View source for Punakaiki

{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Punakaiki
| population_total         =
| population_as_of         = 2006
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = New Zealand
| subdivision_type1        = Region
| subdivision_name1        = [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast]]
| subdivision_type2        = District
| subdivision_name2        = [[Buller District]]
| seat_type                = Electorates
| seat                     = [[West Coast-Tasman]]<br>[[Te Tai Tonga]]
| pushpin_map              = New Zealand West Coast
| coordinates              = {{coord|42|6|30|S|171|20|10|E|region:NZ|display=inline,title}}
| official_name            =
| image_skyline            = Punakaiki MRD 01.jpg
}}
'''Punakaiki''' is a small village on the [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast]] of the [[South Island]] of New Zealand. It is located between [[Westport, New Zealand|Westport]] and [[Greymouth]] on {{NZlSH|6}}, the only through-road on the West Coast.  Punakaiki is immediately adjacent to [[Paparoa National Park]], and is also the access point for a popular visitor attraction, the [[Pancake Rocks and Blowholes]].

== Location ==
Punakaiki is located on State Highway 6, and is {{Convert|46.3|km}} north of Greymouth and {{Convert|56.3|km}} south of Westport. Because State Highway 6 is the only through-road on the West Coast, a large number of visitors pass through the town.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Strong |first=Sam |date=2017-12-30 |title=The tourist Mecca of Punakaiki is bursting at the seams |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/99997549/the-tourist-mecca-of-punakaiki-is-bursting-at-the-seams |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en |archive-date=22 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822213645/https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/99997549/the-tourist-mecca-of-punakaiki-is-bursting-at-the-seams |url-status=live }}</ref>

The village is on the southern border of [[Buller District]], where it meets [[Grey District]], and lies on the edge of [[Paparoa National Park]]. To the north is the sheer bluff [[Perpendicular Point]], known as Te Miko. The settlement sits to the south, by the Pororari Lagoon at the mouth of the [[Pororari River|Porarari River]]. To the south of the village is Dolomite Point, site of the [[Pancake Rocks and Blowholes|Pancake Rocks]], and Razorback Point at the mouth of the [[Punakaiki River]]. A feature of this part of the West Coast are the steep forested bluffs and cliffs of the [[Paparoa Range]], descending several hundred metres to small beaches and sheer headlands, with occasional flats and terraces in between.

== History ==
[[File:Thomas Brunner and Rover on Te Miko Cliff by Charles Heaphy.jpg|left|thumb|409x409px|[[Charles Heaphy]] made this sketch of [[Thomas Brunner]] ascending Te Miko Cliff in 1846 with his Scottish terrier Rover being raised by a flax rope]]
The coastal caves and overhangs of the area bear traces of seasonal Māori occupation, and by the time Europeans arrived the area was the home of the [[Ngāi Tahu|Ngāti Waewae]] people, a hapū of [[Kāi Tahu]], who traded much-prized [[pounamu]].<ref name="Pickering">{{Cite Q|Q112841645|pages=26–28}}</ref>

Early European explorers navigating the coast encountered sheer cliffs at Te Miko, navigable only by climbing ladders totalling 46 feet high (or so [[Julius von Haast|Haast]] estimated) made of [[harakeke]] and rotting [[Metrosideros robusta|rātā vine]]. [[Charles Heaphy]] noted in 1846 that "…as several of the rotten steps gave way under our feet, our position was far from being pleasant. A number of cormorants and other marine birds, too, that had their nests in the crevices of the rock were screaming and wheeling about us at the intrusion."<ref name="Pickering" /> During the gold rush of the 1860s these were replaced by chain ladders, soon known as "[[Jacob's Ladder]]", but the wooden rungs were destroyed by overuse, and travellers slid down the chains instead or jammed sticks into the links.<ref name="Pickering" />

There was, however, an inland trail crossing a higher terrace through rātā forest; prospector William Smart was guided through it by local Māori to avoid the "rotten" ladders. By October 1866, the authorities had cut a track to avoid the ladders, but it soon degenerated into a morass. In 1867, under-employed "diggers"(prospectors) were used to cut the "Razorback Road", now known as the [[Inland Pack Track]], to avoid the coast completely, heading up the Fox River, south through rough hill country, and emerging at the mouth of the Punakaiki River. The route which linked [[Cobden, New Zealand|Cobden]], north of [[Greymouth]], with the gold workings at [[Brighton, West Coast|Brighton]] on the mouth of the [[Fox River (Buller)|Fox River]], cost perhaps £10,000 and was completed by October 1867, but was not a success: it required too many river crossings that were difficult in times of flood, and after the gold rush ended and the diggers moved on it fell into disrepair. In January 1873, the ''[[Grey River Argus]]'' called the road "perfectly useless"<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 January 1873 |title=A correspondent on the North Beach writes |pages=2 |work=[[Grey River Argus]] |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA18730111.2.6 |access-date=1 July 2022 |archive-date=22 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822213622/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA18730111.2.6 |url-status=live }}</ref> and it was little-used after the 1870s.<ref name="Pickering" />

Travellers who crossed Te Miko plateau stopped at the Pororari River lagoon, and waited for low tide to cross the mudflats (while avoiding quicksand). A dry limestone overhang on the north side of the lagoon was a convenient place to wait, and became known as the "Post Office", because diggers would leave messages and carve their names into the walls. As late as 1931, [[graffiti]] like "Sandy 1866" and "Hamilton Nov 20/65" were still visible.<ref name="Pickering" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=27 January 1931 |title=Untitled |work=[[Greymouth Evening Star]] }}</ref>
[[File:Aerial panorama of Razorback Point, Punakaiki (cropped).jpg|thumb|Razorback Point]]
After crossing what is now the site of Punakaiki, the path continued over the Dolomite Point headland and descended to the Punakaiki River. Early travellers did not record or comment on the Pancake Rock formations, which are just 15 minutes from the track, and Māori did not appear to have highlighted them to early European explorers. Those heading south to the diggings at Canoe Creek still had to navigate the Razorback, navigating a narrow path between a deep chasm on one side and a sheer drop to the beach on the other.<ref name="Pickering" /> A vehicular road was not built here until 1929, finally connecting Greymouth and Westport.<ref name="Pickering" />

In 2018, the remnants of [[Cyclone Fehi (2018)|Cyclone Fehi]] caused severe damage to the road immediately north of Dolomite point. Improvements costing $7.8 million were completed by [[NZ Transport Agency|Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency]] to provide more resilience to this section of State Highway 6.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Coast 2019 update {{!}} Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency |url=https://www.nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-investment/national-land-transport-programme/previous-nltps/2018-21-nltp/regional-summaries/west-coast-region/west-coast-2019-update/ |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=www.nzta.govt.nz}}</ref>

== Population ==
There are fewer than 100 permanent residents,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Easther |first=Elisabeth |date=23 October 2015 |title=Kia ora: Punakaiki - Travel News |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/kia-ora-punakaiki/PFJRAK4MT2WMOTKCW673LQPAAQ/ |access-date=29 June 2022 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ |archive-date=22 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822213712/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/kia-ora-punakaiki/PFJRAK4MT2WMOTKCW673LQPAAQ/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but the village has been host to at least 500,000 visitors in some years.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carroll |first=Joanne |date=2019-12-31 |title=Expert warns against developing rare karst landscape at Punakaiki |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118005511/expert-warns-against-developing-rare-karst-landscape-at-punakaiki |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en |archive-date=22 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822213653/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118005511/expert-warns-against-developing-rare-karst-landscape-at-punakaiki |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Aerial panorama of Dolomite Point.jpg|left|thumb|437x437px|Dolomite Point, Punakaiki, with the [[Pancake Rocks and Blowholes|Pancake Rocks]] at the tip]]

== Wildlife and conservation ==
Located on the edge of the Paparoa National Park, Punakaiki has a diverse range of birdlife and marine wildlife. [[Fur seal]]s are seen on the rocks and [[Hector's dolphin]]s close to the shore. Birds seen in the area include [[blue penguin]], [[blue shag]], [[Great cormorant|black shag]], [[Australasian gannet]], [[white-faced heron]], [[weka]], [[kererū]], [[tūī]], [[New Zealand bellbird|bellbird]], [[fantail]], [[grey warbler]], and [[tomtit]].

The [[Westland petrel]] has its only known breeding colonies close to Punakaiki. The breeding range is in forest-covered coastal foothills in an 8 kilometre wide strip between [[Barrytown]] and Punakaiki, specifically between the Punakaiki River and Waiwhero (Lawson) Creek.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Westland petrel/tāiko |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/westland-petrel-taiko/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918174634/https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/westland-petrel-taiko/ |archive-date=18 September 2020 |access-date=2020-09-12 |website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> These colonies were established in the middle of the 18th century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Holdaway |first1=Richard N. |last2=Hawke |first2=David J. |last3=Hyatt |first3=Olivia M. |last4=Wood |first4=G. C. |date=2007 |title=Stable isotopic (δ 15 N, δ 13 C) analysis of wood in trees growing in past and present colonies of burrow-nesting seabirds in New Zealand. I. δ 15 N in two species of conifer (Podocarpaceae) from a mainland colony of Westland petrels ( Procellaria westlandica ), Punakaiki, South Island |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03014220709510537 |journal=Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand |language=en |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=75–84 |doi=10.1080/03014220709510537 |issn=0303-6758 |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=20 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020212515/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03014220709510537 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The Department of Conservation designated the colony area as the Westland Petrel Special Protected Area in 1999 and access by the public is restricted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stuart, A., Sullivan, B., Taylor, J., Wheatley, H., Calvert, R., Black, A., Fjagesund, T., Hermes, C., Anderson, O., Martin, R., McClellan, R., Stattersfield, A. |title=Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/westland-petrel-procellaria-westlandica/text |access-date=31 October 2020 |website=Birdlife International |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028224412/http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/westland-petrel-procellaria-westlandica/text |url-status=live }}</ref> There is a breeding colony located on private land, where guided tours of the colony are available.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steenhart |first=Josie |date=18 December 2016 |title=Weekender: Wild luxury in Punakaiki |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/west-coast/86309361/weekender-wild-luxury-in-punakaiki |access-date=6 February 2022 |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205215735/https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/west-coast/86309361/weekender-wild-luxury-in-punakaiki |url-status=live }}</ref>

Limestone caves in the Punakaiki area preserved animal fossils dating back 25,000 years which help us visualize the fauna of the Otira Glaciation period. This fauna includes a variety of large and smalls (including [[moa]]s), amphibians, reptiles, and potentially bats and kiwi.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Worthy |first1=T. H. |last2=Holdaway |first2=R. N. |date=1993 |title=Quaternary fossil faunas from caves in the Punakaiki area, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand |journal=Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand |language=en |volume=23 |issue=3 |pages=147–254 |doi=10.1080/03036758.1993.10721222 |issn=0303-6758|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Local conservation efforts include the Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project which was started by the [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]], aluminum production company Rio Tinto, and [[Conservation Volunteers New Zealand|Conservation Volunteers]] in 2009. The project covers 40 ha and is 4&nbsp;km south of Punakaiki. The intention is to restore the Sand Forest Flats and provide a forest to sea corridor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project {{!}} West Coast, New Zealand |url=http://www.westcoast.co.nz/plan-your-trip/punakaiki-coastal-restoration-project/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202053640/http://www.westcoast.co.nz/plan-your-trip/punakaiki-coastal-restoration-project/ |archive-date=2 February 2021 |access-date=12 September 2020 |website=www.westcoast.co.nz |language=en-NZ}}</ref> The land is owned by the Department of Conservation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bowie, Mike, 1957- |title=Baseline survey for the Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project |others=Mountier, Cathy, Boyer, Stéphane, Dickinson, Nick, Rio Tinto (N.Z.), Conservation Volunteers New Zealand, Lincoln University (Canterbury, N.Z.). Department of Ecology. |isbn=978-0-86476-287-0 |location=Christchurch, New Zealand |oclc=1147925429 }}</ref>

== Climate ==
Located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, Punakaiki has an oceanic climate with prevailing westerlies, which accounts for the strong maritime influence on the local climate and the high annual rainfall, amplified by the Paparoa Range immediately to the east. Mean minimum temperatures throughout the year are higher than any other West Coast location, giving the Punakaiki area a distinct lack of frost; no month has a mean temperature below 10&nbsp;°C (50&nbsp;°F), lending a subtropical note to the climate.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = Punakaiki Rocks (1991–2020)
|Jan high C = 	21.2
|Feb high C = 	21.4
|Mar high C = 	20.2
|Apr high C = 	17.9
|May high C = 	15.7
|Jun high C = 	13.7
|Jul high C = 	13.4
|Aug high C = 	13.9
|Sep high C = 	15.3
|Oct high C = 	16.3
|Nov high C = 	17.9
|Dec high C = 	19.4
| year high C = 	
|Jan mean C = 	17.6
|Feb mean C = 	17.9
|Mar mean C = 	16.7
|Apr mean C = 	14.6
|May mean C = 	12.8
|Jun mean C = 	10.8
|Jul mean C = 	10.2
|Aug mean C = 	10.7
|Sep mean C = 	12.0
|Oct mean C = 	13.0
|Nov mean C = 	14.5
|Dec mean C = 	16.1
| year mean C = 	
|Jan low C = 	14.0
|Feb low C = 	14.3
|Mar low C = 	13.1
|Apr low C = 	11.4
|May low C = 	9.9
|Jun low C = 	7.9
|Jul low C = 	7.1
|Aug low C = 	7.5
|Sep low C = 	8.7
|Oct low C = 	9.7
|Nov low C = 	11.0
|Dec low C = 	12.7
| year low C = 	
|rain colour = green	
|Jan rain mm = 	223.1
|Feb rain mm = 	181.7
|Mar rain mm = 	181.8
|Apr rain mm = 	168.9
|May rain mm = 	211.4
|Jun rain mm = 	272.0
|Jul rain mm = 	179.2
|Aug rain mm = 	266.4
|Sep rain mm = 	228.3
|Oct rain mm = 	247.9
|Nov rain mm = 	238.1
|Dec rain mm = 	258.4
|year rain mm = 	
|source 1 = NIWA<ref name= NIWA>
{{cite web
|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz
|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Punakaiki Rocks
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 19 May 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Tourism ==
[[File:Punakaiki - looking south.jpg|thumb|left|Pancake Rocks - looking south]]
In the period immediately before the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], around 500,000 visitors each year passed through Punakaiki, and most stopped at Dolomite Point to walk out and view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. The peak visitor numbers were around 6,000 a day.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=David |date=22 September 2020 |title=What became of PM's $140m pledge |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/page/what-became-of-pms-140m-pledge |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=Newsroom |language=en-AU |archive-date=22 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822214138/https://www.newsroom.co.nz/page/what-became-of-pms-140m-pledge |url-status=live }}</ref> Overseas visitors made up 92% of the business at the local Punakaiki tavern, and 85% at the Punakaiki campground.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Wyndham-Smith |first=Teresa |date=2020-05-04 |title=Punakaiki: What the Covid-19 crisis means for a small West Coast tourist town |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/04-05-2020/pancake-rocks-and-blowholes-what-the-future-holds-for-punakaiki-tourism |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=[[The Spinoff]] |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704042741/https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/04-05-2020/pancake-rocks-and-blowholes-what-the-future-holds-for-punakaiki-tourism |url-status=live }}</ref> The large number of visitors to the small village has put a strain on local infrastructure, and requires levels of investment that cannot be funded by the small number of ratepayers. Some of the main concerns were the inadequate provision of car parks and toilet facilities to meet demand at peak times.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carroll |first=Joanne |date=2016-12-28 |title=Downside of 'phenomenal' West Coast tourism growth |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/87576714/phenomenal-west-coast-tourism-growth |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704044554/https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/87576714/phenomenal-west-coast-tourism-growth |url-status=live }}</ref>

There had also been concerns from the local community about the behaviour and impact of "freedom campers" – those who stay the night in their cars or campervans in a public place, rather than the campground. In 2016, residents petitioned the [[Buller District Council|Buller District]] and [[Grey District Council|Grey District councils]] for a ban on freedom camping in the town, but this appeal was not successful.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carroll |first=Joanne |date=2016-12-29 |title=Punakaiki community pleads for freedom camping ban |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/88009028/punakaiki-community-pleads-for-freedom-camping-ban |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704042544/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/88009028/punakaiki-community-pleads-for-freedom-camping-ban |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 19 March 2020, all New Zealand's borders and entry ports were closed to non-residents in response to the pandemic. Staged re-opening of the borders did not begin until February 2022. With New Zealand's borders being closed for such an extended period, local tourism operators in Punakaiki had to adjust to lower volumes, and to refocus on attracting domestic visitors.<ref name=":2" />

In January 2022, the campground operators reported that they had been fully booked over the Christmas holiday season, with most of the visitors from the South Island, and many coming to do the [[Paparoa Track]]. However, tourism operators reported major reductions in bookings for the period after the summer school holidays.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walton |first=Joanne Naish, Arielle Kauaeroa and Steven |date=2022-01-07 |title='Hero to zero': South Island tourism businesses say bookings set to fall off a cliff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/127450372/hero-to-zero-south-island-tourism-businesses-say-bookings-set-to-fall-off-a-cliff |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704042544/https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/127450372/hero-to-zero-south-island-tourism-businesses-say-bookings-set-to-fall-off-a-cliff |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Visitor centre ===
[[File:Paparoa VC 27.jpg|thumb|Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre in 2021]]
The Paparoa National Park visitor centre is located at Dolomite Point, opposite the entrance to the [[Pancake Rocks and Blowholes|Pancake Rocks & Blowholes.]]

In September 2020, as part of an economic stimulus in response to the pandemic, the Government announced a grant from the [[Provincial Growth Fund]] for redevelopment of visitor facilities at Punakaiki.<ref name=":12" /> The $26 million project included a new visitor centre, [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] (DOC) information centre, community meeting room, and offices for the local [[hapū]], [[Ngāi Tahu|Ngāti Waewae]]. There was also funding for a highway crossing and car park, and a walking and cycling path to improve accessibility for visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Lois |date=5 August 2021 |title=Punakaiki visitor centre will be unique in New Zealand – project manager |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/300375210/punakaiki-visitor-centre-will-be-unique-in-new-zealand--project-manager |url-status=live |access-date=29 June 2022 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en |archive-date=29 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629025140/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/300375210/punakaiki-visitor-centre-will-be-unique-in-new-zealand--project-manager }}</ref> One unusual aspect of the plans for the "Experience Centre" was a [[green roof]]. Seeds and seedlings of around a dozen species chosen for the roof were gathered from the local area and 11,000 plants were raised in a [[Conservation Volunteers New Zealand]] nursery at [[Barrytown Flats]] for subsequent establishment on the roof of the building.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=27 May 2022 |title=Dolomite Point Ceremony |url=https://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2022/05/dolomite-point-ceremony/ |access-date=29 June 2022 |publisher=Department of Conservation |language=en |via=Scoop |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628093220/https://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2022/05/dolomite-point-ceremony/ |url-status=live }}</ref> There was controversy in 2021 about the decision to transfer the facility to Ngāti Waewae on completion, and plans for charging visitors for entry to the "Experience Centre".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Lois |date=2 August 2021 |title=Ructions at West Coast Conservation Board over iwi role in Punakaiki DOC centre |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/300372158/ructions-at-west-coast-conservation-board-over-iwi-role-in-punakaiki-doc-centre |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704043616/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/300372158/ructions-at-west-coast-conservation-board-over-iwi-role-in-punakaiki-doc-centre |url-status=live }}</ref> A ceremony to mark the start of construction on the new visitor cente was led by Ngāti Waewae on 28 May 2022.<ref name=":02" />

=== Pancake Rocks ===
{{main|Pancake Rocks and Blowholes}}
The Pancake Rocks are a very popular tourist destination at Dolomite Point south of the main village. From a visitor centre and cafe a wheelchair-navigable path leads to the stylobedded pancake rock formations and central Putai Blowhole, which spouts spectacularly at high tide and during a south-westerly swell.<ref name="Pickering" />

=== Punakaiki cavern ===
[[File:Punakaiki Cavern MRD 01.jpg|thumb|Punakaiki Cavern]]
One of the nearby attractions in Punakaiki is an easily accessible cavern. There is around {{Convert|130|m}} of passageways, with stalactites and glow worms. The cavern is located just off State Highway 6, around {{Convert|500|m}} north of the visitor centre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Punakaiki Cavern |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/west-coast/places/paparoa-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/punakaiki-cavern/ |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |language=en-nz |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703215700/https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/west-coast/places/paparoa-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/punakaiki-cavern/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Walks in the local area ===
Popular local walks in the Punakaiki area include:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-15 |title=Walks, tramping & hiking in Punakaiki - Official Punakaiki Tourism Website |url=https://punakaiki.co.nz/walks/ |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=Official Punakaiki Tourism Website - Just another WordPress weblog |language=en-US |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526171251/https://punakaiki.co.nz/walks/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Pancake Rocks and Blowholes]]
* [[Truman Track]]
* [[Pororari River]]
* [[Punakaiki River|Punakaki River]], and a Pororari River loop via the [[Inland Pack Track]]
* Pororari River, and a [[Bullock Creek (New Zealand)|Bullock Creek]] loop via the Inland Pack Track
* [[Cave Creek / Kotihotiho|Cave Creek / Kotihotiho Memorial Track]]

Punakaiki also provides access to the [[Paparoa Track]], a {{Convert|55|km}}, 2–3 day mountain bike or tramping track that crosses the [[Paparoa Range]]. The track is the tenth New Zealand [[New Zealand Great Walks|Great Walk]] to be created, and has been fully open since 1 March 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paparoa Track and Pike29 Memorial Track |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/west-coast/places/paparoa-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/paparoa-track/ |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |language=en-nz |archive-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625090523/https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/west-coast/places/paparoa-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/paparoa-track/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Punakaiki}}
* {{commons category-inline|Punakaiki}}
* [http://www.punakaiki.co.nz/ Punakaiki - West Coast, New Zealand] (tourism information from the Punakaiki Promotions Group)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310214529/http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/MineralResources/RockLimestoneAndClay/4/ENZ-Resources/Standard/2/mi Limestone, Punakaiki (1st of 3)] (entry on [[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]])

{{Paparoa National Park}}
{{Buller District}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Blowholes]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Buller District]]
[[Category:Populated places in the West Coast Region]]
[[Category:Paparoa National Park]]