Punakaiki

Punakaiki

Priced from $1,035pp

Duration: 3 days & 2 nights

Discover a geological wonder at the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes and enjoy one of the Top 10 Coastal Drives in the world.

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Includes

  • Guided tour of Hokitika

  • 2 nights’ accommodation at the 4-star Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

  • Full-cooked breakfast daily

  • Pounamu Pathway experience, Greymouth

  • Guided transfers on the West Coast to and from Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

  • TranzAlpine Scenic Plus Dining Experience Greymouth to Christchurch

*Price per person - share twin based on low season rates

Regional Highlights

Punakaiki, a small coastal community on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, is renowned for its stunning natural attractions. 

Pancake Rocks and Blowholes

One of Punakaiki's most famous attractions, the Pancake Rocks are limestone formations that resemble stacks of pancakes. The blowholes in the area create impressive water spouts as the waves crash against the rocks.

Punakaiki Cavern

An awe-inspiring limestone cavern featuring stalactites, stalagmites, and limestone formations, providing visitors with a unique underground experience.

Paparoa National Park

Punakaiki serves as the gateway to Paparoa National Park, offering an abundance of diverse landscapes, including lush forests, impressive limestone cliffs, and stunning coastal views.

Adventure Activities

The region provides opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, such as trekking, kayaking, and horseback riding, providing a chance to immerse oneself in Punakaiki's natural beauty.

Whether visitors are drawn to the breathtaking coastal scenery, underground wonders, or outdoor adventures, Punakaiki offers an unforgettable experience for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.

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Day 1.

Christchurch
Hokitika
Punakaiki

Morning flight to Hokitika where your driver meets you. Stop in Hokitika to see a master carver at work with genuine pounamu, watch art in action at the Hokitika Glass Studio, or head down to Hokitika Beach to photograph the iconic driftwood sculpture that spells Hokitika on the sand.

Head north to Punakaiki on the Great Coast Road, rated by Lonely Planet as one of the Top 10 Coastal Drives in the World. Nestled between the stunning temperate rainforest unique to the West Coast and the untamed Tasman Sea, Scenic Hotel Punakaiki is a modern accommodation complex. All the rooms face either the ocean or rainforest and are cleverly staggered for the best view while maintaining privacy from one another.

Stay: Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

Day 01 hokitika arrival

Day 2.

Punakaiki

Enjoy a day at leisure. A few million years younger than the dinosaurs but still relatively ancient, the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks provide a natural spectacle. A short walk from your hotel, see nature's power in full force where an unrelenting drama plays out as the mighty Tasman Sea crashes into these iconic limestone formations. At high tide the ocean heaves, hisses and thumps through narrow tunnels and blowholes in the pancaked rocks.

Sip a sundowner while watching the stunning sunset over the Tasman Sea and enjoy the epic views of the Punakaiki Beach and Coastline from your hotel.

Stay: Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

Day 02 pancake rocks

Day 3.

Punakaiki
Tranzalpine
Christchurch

Your driver collects you this morning for the drive to Greymouth to visit the Pounamu Pathway, an immersive Māori Cultural Experience designed by renowned Wētā Workshop. Discover the sights and stories of New Zealand's wild West Coast on an inspiring and truly unforgettable experience. 

This afternoon board the iconic TranzAlpine train for your all-inclusive Scenic Plus dining experience. Travelling from coast to coast through the ‘Great Divide’ and the indomitable spine of mountains that partitions New Zealand’s South Island. Ease back and enjoy the views through oversized panoramic windows in the spacious cabin, while you are served a seasonal menu inspired by the mountains and rivers of the world-famous TranzAlpine train journey. 

Arrive into Christchurch in the early evening and transfer to the airport for return flights home.

Day 03 tranzalpine train