Punakaiki & the Pancake Rocks

At Punakaiki the sea has carved the limestone into stacks that look like piles of pancakes, and at high tide the blowholes put on a show. Rainforest runs right down to the coast here, so you can walk from nīkau palms to crashing surf in minutes.

It's a natural stop on the West Coast road between the glaciers and the top of the South Island. Expect dramatic weather and proper wilderness — pack for rain and sandflies.

Time your visit to the Pancake Rocks for high tide with a decent westerly swell — that is when the blowholes actually blow, and at low tide on a calm day you will wonder what the fuss is about. The loop walk takes twenty minutes and is paved. Punakaiki also has a beach camp right by the rocks and one of the wildest stretches of coast road in New Zealand either side of it.