It is an affluent, residential suburb located 13 km (8.1 mi) to the southwest of the Auckland city centre, at the southern end of the Waitākere Ranges.

[4] Titirangi is bordered to the south by Manukau Harbour, to the west and north west by the rest of the Waitākere Ranges' native bush clad hills consisting of the large Centennial Memorial Park and water catchment areas which supply much of Auckland's water.

The Waitākere Ranges lie on the west coast of the North Island in the path of the prevailing winds from the Tasman and consequently attract a high rainfall.

[5] There is a short scenic walk, with expansive views of Titirangi Village and the Manukau and Waitemata harbours.

There is also 'Zig Zag Track' walk, which winds its way through native bush from the village centre to Titirangi Beach.

Exhibition Drive, a well-formed track very popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists, is located 1.5 km (0.93 mi) from the village centre.

The area is within the traditional rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki, an iwi that traces their ancestry to some of the earliest inhabitants of the Auckland Region.

[6] The name Tītīrangi was chosen for the area by Rakataura, the senior tohunga of the Tainui migratory canoe.

For communities in the south of Titirangi, most contact to the outside world was through docks along the Manukau Harbour, which linked the settlements to the port of Onehunga.

Artists include Tanu Gogo Emily Karaka, Cora-Allan Wickliffe, Judy Millar, Luise Fong, Eve Armstrong, Lisa Reihana and Ava Seymour.

[25] Titirangi is characterised by houses built within the native bush of the Waitākere Ranges, sometimes with views of the Manukau Harbour.

Other areas surrounding Titirangi include Oratia, Nihotupu, Glen Eden, Woodlands Park, Laingholm and Waiatarua.

[33] A number of well known New Zealand musicians, artists, writers and potters currently live or have lived in the area, including singer/songwriter Tim Finn (who wrote the song "I Hope I Never" there), actress Alma Evans-Freake, author Maurice Shadbolt, feminist artist Alexis Hunter, photographers Brian Brake and David Prentice, poet John Caselberg, potter Len Castle and glass artist Ann Robinson.

Designed by student artist-jeweller Lisa Higgins in 1993, it was originally erected with the intention of only being in place for five years but has remained permanently.

[36] An active local theatre, cinema, community art gallery and radio station are based in historic Lopdell House.