Situated on New Zealand’s West Coast, Punakaiki is framed by the rugged Tasman Sea to the west and the mountainous rainforest of Paparoa National Park to the east. This tiny village of fewer than 100 inhabitants serves as a gateway to both these natural taonga (treasures).
Nowhere else in New Zealand, except for Fiordland, does the sea meet the mountains so precipitously as in Paparoa National Park.
The Paparoa syncline, a down-warping of the Earth’s crust, has preserved vast expanses of limestone, forming iconic features like the Pancake Rocks at Dolomite Point and a labyrinth-like network of karst landscapes hidden under native forest.
Walk the gantries through the geological phenomenon that is the Pancake Rocks, a natural limestone formation sculpted by the relentless forces of wind and water over millions of years. These layered structures, resembling stacks of pancakes, are interspersed with powerful blowholes that send plumes of seawater skyward during high tide.
Punakaiki’s surrounds are a latticework of quintessential New Zealand hiking trails. The Pororari River Track, a favourite among day-walkers, meanders alongside the gorge, offering views of the limestone cliffs standing in contrast to the emerald-green river below. For those seeking a longer adventure, the Paparoa Track, one of New Zealand’s newest Great Walks, provides a multi-day journey through this landscape. This trail climbs from the lush rainforests to tussocked alpine ridges, offering panoramic views.
Alternatively, walking the rough shoreline is a chance to spot kekeno (New Zealand fur seals) basking on the rocks, or if fortune favours, you might spy the distinctive rounded fin of the Hector’s dolphin, endemic to New Zealand and the smallest species of dolphin.
Punakaiki presents a unique intersection of geological history and natural beauty, making it a significant point of interest on New Zealand's West Coast. It’s a place to stop and smell the roses, wiggle toes in black sand, savour ice cream watching seabirds dance the updrafts, and relax into the slower pace of life here.
15 Days
10 Days
