Drive out over the Waitakere Hills as if going to Piha, before the main drop to Piha, a steep raod takes yuo down to the very picturesque beach of Karekare. The beach can be seen from the turn off through the thick bush.
amazin
i totally agree this has to be one of the most magical places i have ever surfed in the whole world. i got it on a small 2ft day with the sun just settin and a full moon over head. its a pitty i had to return home to wales the next day as i would have loved to stayed for a bit longer.
comment by anon, 2005-04-08 01:26:00
a special place
this is where i learnt to surf. it is one of the most stunning places i have ever seen, NZ is know n for its' beauty and there are few better examples than karekare. anyone who appreciates a strong spiritual presence will love the place too. as for the waves, for my money it is the most consistant spot in auck (as far as almost always having very surfable banks, it does get blown out though, and its not east coast OZ blown out ie a nice and friendly place to practice your airs, i mean wild west roaring forties i don't want to paddle out and die blown out), ironically it's probably the least crowded spot in auck a lot of the time - it's a little firther than all other beaches so people don't bother. the north end has a vey consistant left and often a right too. it doesn't like a low tide, and being the wild west rips are very strong. often in the summer the whole beach has great banks for the smaller swells, and you could count the number of flat days in a year on your fingers. if you're lucky you might have seen the brilliant film "The Piano". if you have you have already seen karekare 'cause it was here that they filmed it. if you go here show respect, it is such a special place.
comment by ghynes@nildram.co.uk, 2004-08-07 10:43:52
Sharks
I was out Kare Kare when I was visiting New Zealand, surfing by the big rock in middle with a couple of bro's, all of a sudden all the seal's started jumping out the water on to the rock, we paddled like fuck to get back to shore, never seen much but the lifeguards we're telling us that Manakau is a breeding ground for Great Whites and one had been caught there, how true is this, pretty scary considering one time I was surfing Piha and there was a shoul of Hammer Heads 50 Metres away, thought you guys never had shark problems.
comment by mags, 2005-08-28 18:36:11