If you choose to spend a night or two on the West Coast, top of your bucket list should be the exhilarating Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.
Heading north from Greymouth, the photogenic 70km journey that skirts the rocky coastline and native forest leads you to Punakaiki. Nestled at the base of
the Paparoa National Park, the roadside village is blanketed with rimu, beech and matai trees, interspersed with Nikau palms. The national park's visitor centre is a useful source of information.
There are dozens of delightful walking tracks. The Truman Track is a very popular 30 minute walk and threads its way through native forest before taking you to the edge of the Tasman Sea coastline. But the main attraction is the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. These sensational geological formations, which resemble layers of pancakes, are the result of centuries of weathering - or stylobedding.
Time your visit for high tide and witness the most spectacular show of nature. The ocean's pounding surf surges into the caverns, booming and exploding ferociously through the blowholes.
An attractive strip of cafes and eateries neighbour the visitor centre so savour the experience over a tasty meal.
