Karekare beach car park is a free parking lot at 1 Karekare Rd, Waitakere City, Auckland, near the black-sand west coast beach and rated a strong 4.7 on Google.
Free beach car parks earn their keep in the basics: no machine to feed, no ticket on the dash, and a short walk to the sand. The trade-off is timing — a west coast lot that sits half empty at nine on a fine summer morning can be full by eleven, so early arrivals get the pick of the spaces. Regulars also treat the surf with respect: beaches along this coast are known for rip currents, and checking flags and conditions before a swim is part of the routine. At any open, unattended car park, valuables are best left out of sight.
Set where the Waitakere bush meets the sea, this well-rated free car park is a handy starting point for a day on one of Auckland's most memorable beaches.