Punakaiki is a small community on the West Coast of the South Island, between Westport and Greymouth. The community lies on the edge of the Paparoa National Park.

The Pancake Rocks are a very popular tourist destination. At Dolomite Point south of the main village you can explore a limestone landscape of pancake-shaped rock formations, blowholes and surge pools on a short, paved walk.

This all-weather walk takes you through curious limestone formations of ‘Pancake Rocks’ and blowholes.

The blowholes form from a mixture of compressed water and air from caverns below being forced upwards. They create a huge wall of spray and are at their best around high tide when there is a south-westerly swell.

Spectacular views, geological oddities, coastal forest, rich birdlife and marine mammals are highlights along this walk.