Punakaiki Area

Sheltered by the Paparoa Ranges and brushed by warm sea currents, Punakaiki thrives in a subtropical microclimate of its own. The karst landscape of the 38,000 hectare Paparoa National Park is like no other in the country, full of towering cliffs and fissured rock swathed in dense tracts of moss and fern-covered rainforest. A well-worn network of historic gold mining trails allows easy access up the spectacular river canyons, but days can be spent just checking out its secluded beaches and dramatic seascapes including the iconic Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Dolomite Point. You’ll find plenty of arts, crafts, and funky places to stay.