普纳凯基海洋保护区

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.