Pancake Pancake RocksRocks

AtAt

PunakaikiPunakaikiThe Pancake Rocks are situated

on the West Coast of the South

Island of New Zealand. They

were formed 30 million years

ago by dead marine creatures

and plant material, on the

seabed. Over time they

solidified into hard and soft

layers by water pressure and

with the help of seismic

action, rose above the surface

of the sea.Map courtesy of www.punakaiki.co.nz

Looking at Dolomite Point where the Pancake Rocks are, from the northern end.

Looking at the cliff face, as one approaches the rocks.

Here is the Here is the entrance to the entrance to the Rocks. It takes Rocks. It takes

approximately 20 approximately 20 minutes to walk minutes to walk

the trail, which the trail, which starts from Route starts from Route

6, the only 6, the only through road on through road on

the West Coast. the West Coast.

Majestic Native Majestic Native Bush is plentiful, Bush is plentiful, which attracts the which attracts the

various native various native birds and their birds and their

song.song.

In the In the previous previous pictures, one pictures, one can clearly can clearly see the see the layering of layering of the rocks, the rocks, creating the creating the pancake pancake effect, which effect, which are then are then further further shaped by the shaped by the sea, wind and sea, wind and rain.rain.

The native The native flora creates flora creates a marvellous a marvellous natural natural garden.garden.

UnfortunatelyUnfortunately, the weather , the weather

wasn’t wasn’t brilliant the brilliant the

day I was day I was there. The there. The

wave action wave action was such that was such that

the three the three blowholes blowholes were not were not

really really “blowing”“blowing”

On the last shot, you can see that, even in winter, there

are a number of tourists visiting the Pancake Rocks.

Unfortunately my camera battery was on its last legs, hence I

couldn’t take any more photos.

Should you be interested in more info on the Pancake Rocks

and the Punakaiki area, here are a couple of websites that

you can visit.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/west-coast/buller-area/punakaiki-pancake-rocks-and-blowholes/http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/west-coast/buller-area/punakaiki-pancake-rocks-and-blowholes/

http://www.punakaiki.co.nz/http://www.punakaiki.co.nz/

This one has more and most likely better photos of the

area:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/547644776xEzBLkhttp://travel.webshots.com/album/547644776xEzBLk

As per, right click to “End Show”As per, right click to “End Show”