Te Korowai o Punangairi Walkway: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

Journey through the natural world of Punangairi and take in ocean views on this short forest walk.

This DOC directory entry covers Te Korowai o Punangairi Walkway in West Coast, within Paparoa National Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

• Distance: 760 m return via same track
• Walking time: 20 min return
• DOC grade: Easiest

Access and alerts

Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.

• Dolomite Point southern car park closed for construction; First published on 30 April 2026. Last reviewed on 6 October 2026.

Dog access

No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

As you wander along Te Korowai o Punagairi Walkway, the forest seems to embrace you as giant nīkau palms tower above and around you.

You'll stroll past spectacular limestone features on your way to steps that take you up to the lookout platform. From there you'll be rewarded with expansive coastal views up and down this stunning coastline.

Getting there

The entrance to this nature walk is in the southern car park at Dolomite Point. SH6 Punakaiki, 44 km north of Greymouth and 57 km south of Westport.

Know before you go

Supervise children

This walkway passes through a limestone karst landscape. There are sinkholes also known as dolines and tomos, close to the track. Some can be hidden by vegetation. Keep to the path and supervise children closely.

All drone-use must be authorised by DOC

You must have a permit to fly a drone on public conservation land.

Visit drone use on conservation land for more information.

Nature and conservation

Though it is a short walk, Te Korowai o Punangairi Walkway is packed with biodiversity.

Native trees and plants

You'll be strolling beside native trees like:

• nīkau

• kāmahi

• pigeonwood/porokaiwhiri

• puka

• cabbage tree/tī kōuka

• māhoe

• wineberry/makomako

• five finger/puahou

• toro

• northern/southern rātā

• tree fuchsia/kōnini

• kiekie

• marbleleaf/putawētā

• lancewood/horoeka and māpou

• various climbers/scramblers like supplejack/kareao, pōhuehue, NZ jasmine/akakiore, white rātā and scarlet rātā vine.

There are many types of coprosma in the wider forest, two examples are Coprosma X Cunninghamii – a hybrid of robusta and propinqua, and Coprosma grandifolia/Kanono.

There's also epiphytes (plants that grow on another plants) like tank lily, bamboo orchid/peka-a-waka, fragrant fern/mokimoki, spleenwort/makawe, kidney fern/raurenga, leather-leaf fern/ngārara wehi, mares tail and more.

Native birds

You may have encounters with New Zealand native birds such as weka, wood-pigeons/kererū, waxeye/tauhou, fantails/pīwakawaka, tuī, bellbirds/korimako and even morepork/ruru if you are lucky, and have a good eye.

Native insects

Invertebrates may include prickly stick insects/rō , various cicadas/tarakihi, several species of wētā, spiders, beetles and moths.

History and culture

Learn more about the history of Paparoa National Park.

Sources and reuse

Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.

The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.