Location: Paparoa, West Coast, NZ
The Punakaiki area of the West Coast along the coastline is striking and ruggedly beautiful like much of the rest of the region, however what sets it apart in its own right are its Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Dolomite Point along a wonderful stretch of shore on The Great Coast Road (detailed further below) which makes for an essential stop on the way to Franz Joseph.
Accessible via a well-maintained walkway that loops from the main road, the area is home to giant cliffs and boulders amongst a turbulent and roiling coastline that is highly active – particularly at high tide.
The most prominent features are the Pancake Rocks, which are exactly what their name sounds like – large stacks of limestone on top of one another to give a “pancake” effect that have been formed gradually by the wind and water over the years to their current shape.
This layered effect makes for a sight that's both unusual and impressive, and is not something that's seen very often in nature.
Further along, the walk is made all the more dramatic by its blowholes of salt water from the Tasman Sea that surges up a narrow channel then spouts high into the air, spraying their voluminous contents dozens of metres above sea level.
These sprays often create rainbows which make for incredible photo opportunities when contrasted with the rugged brown of the nearby rocks.
Accessible via a well-maintained walkway that loops from the main road, the area is home to giant cliffs and boulders amongst a turbulent and roiling coastline that is highly active – particularly at high tide.
The rhythmic nature of the landscape is both impressive and hypnotic, as the waves continually crash against the rocks, the jets spout, and the process repeats itself continually until the tide retreats.
There are four main blowholes throughout the track, each of which provides a different aspect – the Sudden Sound Blowhole makes a cacophonous noise as the sea rushes through, while the Devil's Cauldron is a wide, circular offering, the Chimney Pot Blowhole features spray that shoots through the air like smoke due to its narrow channel, and the largest – the Putai – which creates the largest spray of all.
Offering impressive coastal views out to the point to the north and as far as Mount Cook to the south on clear days throughout its course, the walk only takes around 20 minutes worth of pure walking, however since you'll likely want to pause at a number of points along the way to grab photos it's best to allow 45 minutes or so return.
As an added bonus, it's one of the top natural attractions in the region that's also entirely FREE to access, so if you're a self-driver after a cost-effective way to take in the raw power of the ocean combined with some of the more unique local scenery you're likely to come across, they make for a solid choice.
Alternatively for those wanting to kick back and enjoy the scenery along the way themselves, local operator New Zealand Discovery Adventures offer guided tours to the rocks and their surrounding national park from Greymouth, providing plenty of extra insight and background - as well as comfort - along the way.