The walk from Pararaha Valley to Karekare Beach is also part of Te Ara Tuhura – Hillary Trail. From the valley entrance, there is a well-marked track that takes you over a wide, flat section of black sand, with a lagoon to the north below the cliffs. Then, walk through the dunes and eventually out to the long beach that runs from Whatipu to Karekare.
You can leave the track and head over the dunes earlier, but the track walk provides interesting views over the scrub and dunes back to the cliffs that line this section of the coast. It also intersects with the Tunnel Point campsite.
The campsite is of some interest. It is next to another wetland below the coastal cliffs and is named for the short tunnel through the point. The tunnel marks one of the few remnants of a tramway built in the early 1900s and operated until the 1920s to carry kauri logs from this part of the Waitakere Ranges to Whatipu. Some other artefacts are around the campsite, but very little is left.
Heading through the tunnel, the track eventually ends next to another lagoon below Cowan Point. From there it is an easy walk towards the beach with a nice view of Paratahi Island, or continue to follow the cliff line back around Karekare Point to Karekare. It’s particularly pretty at sunset.
