It lies on the northeast coast of the Miramar Peninsula, 6 km east-south-east of the city centre, and has an expansive view of Wellington Harbour.

The Cook Strait ferry passes the coast of Karaka Bay on its way between Picton and Wellington.

The area was historically connected with whaling - Coombe Rocks, a series of rocky islets off the coast, were used as a watching-place for cetaceans.

[4] In recent years marine mammals have returned to the area, with seals commonly sighted along the coast and orca occasionally visible offshore.

The percentage of people born overseas was 31.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.