Travel: Punakaiki

Lynn Freeman heads to the West Coast of the South Island, to a township that is all too often only seen as a quick stop to see the famous Pancake Rocks, blowholes, en route to bigger neighbours Greymouth or Westport.

But Punakaiki is determinedly promoting itself as a destination worthy of at least a few days of your time.

For the outdoor enthusiast there is kayaking, horseriding, petrels, and tramping and hunting in the vast Kahurangi National Park.

It's also one of the best places in the country to see the night sky away from city light pollution.

From the bottom of Truman Track Punakaiki (Richard Arlidge)

Marie Elder and Tony Sole in Punakaiki

Richard Arlidge

Goat leg

Kayaking in Punakaiki

Patrick in Punakaiki

Don McGlashon Poster

7 Kereru in a Kowhai (Richard Arlidge)

DOC office in Punakaiki

Dottrell nest Pororari River mouth (Richard Arlidge)

Weka chicks in Punakaiki

Banded Dottrell Chick at Pororari River (Richard Arlidge)

Kereru at rest in Punakaiki

Silouette of the Pancake Rocks

Close up of the Pancake Rocks

Tara or White Fronted Terns at the Pancake Rocks

Information on the Pancake Rocks

Cliffs at the Pancake Rocks

Long shot of the Pancake Rocks

Bush view in Punakaiki

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.