Karekare Beach and Falls
Auckland
Karekare Beach gained wider attention due to its starring role in the 1993 film The Piano. The secluded black sandy beach is situated on the west coast of Auckland, 35 kilometres from downtown Auckland.
The more popular Piha Beach that features the iconic Lion Rock is close by, and is a favourite amongst the surfing community is close by. However on the way to Piha beach, it's well worth taking a left turn off Piha Road and following the road to Karekare. The main carpark is only a 10 minute walk from the beach, which can be accessed via couple of different trails. From the carpark to the beach also runs a stream with clear water.
The picture perfect, quiet beach features towering cliff headlands, large black sand dunes and powerful surf that make it such a photogenic location.
The Karekare falls is situated about 15 mins walk from the beach or about 7 minutes from the main car park on Karekare Rd. Up the road from the carpark is the La Trobe Track which leads to the beautiful falls. As you walk down the track, you will first be welcomed by the wonderful Opal Pool Stream Cascade. As you walk a little further down the track, you will be rewarded with the stunning view of the Karekare falls.
There is plenty of shade near the falls for you to pull out your mat and relax, especially on a sunny day. The watefall forms a pool at the bottom where you can enjoy a nice swim. This is an area where you will feel completely surrounded by nature.
Both the beach and the falls are part of the Karekare Regional Park, which includes a small camping site (McCreadies Paddock Campground), plenty of walking tracks and a few picnic areas.
