שמורת הטבע הימית פונאקאיקי

Punakaiki Marine Reserve Essentials

Punakaiki Marine Reserve encompasses the distinctive limestone formations of the Pancake Rocks, created 30 million years ago from compressed marine organisms. The reserve features a network of blowholes, including Putai and Sudden Sound, which erupt during high tide when the Tasman Sea surges through subterranean caverns. Beyond the rocks, the area contains the 130-meter-long Punakaiki Cavern, the rugged Pakiroa Beach, and the 110-meter-high cliffs of Perpendicular Point, showcasing the West Coast’s dramatic coastal erosion.