and vision, change and direction.
Practical Information:
- The Hardware Cafe is located at 404 Titirangi Road and opens every day at 6 am, with late nights from Wednesday to Saturday.
- Te Uru: Waitakere Contemporary Gallery is located at 420 Titirangi Road. Open every day from 10am-4.30. It opened in 2014.
- We try to always make a stop in Titirangi on our way to the West Auckland rainforest or beaches.
Have you been to Titirangi? Do you enjoy contemporary art? Do you venture out and explore the far corners of your own city?
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Jub
Interesting. Am heading up to Auckland next week, so will definitely keep Titirangi in mind. Like yourself, need to give Auckland more of a chance
Rhonda Albom
While you are there, be sure to visit the Waitakere Ranges for a walk through the nearby rainforest.
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The salad is an attractive dish. I love to try it once. It would be great to take the tasty flavor and make it myself. Thanks.
Rhonda Albom
Good idea, I think I will add a few strawberries to my lunch salad today.
Eileen g
I would enjoy visiting the Museumwith my daughter. Her opinions on modern art are spontaneous and frank. And often very funny. The cafe looks great!
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. It’s always fun to go to places like this with younger kids who speak their mind.
Linda Bibb
It appears you and I have similar tastes in salads, Rhonda. Yours looks delicious! I’ll confess I’d enter a modern art gallery with much the same preconception. I’ve not yet learned to appreciate it.
Rhonda Albom
Next time, just ask for a tour. Once it makes sense, I liked it.
Travelera
Hi again!
This looks a great place! I have never tried the salad with strawberries, it is yummy 🙂
xxx
Rhonda Albom
This was my first salad with strawberries too, but it won’t be my last!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks.
Marcia
That is a huge and lovely gallery. I’m trying to imagine how something similar would fit into the New York art scene. I can’t think of anything that we have that’s similar. It’s a gorgeous space. Do you know if they get government or corporate funding?
Rhonda Albom
Good question, and I don’t know how they get their funding outside of donations.
Yvonne @ Lost with Yvonne
That staircase is absolutely beautiful and with all that light and beautiful views! I would visit that just to see and take pictures of that!
Rhonda Albom
LOL – that’s pretty much what I did.
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor
I know someone who used to live there, but I can’t say that I ever took the time to explore the town. Now, I wish I had. Looks like a wonderfully delicious and nutritious salad.
Rhonda Albom
Next time. When will you be back?
Lyndall
Titirangi looks intriguing. It would be worth a visit just to enjoy one of those delicious salads! 🙂
Rhonda Albom
The salad was fresh and outstanding.
Brooke
The stairways of the art museum are just as impressive as the displays! Your food looks delicious too! It’s always great to find an open-air cafe where you can be outside and not feel shut in.
Rhonda Albom
The entire building is impressive.
Open air cafes are very common here in New Zealand.
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Wow! I loved looking at all these pictures and learning about a new place. I have never been- but feel like I know a lot more after reading this post. The school setting is so clean and fresh. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
That education room was huge, what a wonderful spot for kids.
Jen
That salad looks amazing and the town seems like it would be a great place to just explore. Thanks for sharing with us at Photo Friday!
Rhonda Albom
Yes, my next visit will be to just walk the city.
Jill
What a cool spot – both the town and the gallery! Love the staircase and the cafe – just have to keep adding places to my wish list!
Rhonda Albom
LOL, my list is getting long too 🙂
Corinne
Rhonda, This looks like such a fun and beautiful place! Gorgeous photos, as always!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Corinne.
Joyce
Looks cool. I want a bite of salad.
Rhonda Albom
Too late, I ate it all.
Ruth - Tanama Tales
This place is gorgeous! I have noticed that I enjoy art (I should say I enjoy more) when things are explained to me, when stories are told or when the artist’s vision is explained. It is life the work of art is alive in front of me. The other thing I have discovered is that I like modern art. What I do not like that much is contemporary art.
Rhonda Albom
I agree, understanding it makes such a difference. I am not sure I know the difference between modern and contemporary art.
bettyl-NZ
Sounds like a great place to spend some time. Very artistic variety.
Rhonda Albom
I hope to get back to Titirangi sometime soon.
stevebethere
What an interesting place got to agree about the salad I love a good salad 🙂
I love that lantern heheh!
Have a tanfabulosa weekend Rhonda 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Auckland is such a diverse city, and that is the best salad I have had in a restaurant. The entire gallery was interesting, but Gallery 5 was my favourite.
Anda
Titirangi, a name with a strange resonance for sure. This seems like a very modern town. I love to stroll through the small art galleries whenever I visit a place like this. They are my favorite.
Rhonda Albom
You got me curious, so I looked it up in the Maori dictionary: Titirangi: 1. (noun) Hebe speciosa – shrub 1-2 m tall with stout branchlets. Adult leaves glossy slightly recurved at the margin. Flowers magenta. Found on a few coastal cliff tops in both the North and South Islands.
Kacy
The view through that staircase window is stunning, it certainly seems like Titirangi is a beautiful place to visit. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
The funny thing is that as I started walking up, I was just looking ahead. It took a moment to turn my head, then I stood frozen for a while, just smiling and taking it all in.
Lydia C. Lee
I love to explore the city – we go to the outskirts just to see what’s there…
Rhonda Albom
Me too, and more often than not we find real treasures like Te Uru.
Lexa Cain
The salad looks yummy! I think it’s cute a a store named itself the Gecko. lol! That staircase sure is pretty, I bet it’s kinda cool to be in it when it rains. Thanks for sharing your journey and have an awesome weekend!
Rhonda Albom
I also liked the name Hardware Cafe. The charming names are so perfect for this town.
Paula McInerney
Haven’t been there but would certainly love to. You are showing us so many interesting plaes.
Rhonda Albom
I am having a blast exploring my city.
Amy
oh I just love places like this! I haven’t been out west auckland in a long time
Rhonda Albom
The Waitakeres are really incredible. I will blog about them soon, but Titirangi is the perfect starting point for the day.
Comedy Plus
How fun and that salad looks wonderful. I love a great salad. I’m also so proud of you for continuing to work on your health. That rocks.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Sandee. I am now downn 20kg (44 pounds), with less than 5kg to go. My remission hasn’t stopped me from reaching my goals. I feel so much better.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
That salad looks scrumptious Rhonda. To be honest, I’ve found it difficult to understand modern art. Some parts look interesting but most of it very confusing at times. I enjoy the old type of art. Maybe it because I’m getting old. Ha,ha,ha.
Have a great Friday my friend. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
I am really into healthy foods, and finding salads this fresh and wonderful is a real treat. As for modern art, ask for a curator to explain it, it makes quite a difference. I am a fan of the Renaissance, and I am not that old.
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – I spotted them hiding away – but makes sense to be indoors yet outside. Your salad looks delicious and that’s what I’d have. The gallery looks wonderful – full of interesting ideas. That yellow staircase is just wonderful to see – such a great idea. I’d definitely add the west coast to my list of things to see and Titirangi would be right up there … wonderful photos – cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
They weren’t actually hiding, it was the only free table in the front when we arrived. You will love the gallery, and the town.
shere
I haven’t been there, but indeed the building looks like a piece of art itself. Definetely something to see in a future visit.
Rhonda Albom
Reading between the lines, that means you are coming back to New Zealand. If we are here when you are in Auckland, I hope you will stay with us.
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
It looks very interesting!
Rhonda Albom
It’s a delightful town.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
That salad looks so delicious right now. I don’t visit small art galleries very much, but I think that this place looks interesting, although I suspect it’s the architecture and the view that I’m drawn to rather than the exhibit. The stairs really stand out so nicely, and I like that big lantern.
Rhonda Albom
It was really fresh and wonderful. So many of the really yummy ingredients are buried under the top layer of lettuce, but it just didn’t “look” as pretty after I tossed it. As for Te Uru, I think it was the architecture that drew me in at first, and opened me up to enjoy the art. That room with the defusing lantern was so cool to see live, but nothing compares to that staircase.