Punakaiki

The small settlement of Punakaiki is surrounded by Paparoa National Park. Punakaiki is best known for the Pancake Rocks and the associated spectacular blowholes. The blowholes are 10 minutes level walk from the highway; the path is wheelchair accessible (with assistance). Punakaiki has a warm, moist microclimate fostered by a warm current from Australia and sheltering limestone bluffs. Paparoa National Park boasts many gorges, limestone caves, a lowland karsts (limestone) environment, the most southerly palm trees in the world and the famous Pancake Rocks. The park is ideal for year-round outdoor recreation including bird-watching (the world’s only Westland petrel breeding colony), stone collecting, camping, canoeing, caving and cave tours, fishing, dolphin watching, hunting, horse trekking and walking.