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- Punakaiki (Pancake) Rocks Walk
Punakaiki (Pancake) Rocks Walk
.jpg&width=400&height=267 "Punakaiki (Pancake) Rocks Walk")
| Location: South Island |
| Nearest Town: |
| Nearest City: Westport |
| Length of tramp: 400 m |
| Time needed: 1HR |
| Difficulty: |
| Route: loop |
| Elevation: 20 m |
| Wet Feet: No |
| Toilets: Yes, in Punakaiki village |
| Dogs: No |
| Mobile phone coverage: yes |
| Date this tramp was last walked: 2009 |
| Track quality: A newly sealed foot path. |
| Shops/restaurants: In Punakaiki Village |
| Hazards: Stay on foot path. Do not climb over the barriers it is a long drop to the ocean. And take a rain coat. |
| Transport: Westport to Greymouth bus run daily. |
| Water: Only in Punakaiki village |
| Driving Instructions: From Westport take highway 67 to Reefton. 6km south turn right on to highway 6 to Greymouth via Punakaiki. Charleston township is another 25km. The next point is Fox River at 45km. There is a good walk into Fox River Caves well worth the walk. The Irimahuwhero look out is also a good place to stop. Punakaiki is just another 2km. |
| Camping on track: No |
| Track highlights: Punakaiki pancake Rocks and just down the road is the Punakaiki Caves. The blowholes are fantastic if the wind is blowing in from the sea at Gail force 10. Best seen at high tide. |
| Area & Track History: The limestone rocks were formed by mild acid rain, high winds and sea water 30 million years ago. Punakaiki rock is set in the 30,000 hectare Paparoa National Park, were there is no shortage of 10 minutes to 3 day coastal bush walks waterfalls and caves to explore. |
Map of Punakaiki Rocks Walk :
This is a dynamic map. You can zoom in and out using the "+" and "-" buttons, drag the map to see surrounding areas and click on the flags to see each position on the map
Detailed track description for
Punakaiki Rocks Walk:
Punakaiki Rocks Walk - start
.jpg "Punakaiki Rocks Walk - start")
.jpg "Punakaiki Rocks Walk - start")
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The walk starts on the opposite of the little shopping centre. You can’t miss the signs. The idea is to follow the arrows and walk in a clockwise direction but that does not always happen.
Punakaiki Rocks - Points 2
.jpg "Punakaiki Rocks - Points 2")
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You walk through a lot of native flax before reaching the sea.
Punakaiki Rocks - Points 3
.jpg "Punakaiki Rocks - Points 3")
.jpg "Punakaiki Rocks - Points 3")
.jpg "Punakaiki Rocks - Points 3")
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There is no shortage of limestone formation along the way.
Punakaiki Rocks - Points 4
.jpg "Punakaiki Rocks - Points 4")
.jpg "Punakaiki Rocks - Points 4")
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The first large area with seats and guard rails is the place to stop to see the blowholes.
Punakaiki Rocks - Points 5
.jpg "Punakaiki Rocks - Points 5")
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Follow the path to the gusher. You can hear the water being forced out through the opening of the blowhole.
.jpg&width=90 "Punakaiki Rocks - Points 2, New Zealand")
.jpg&width=90 "Punakaiki Rocks - Points 3, New Zealand")
.jpg&width=90 "Punakaiki Rocks - Points 4, New Zealand")
.jpg&width=90 "Punakaiki Rocks - Points 5, New Zealand")
.jpg&width=90 "Punakaiki Rocks Walk - start, New Zealand")