Mercer Bay sits between Piha and Karekare on the west coast of Auckland.

Continue driving until you reach a car park on your right; this is the entrance to Karekare beach.

From here you'll find well sign posted markers over to Karekare, the track is well formed with plenty of stairs. Trails: Karekare Main car park – Karekare Road 100m – Watchmans Road 300m – Comans Track – Ahu Ahu Tack 100m – Mercer Bay Loop Walk – Te Ahua Point – Down hill to Mercer Bay beach – beach walk to Farley Point – Karekare beach – Karekare Main car […] Nearby, are the Karekare Falls which you can reach after a short 5 minute walk. Mercer Bay and Whatipu from Mercer Bay loop track.

My final activity was the Mercer Bay Loop Track.

Highlights include two dramatic wild west coast beaches, a big sea cave and long tunnel at Mercer Bay, great coastal views from clifftops, and a variety of native forest. The reef with sea … Karekare is a small coastal settlement in northern New Zealand, sandwiched between the Waitākere Ranges and a large black sand surf beach. We are going to Takatu Head (between Piha and Karekare on west coast of Waitakere Ranges) for a loop hike to Karekare Beach and back, including visit to Mercer Bay at low tide. Simon Smith reports. Fairly tall, and although not flowing heavily, a pleasant waterfall. Run this road to the Mercer bay carpark. There are currently no members to show for this trail. The towering, sheer cliffs above Auckland's Mercer Bay are among the city's highest, but the rugged terrain is no stranger to tragedy. It provided majestic views of the coast and sea below. Look down from the cliffs and the water is so clear you can see the sea grass swaying in the current below. Mercer Bay Loop is a popular bush walk which leads you along tops of cliffs high above Piha where you can follow a track to Karekare beach below. In total, an hour hike, with a relatively steep gradient along the trail. Part of the Hillary trail, Mercer Bay Loop gives you a taste of what the west coast can offer any keen adventurer. We went on an amazing early autumn day. Mercer Bay supplies all … Photo: Wikimedia, Public domain. Once you reach Karekare cross the bridge and head down to the far side of the beach to explore or check out Karekare Falls before turning around and heading home. Karekare is situated 2 km southeast of Mercer Bay. Trail Community.

Travel along Piha Rd from Titirangi until you hit Karekare Rd on your left, slowly make your way down Karekare Rd ensuring you keep to the left as the road is quite narrow with plenty of blind corners bordered by a bushy and steep downward slope. The sea was a gently rippling cape edged in white lace and a lone boat made its way towards Piha.