Karekare is a small coastal settlement in West Auckland, New Zealand, sandwiched between the Waitākere Ranges and a large black sand surf beach.

It is located 35 kilometres (22 mi) west of Auckland city centre, south of the larger beach of Piha.

It is north of Whatipu, south of Piha and west of the Centennial Memorial Park and Water Catchment area, which cover most of the native bushland Waitākere Ranges.

[8] Karekare is the remains of an ancient volcanic crater of the Waitākere Volcano, which was uplifted due to tectonic forces between 3 and 5 million years ago.

[9] Te Matua (the Watchman) is the hardest remaining portion of dacite of the crater, and Paratahi Island is a lava dome.

[10] Karekare, along with the greater Waitākere Ranges area, was traditionally settled by the Te Kawerau ā Maki iwi.

[16] Karekare was a major settlement for Te Kawerau ā Maki in the Waitākere Ranges, known for its extensive kūmara (sweet potato) cultivations inland.

[17] Te Kawerau ā Maki rangatira Kowhatu-ki-te-uru, known for his abilities to create stone pā,[18] settled at Karekare in the mid-18th century.

[22][23] Te Kawerau ā Maki killed many of the Ngāpuhi taua by pelting them with rocks, however could not match the musket fire from the war parties.

[22] Te Kawerau ā Maki suffered many losses, especially at Wharengarahi, a cave on the beach where many of the tribe's women, children and elderly were taking shelter.

[21] Into the modern era, artists such as Sir Peter Siddell and Joyce Campbell have lived in the area and called the beach home, being inspired by the regions landscape.

[34] Karekare continues to be a popular destination for Aucklanders in summer, but receives fewer visitors than nearby Piha, partly because the road is narrow and only recently sealed.