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New Zealand Sweet Spot: Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

You are here: Home / Oceania Travel / New Zealand / New Zealand Sweet Spot: Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

By Lina Stock on March 25, 2014 • Last updated February 6, 2020 • 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our Disclosure here

Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

One of the things that we are enjoying about New Zealand is the variety of areas to stop off and explore while traveling around the country. Many of these stops have become popular places to stop off and can make the long distances between locations a little easier.

We started the morning at the beginning of New Zealand’s Ocean road. The whole road is stunning on its own and simply driving down it is a treat. One of the most popular stops along the way in the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and this place really sweetens the deal.

The Pancake Rocks were formed 30 million years ago from fragments of dead marine life and plants that landed below the surface. The pressure from the water caused the fragments to solidify into hard and soft layers. Seismic action from the region then lifted the limestone above the seabed forming the shapes and cliffs that we see today.

Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

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Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

The walk itself is an easy 20-minute loop from the main highway car park. It first takes you through some lush forest before opening up into an area of seaside fields on top of the limestone cliffs. As you walk farther on the track you will start to see the limestone formations in all their glory. Many of them resemble things we can recognize including a beaver and an Indian chief with headdress.  

During high tide and a nice wind, the waves will crash against the cliffs and produce a beautiful spray of bright blue water.  The walk can easily be done in 20 minutes if you don’t linger too much, but be prepared to spend more time here. There are many scenic overlooks to spend some time and just watch the waves crash before you.

How do I get here? The Punakaiki Pancake Rocks are located at Dolomite point, near Punakaiki.  Punakaiki is located on SH 6 and is a 40-minute drive north of Greymouth and a 50-minute drive south of Westport.

Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

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Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

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Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

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Article by Lina Stock

Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents.

Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michael Orobona says

    November 8, 2015 at 8:48 PM

    Nice post. I always enjoy a little geology thrown into travel stories. I love NZ, but I missed this place.

    Reply

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We are David & Lina Stock, a married couple from NW Wisconsin who have been traveling together since 2001. We’ve visited nearly 100 countries on all 7 continents. You can learn more about us here.

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