Karekare Beach
Auckland, North Island
Karekare Beach, a wild black-sand cove surrounded by cliffs, is typical of rural West Auckland and a popular getaway from Auckland city. Part of Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, it’s where people come to walk on the beach and to the impressive Karekare Falls, spot birds, admire the views, and surf or swim.
The basics
While it’s part of Auckland city, Karekare Beach feels far away from the urban sprawl. The coast here is wild and often rough, and the glittering volcanic sands provide a moody contrast to the white sands of Auckland’s east coast. If you see the black sweep of the beach and think it could be the setting for some neo-Gothic romance, you wouldn’t be alone: Karekare Beach was a setting in the 1993 Oscar-winning film The Piano.
Travelers often drive to Karekare Beach or see it as part of a tour. Some guided tours of the West Auckland coast and Waitākere Ranges stop there, along with Piha Beach and Karekare Falls.
Things to know before you go
- Karekare Beach is often patrolled by lifeguards between late spring and early autumn; when it is, only swim between the flags. Stay out of the water when it’s unpatrolled.
- Dogs are not permitted on the beach, as this is a regional park.
- If you’re in no hurry to return to Auckland, stay to check out the sunset, which is especially beautiful from here.
How to get there
Karekare Beach is about 1 hour by car from central Auckland. The last couple of miles of road to the beach are particularly windy, with blind corners, so drive carefully and slowly. There’s no public transportation out here, so if you aren’t driving, taking a tour is the way to go.
When to get there
The beach is popular in the summer, especially during the New Zealand summer holidays (late December to early February). While there’s a parking lot at the beach, it can overflow when it’s busy, making parking a challenge. (The beach is about a 10-minute walk from the parking lot.) It’s typically much less busy in other seasons, especially on weekdays. There’s 24-hour pedestrian access to the beach, but the access gates to the parking lot are only open between early morning and evening (seasonal hours).
Visit the Muriwai Gannet Colony
North of Karekare along the coast is the Muriwai Gannet Colony, a must-visit attraction for bird enthusiasts. Around 1,200 pairs of (noisy, smelly!) gannets nest here between August and March. The birds are rambunctious and entertaining, as well as beautiful, and the views of the cliffy coastline are spectacular, too.
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