Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Track
About This Museum
Just when you think the wild West Coast of New Zealand's South Island can't get any more dramatic, you stumble upon Punakaiki. The Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Track is a short, jaw-dropping loop that plunges you into a surreal, limestone coastline. You'll weave through a forest before emerging onto platforms suspended above caverns where the Tasman Sea thunders below. The main event is watching and hearing the ocean force its way through vertical blowholes, sending sea spray exploding into the air with a powerful roar.
Collection Highlights
The 'pancake' layering of the limestone rock formations themselves are the star exhibit, looking like massive stacks of stone flapjacks. Don't miss the surge pools and blowholes, especially at high tide during a swell, for a truly spectacular display of raw power.
Visitor Information
The track is an easy 20-minute walk that's mostly wheelchair and stroller accessible. It's free to visit and open 24/7, but try to time your trip for high tide β that's when the blowholes really put on their best show. The small town of Punakaiki has a great cafe and visitor center right across the road if you need a coffee or a map.
Architecture & Building
Forget buildings; the architecture here is all natural. It's a stunning network of weathered limestone cliffs, deep-cut chasms, and natural bridges carved out by thousands of years of relentless ocean waves.
Contact & Location
Address: 4294, State Highway 6, Punakaiki, Buller District, West Coast, New Zealand / Aotearoa
Website: Visit Website
