Karekare is a small coastal settlement in West Auckland, New Zealand, sandwiched between the Waitākere Ranges and a large black sand surf beach.
Waves rippling over Karekare Beach
Karekare Falls
Looking north from the southern end of Karekare Beach.
West Auckland, New Zealand
West Auckland is one of the major geographical areas of Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. Much of the area is dominated by the Waitākere Ranges, the eastern slopes of the Miocene era Waitākere volcano which was upraised from the ocean floor, and now one of the largest regional parks in New Zealand. The metropolitan area of West Auckland developed between the Waitākere Ranges to the west and the upper reaches of the Waitematā Harbour to the east. It covers areas such as Glen Eden, Henderson, Massey and New Lynn.
Metropolitan West Auckland captured by a Planet Labs satellite in 2016
The Whau River has often been used as a border between western and central Auckland
The Waitākere rock koromiko, Veronica bishopiana, is endemic to the Waitākere Ranges
Many early settlements in West Auckland were along the west coast beaches (pictured: Karekare)