A colleague suggested we visit Pancake Rocks near Punakaki on our drive down NZ’s West Coast. As a tourist attraction it is recommended, with a variety of interesting rock formations, often in layers, (hence the pancake reference), and also blow holes and bird nesting sites. The blow holes weren’t blowing on the day we did this walk. They kinda sucked 😉
As a walking experience it is more akin to strolling in a city park, being very short and on a paved track. This is just one to stretch the legs on the drive up or down the coast, or if you are staying in the area.
There’s also a good visitor centre / DOC office at the start of the walk, one of the best we’ve been to in New Zealand. Track notes at the end. And I can recommend two excellent short walks a short drive to the north, the Truman Track, and a short section of the Pororari River Track.
Pancake Rocks Circuit: The Scenery
Track Notes
The track is paved the whole way, and involves just a few very short ups and downs, but is essentially flat. Protect your food from the seagulls as I saw one steal somebody’s camembert cheese! There’s more information on the DOC website and various other websites dealing with tourism in the area.
