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One Day in a City > Destinations > Australia & New Zealand > Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki, New Zealand

Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki, New Zealand

April 25, 2013 By Gina
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New Zealand’s Millions of Years Old Pancake Rocks

The Ancient and Mysterious Pancake Rocks of New Zealand.
The Ancient and Mysterious Pancake Rocks of New Zealand.

In the town of Punakaiki on New Zealand’s South Island’s west coast lies the Pancake Rocks. Someone must have been hungry when deciding to name these rocks, because instead of calling them discs, or Frisbees, or simply stacked rocks, they got the moniker of Pancake Rocks due to the flat round stones making many stacks of “pancakes” around the area. The name is fitting…

Pancake Rocks New Zealand: A little stack of pancakes
A little stack of pancakes…
Pancake Rocks Punakaiki New Zealand
…and a big stack of pancakes.
More stacks of Pancake Rocks in New Zealand.
More stacks of Pancake Rocks.

History of the Pancake Rocks

The Pancake Rocks have a bit of mysterious allure to them as well. While scientists and geologists have figured out they are limestone created 35 million years ago under the sea by fragments of marine organisms thanks to a massive amount of mud and sand pushing down into the seabed with so much force the organisms turned into limestone. One thing geologists can’t quite comprehend, though, is why the limestone decided to stack up on top of each other in pancake-like layers. It’s generally believed stylobedding, which is the result of mudstone being compacted between layers of limestone due to the pressure of the sea; thanks to the mudstone being eroded faster than limestone over the years, the Pancake Rocks get their stacked effect. Geologists still aren’t sure why some minerals escaped the limestone to create the mudstone during the creation process.

Pancake Rocks: These stacked rocks used to be marine organisms underneath the sea.
These stacked rocks used to be marine organisms underneath the sea.

Despite being created millions and millions of of years ago, it wasn’t until 100,000 years ago that the Pancake Rocks emerged from the water’s depths, due to an uplifting process in the earth that began five million years prior that also pushed up the Southern Alps.

Thanks to the uplifting process, visitors now have gorgeous views like this from the Pancake Rocks.
Thanks to the uplifting process, visitors now have gorgeous views like this from the Pancake Rocks.

The Pancake Rocks Blowholes

Amidst the many piles of rocks making up the Pancake Rocks park are blowholes. Show up to Pancake Rocks on the right day time and time when conditions are right, usually around the time the tide is coming in, and you’ll see water swishing up through the flat rocks and making a large whale spout type spray above the gleaming rocks.

Pancake Rocks, New Zealand: One of the blowhole areas.
One of the blowhole areas.

The Pancake Rocks park is easy to get to as it’s just off the road with plenty of parking across from the entrance. A culinary name for a popular park needs food to go with it and there’s a restaurant and café across the road from the entrance to Pancake Rocks. If it’s too overpriced and touristy for you, head north to Westport or south to Greymouth for some eating establishments away from the hordes.  Punakaiki also is home to hiking trails and is a great jumping off point for kayaking in the sea.

Birds love the Pancake Rocks, too.
Birds love the Pancake Rocks, too.

About Gina

I'm a former travel agency marketing director turned freelance travel writer. My editorial and copywriting work has been published on and in USA TODAY, Travel + Leisure, the Travel Channel Cities app, TripSavvy, and many more online and print publications. I especially love sharing my knowledge of traveling with limited vacation time, making the most of cruise ports of call, and vacationing with kids. I also enjoy sharing my favorite travel gear and products to make traveling easier!

About One Day in a City

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