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Punakaiki -
Walks
Short walks
Pancake Rocks and Blowholes
(Easy, 20 min loop)
This track takes you around the Pancake Rocks and blowholes. Apart from an
optional short stepped section, it is sealed and therefore suitable for
wheelchairs with assistance. The walk starts from the main road opposite the
Visitor Centre. |
The
Cavern
(Easy, but care and a torch required)
Take as long as you like to explore this cave and its passages. You might
see the odd calcite formation or glow worm! Access to the cave is on the
land-side of the road 500 metres north of the Visitor Centre. You can either
walk down the footpath or drive down and park on the seaside of the road.
Take care when crossing the road. |
Truman Track
(Easy, 15 minutes to the coastline)
This track takes you through sub-tropical forest to the coastline. Please
stay behind the barrier when you reach the end of the track. It is there to
protect you from the slippery cliffs and also to protect the coastal herb
habitat. If it is low tide, you can follow some steps down to the beach,
where you will be able to see an amazing overhanging sandstone cliff, or
have your lunch in a large cavern. Watch out for rogue waves. The walk
starts from the main road 3km north of the Visitor Centre. Take extreme care
when crossing the road, as there are two blind bends
and it is a 100km/hr zone. |
Pororari River Track
(Easy, 2.5 hours return from the village)
This walk follows a spectacular limestone gorge through sub-tropical and
temperate forest. Access to the riverbed is possible at several points. The
track starts from a carpark on the south side of the Pororari river, 1 km
north of the Visitor Centre. You can complete a loop by returning on the
southern part of the Inland Pack Track, which used to be the main coast
route and was built in the 1860s. This loop takes about 3.5 hours. An
alternative is to hire kayaks. |
Te Ana O Matuku Cave - Fox River
Bridge -
Irimahuwhero Point
For those interested in Maori and early European history then you should
spend some time exploring this area north of Punakaiki. On your way to Fox
River, you could stop at the interpretation panels at Irimahuwhero Point.
Take extreme care when crossing the road from the carpark to the panels!
Drive on to Fox River Mouth looking out for Seal Island as you arrive. Walk
over the bridge (owned by the Friends of Fox River Bridge) and imagine the
town of Brighton that used to be here. You can explore the sea cave, Te Ana
o Matuku, on the south bank by walking under the current highway bridge and
up some steep stairs on the other side of the road, along a grassy track
past some holiday baches to the cave. If it is low tide, you will be able to
walk through the cave and out onto the beach. Take care when walking up and
down the stairs. |
Fox River Cave Walk
(Moderate, 1 hour 15 mins one way)
If you have more time in the area and are keen on caves, this one is really
worth a look. It has a safe 200m passage decorated with calcite formations
that have developed over thousands of years. Take a torch and respect the
cave. There is another lower cave, but it is dangerous to enter due to
falling rocks and sheer drops in the floor. The track starts near the Fox
River bridge, 12 km north of Punakaiki. Keep to the north side of the river. |
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