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Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

See layered limestone formations beside the Tasman Sea. The blowholes depend on sea and tide conditions, so the coast will not look the same on every visit.

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Location
Punakaiki
Admission
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Nearby base
Punakaiki
Best for
Coastal geology · Families
Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki, New Zealand, photographed on location

Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki

Photo: Krzysztof Golik / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Details

What to look for

  • Layered limestone, surge pools and blowholes can be seen from the formed visitor circuit.
  • Blowhole activity depends on the sea: high tide with a south-westerly swell offers the best chance, not a guarantee.

Before you visit

Stay within viewing areas and check local access notices; do not approach exposed edges for photographs.

Admission & booking

Admission has not been confirmed. Check current visitor information, including transport and optional extras.

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Getting there

The visitor circuit starts at Dolomite Point beside SH6 in Punakaiki, between Greymouth and Westport. Check DOC's current parking charges and pay-on-arrival guidance.

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Timing & conditions

Stay behind barriers in rough weather and keep children close where the path returns to the highway. Do not climb the formations, even when the sea appears calm.

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