Introduction

Piha & Karekare

Two of Auckland’s best-known beaches are Piha and Karekare. Piha is famous for its black sand and big waves, while Karekare was the location for the NZ film “The Piano”. No trip to Auckland is complete without visiting one or both of these wild beaches. There are lots of excellent hikes out here so more than one trip may be required.

Get out of town!

Take the north western motorway (highway 16) west before taking the Te Atatu off ramp (13). Follow Te Atatu Road before turning right at the roundabout onto Edmonton Road. Turn right at the next roundabout and then immediately left into Alderman Drive. Continue straight through at the lights (becomes Henderson Valley Road) and turn left onto Forest Hill Road (at the petrol station). Follow this road as it winds up the hill, turn right onto West Coast and then right again onto Scenic Drive. Finally turn left onto Piha Road and follow this crazy road through bush until you reach Piha Beach. You will pass the turn off to Karekare Beach on your left just before reaching Piha.

Travel times

It will take you just under an hour to get to Piha or Karekare. The trip along a windy road through lush forest is pleasant.

Safety

If you do go swimming at either beach make sure you swim between the flags. Piha is particularly dangerous. So much so that a TV show “Piha Surf Rescue” is filmed out here. So unless you want to be embarrassed on NZ TV stay between the flags.

Stay/Eat/Drink

Stay

The sunsets from these West Coast beaches are fabulous. So stick around and watch the sun go down over the Tasman Sea. If you want to stay the night there is a commercial camping ground close to the beach. You might also try one of these two places... they both look great: Piha Beachstay & Black Sands Lodge

Eat and drink

The Piha store only has basic supplies but has a good selection of treats. The Piha Cafe has opened now at Piha so check that out as well. There are no shops at Karekare.

What to DO

Must do!

The Pararaha Hike at Karekare is awesome and is probably the best day walk in the Waitakeres.

At Piha:

• If you are brave try surfing – a couple of places rent out boards but be warned Piha is no place for the faint hearted and inexperienced. The waves are normally big and mean. If you haven’t surfed before we would recommend a lesson. NZ Surf Tours run excellent “learn to surf” packages to Piha and many other locations.
   
• Go for a swim – Piha is super dangerous and is famous for its rip so stay between the flags please!!
   
• Walk along the wild black sand beach and climb the famous Lion Rock. At the southern end of the beach there is a good walk to a nice lookout. Alternatively at the northern end there are a number of small caves to explore and more tracks.
   
• There are numerous interesting tracks in the hills behind the beach. Here are three good ones to get you started.
   
• At the northern end of the beach follow Laird Thomson track up to the Te Waha Point lookout. From here you can climb down to Whites Beach. Return the way you came or follow Rose Track up the driveway to Anawhata Road. Turn right and walk a short distance along the road until you see the sign for White Track on your right. Follow this track (it becomes Marawhara Track) through some nice forest as it drops down to North Piha Road. Allow 1.5-2 hours.
   
• From the carpark at the end of Glen Esk Road follow Kitekite track up to the pretty Kitekite falls (20 minutes). Return the same way or use the Connect Track and Home Track to complete a longer loop back to the carpark.
   
• If just walking is not really your style and you want a real adventure then try this one. Be warned you will get completely soaked so don’t take anything that can’t get wet and make sure you have some dry clothes waiting for you in the car. You will need them J. From the Glen Esk carpark walk or run up the Piha Valley Track for about 3.5 km until you reach the remains of the Black Rock Dam (at the Forbes Track junction). From here pause and say goodbye to the warm and dry – your mission now is to follow the stream back down through Piha Canyon. Climb over the remains of the dam and then follow the stream downstream. In places you will have to climb over boulders, in others you will have to swim. There are even a few places where you can do big jumps into large pools – make sure you check the water for obstacles first. This is an awesome little adventure trip but make sure you keep moving so that you don’t get too cold. Get out of the stream when you reach the Piha Valley campsite on your left. From here you can rejoin the Piha Valley Track for the last run back to the carpark. Be warned this is not an easy walk but is well worth the effort for those brave enough to try it. Allow 1.5-2 hours.
   
• Grab some food from the Piha café and hang out on South Piha Beach with the surf lifesavers and local surf comminity.

At Karekare:

• The beach is beautiful and provides a great place to just chill out away from the crowds of Piha. Swimming at Karekare however is just as dangerous, so stay between the flags.
   
• Do the short walk (5 minutes) to Karekare Falls (signposted on your left going up the hill (on Lone Kauri Road) after the carpark).

There are three excellent longer walks that start from Karekare:

1.) Follow the Pohutukawa Glade Walk (it starts just over the bridge) and then turn left onto Zion Hill Track. This track climbs steeply before descending again. Turn right onto Buck Taylor Track and drop down to Pararaha stream. Follow the boardwalk through the wetland and turn right once you reach the dunes. You should be able to pick up a track through the dunes which will take you past a campsite, through a tunnel and finally deposit you on the beach. From here you simply follow the beach around the headland and back to Karekare Beach. This last section can not be done at high tide so make sure you time it right. Allow 2-3 hours.

2.) If you aren’t scared of heights then try the next one. From the northern end of Karekare Beach locate and follow Comans Track. This track climbs high and offers nice views before following the cliff top above a beautiful little beach - this is Mercer Cove. As you walk look out for a rough track on your left – apart from taking a boat this is the only access to Mercer Bay. Climb down this crazy track to the beach – there are ropes and good hand holds but be careful, it is not particularly easy going. The beach itself is cool, all the better for being so isolated and there are some caves to explore. Return the way you came. Allow 2-3 hours for this little adventure.

3.) Now for a really great walk (possibly the best one in the Waitakere Ranges) drive to the carpark on Lone Kauri Road (up the hill from Karekare Beach) and park the car. Follow the Buck Taylor Track as it climbs steeply before dropping down through an excellent example of NZ bush. The track ends at Pararaha stream. If you haven’t done so before walk along the boardwalk through a wetland and down to the sand dunes. This is a good spot to chill out before you begin the more challenging part of the hike. Return across the boardwalk and then turn right onto the Pararaha Valley Track. At the Pararaha campsite head down to the stream and join the rough and often indistinct track that heads upstream. After awhile the track disappears completely so jump in the stream and clamber your way onwards. From here things get really interesting as you climb steeply through an amazing gorge complete with pools and waterfalls. There are a few impassable sections but you will find tracks, steps or ropes conveniently placed to avoid them. As long as you stay in the stream you won’t get lost. Eventually you will come to the Odlins campsite. Follow Odlins Timber Track which climbs steeply back up to the carpark. Allow 3-4 hours for this excellent hike.

People run this hike as part of the GOOT Challenge. Are you up for it?

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