Karekare Beach
Karekare Beach is one of the natural surfing locations. Wild and unspoiled with a magnificent black sand beach. To get there follow the steep and narrow Karekare Road that sets off Piha Road.
Winding downhill with occasionally glimpses of Paratahi Island the car park is reached. The valley is surrounded mainly by regional parkland.
At the end of the parking area a Maori sculpture relates to the memory of the Te-Kawerau -a-Maki iwi (tribe) and their historical bonds to this place. Once, four settlements were spread around the valley. After a battle the land was left deserted. To the present day the Te-Kawerau-a-Maki iwi remains bearer of the spiritual guardianship to this land.
By balancing over a stone crossing the stream is passed over. The path leads alongside the sand dunes and the surf club dwarfed by the Watchman to the centre of the beach. Children are often magnetized to the lagoon before the surf club. It becomes their sanctuary of safe water fun.
Nestled in the dunes to the left are the remains of the former surf club building. The ruin comes and goes with the transformation of the sand dunes. So do the bolts of the old timber tramline at Karekare Point. At the beach only one constant exists and that is change. Sand is ever moving by wind, weather and tides influencing the beaches appearance.
Generally surfing Karekare is fine on all tides and best on incoming tide. The more popular area is the Farley Point on the northern end. On busy days more experienced surfers might choose the southern area of Karekare.
VIATOR offers bookable surfing lessons at Auckland's west coast surfing locations. With the help of a qualified surf instructor participients get to know the west coast and how to enjoy the coast best.
The
thumbnail leads to play a photo puzzle online.
This is a monthly e-zine. Subscribe and you will always be up to date with what is added to this site.
The
thumbnail leads to e-cards
of NZ beaches.
Karekare is all year round attractive. During summer it is one
of the west coast’s popular surfing locations. All
year round visitors enjoy the walks starting in this valley. Special
guests like seals and penguins come occasionally during the winter
months. Combined with the range on weather conditions at the coast each
visit becomes a little adventure.
Do it the kiwi way to have great holidays in New Zealand
From
traveller to traveller:
Photo
invitations features vacation stories
Best
travel tips
Return
from surfing locations to beach vacations.
Return
to home of New Zealand vacations in West Auckland.
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.