Punakaiki & Greymouth

The Pancake Rocks and blowholes of New Zealand's West Coast, the Paparoa Track through rainforest, the gold-rush town of Greymouth and Hokitika Gorge.

Punakaiki and Greymouth lie midway along the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, where State Highway 6 follows the Tasman Sea coastline, linking Westport in the north, Punakaiki and Paparoa National Park in the middle, Greymouth, and Hokitika in the south. It's an essential stop on any West Coast road trip, known for its spectacular limestone coastline, subtropical-looking nikau palm rainforest and 19th-century gold- and coal-mining history.

Highlights: the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Punakaiki are the most popular stop on the entire West Coast, at their most dramatic when a high tide coincides with a southwesterly swell and seawater blasts up through the rock fissures. Nearby, the Truman Track, Pororari River Track and Punakaiki Cavern are all easy walks of 30 minutes to two hours. The Paparoa Track, opened in 2019, is one of New Zealand's Great Walks and can be hiked or mountain-biked over 2–3 days. To the north, Tauranga Bay at Cape Foulwind has a New Zealand fur seal colony; to the south, Greymouth has the Shantytown gold-rush heritage park and Monteith's Brewery, and further south Hokitika is famous for handcrafted pounamu (greenstone), its driftwood beach and the turquoise Hokitika Gorge.

Getting there: the TranzAlpine scenic train runs from Christchurch to Greymouth in about 5 hours, or it's about 3.5 hours by car over Arthur's Pass. Greymouth is about 45 minutes' drive from Punakaiki and about 40 minutes from Hokitika. Public transport in the region is sparse, so hiring a car is recommended. Stay in Punakaiki (sea views, close to the tracks) or Greymouth (more convenient for dining and supplies).

Allow 2–3 days. The West Coast is wet year-round, so be sure to pack a waterproof jacket and sandfly repellent; check the tide tables before visiting the Pancake Rocks. Days are longest in summer (Dec–Feb).

Top sights

• Pancake Rocks and Blowholes – Layered limestone sea stacks that look like a stack of pancakes. When the tide rises, seawater roars up through the blowholes, making this…
• Hokitika Gorge – Glacial flour turns the river a milky blue-green, and a suspension bridge spans a granite gorge, making it one of the West Coast’s most pho…
• Truman Track – A short track through nikau palm and rainforest to a wild beach, where a waterfall drops straight onto the sand at low tide.
• Pororari River Track – A rainforest track along a dark green river through limestone gorges, with nikau palms and cliffs reflected in the water.
• Punakaiki Cavern – A limestone cave beside the road near the Pancake Rocks; bring a torch to explore deeper, and glowworms can be seen at night.
• Paparoa Track – One of New Zealand's Great Walks, a 2–3 day hike or mountain bike ride over the Paparoa Range, ending in Punakaiki.
• Cape Foulwind & Tauranga Bay Seal Colony – A headland walk west of Westport, where more than a hundred New Zealand fur seals rest on the reefs of Tauranga Bay.
• Denniston Plateau – An abandoned coal-mining town on a 600 m plateau, where the remains of the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' incline tramway overlook the West C…
• Point Elizabeth Walkway – A coastal rainforest walk on the north side of Greymouth, with a viewing platform at Point Elizabeth overlooking the Tasman Sea and sea sta…
• Coal Creek Falls – A rainforest waterfall near Greymouth, where a wide curtain of water falls into an amber pool; allow about an hour for a return walk.
• Brunner Mine Site – The site of New Zealand's deadliest mining disaster, where brick kilns, a suspension bridge and mine remains tell the story of West Coast c…
• Shantytown Heritage Park – A recreated 1860s gold rush town where you can ride a steam train and pan for gold, ideal for a family half-day outing.
• Monteith's Brewery – A long-established West Coast brewery founded in 1868, where you can tour the brewhouse and sample a range of craft beers.
• Lake Brunner – The largest lake on the West Coast, with the mountain-view railway station at Moana, known for trout fishing and peaceful lake views.
• Hokitika Beach & Township – The greenstone capital, where you can watch the sunset on a beach with driftwood spelling HOKITIKA, and browse the greenstone workshops lin…
• West Coast Treetop Walk – A steel treetop walkway 20 metres above the ground beside Lake Mahinapua, winding through the canopy of ancient rimu forest.
• Lake Kaniere – A clear glacial lake outside Hokitika, with lakeside trails, camping spots and Dorothy Falls right beside the road.

Where to eat

• Pancake Rocks Café – A long-established café opposite the Pancake Rocks, famous for stacked pancakes that echo the landmark, plus stone-oven…
• Monteith's Brewery Greymouth – The birthplace of the West Coast beer brand founded in 1868, offering tastings, tours and hearty pub meals.
• Punakaiki Rocks Hotel Garden Bar – The only pub in Punakaiki, with a beer garden backed by limestone cliffs, serving traditional pub food from breakfast t…
• DP1 Café – A family-run café on the Grey River waterfront with a purple door, retro décor and a book corner, much loved by locals.

Itineraries

• New Zealand South Island In-Depth Grand Loop – A complete loop of the South Island starting from Christchurch, connecting coastlines, glaciers, fjords, peninsulas, an…
• TranzAlpine Train & West Coast Glaciers – Cross the Southern Alps on the TranzAlpine train, then drive along the West Coast glaciers to Queenstown.