Punakaiki

About this location

DescriptionPunakaiki is a small community on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, between Westport and Greymouth. The community lies on the edge of the Paparoa National Park. It is best known for its Pancake Rocks and Blowholes both of which are spectacular and a must see.

The Pancake Rocks are a very popular tourist destination at Dolomite Point south of the main village. The Pancake Rocks are a heavily eroded limestone area where the sea bursts through several vertical blowholes during high tides. Together with the 'pancake'-layering of the limestone (created by immense pressure on alternating hard and soft layers of marine creatures and plant sediments), these form the main attraction of the area. The Pancake Rocks are presently explorable by a number of walkways winding through the rock formations, parts of these wheelchair-accessible and others carved into stairways up and down the rock faces.

Punakaiki has a varied landscape from lush West Coast rainforest and mountaintops to expansive rugged beaches and coastlines. There is plenty to do from walking coastal tracks, horse trekking, kayaking, surfing, swimming, fishing, rock climbing and caving.

State Highway 6, the only through road on the West Coast, passes through the town.

Photograph

The middle section of the Punakaiki Rocks , which was dislodged during the Murchison earthquake.1929.

A man observing the view on top of Pancake Rocks.1934.

The Pancake Rocks, at Punakaiki.1930.

William Dykes at the Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki.ca.1928 -1935 .

Punakaiki Rocks.1930`s.

Ned Bourkes hut on the north side of Fischers Ledge.

Roadman`s Hut Punakaiki.

Sam Price, who helped to maintain the track between Fox River and Punakaiki,which went through Bullock Creek

A towering cliff at the Pororari Caves, on the Coast between Westport and Greymouth.1932.

ALBUM - Pancake Rocks.Mid 1940`s.

Pancake Rocks .1920`s.

Janice Briggs & David Newton - the day they got engaged at Pancake Rocks. ca.1971

Leanne Lee and her brother on the Pancake Rocks. mid 70's.

Rata tree North of old Pororari bridge

Fishing pulley system near Punakaiki

Punakaiki Tearooms-Souvenir Shop 1973

Maori chief postcard, Punakaiki.

Punakaiki Blowholes.ca.1940`s.

Pancake Rocks

Punakaiki Panorama, Dolomite Point.

Peta Jones at Bullock Creek Bridge , Punakaiki.1960.

Bring Back The Punakaiki Goat - old billboard

Pupils of Punakaiki School, Dolomite Point 1920's.

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Punakaiki