Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Track

Close to the parking lot, a circular route, short, and interesting for watching the Pancake shape rocks.charming

Absolutely brilliant place. A must of you are in the south island. Very well done with a party to follow to see all the great views. Well done to new zealand, they know how to show off a great natural wonder and best of all, it's free!

It takes about 20-30 mins to walk around. Worth the drive up. I don't think I've seen anything else like it around the world through my travels. Also, it's free.

Simply awesome & very easy trail. Under renovation outside the road but the attractions insde are not affected. Parking is opposite the entrance & it's free.

This walk around Pancake Rock formations is well worth the time. Took us old folk around the hour stopping many times for photos. Except for one section the track is sealed and flat. The rock formations are different and with the ocean in the background very scenic. If you are on the West Coast and in the area you won't be disappointed.

Definitely worth a stop! Great views of some fascinating rocks. Bring a wide angle lens if you can

Beautiful formations. Trail is paved and flat, so easily accessible to all. There are numerous places with great vantage points for pics of the formations themselves, the ocean itself, or the locations into which it channels. Unfortunately, the days I was there, the section of the track from which you can see the blowhole was closed for geotechnical monitoring. If you're in the area, it's worth stopping and seeing; probably even more so when the entire area is open.

Free to enjoy, car parking opposite. A spectacular place to visit, best when tide is in. A new and large information centre is being constructed across the street. Take waterproofs is my tip.

Nice, free walk. Must do if you are passing by. Pancakes in the cafe are overpriced and not that good.

Awesome place to stop. Doc have done a superb job here. It is a must stop along the coast.

The shops over the road were great and the food at the Cafe was worth the wait.

There is also a camp ground just down the road which was very reasonable.

Great place to visit and stay overnight.

A unique place to experience and enjoy the wonders of nature…absolutely free!

We had visited this place in Dec 2002 and didn’t remember much from that visit. This recent visit in Dec 2022 was a sheer delight - in about 30 minutes one gets to experience the wonder of nature, when no two moments are the same.

The track over the blow-holes is superbly done, it helps to get great views. What you cannot see, you can hear! It is truly a treat for senses.

What’s more, such a marvellous attraction is absolutely free for everyone to enjoy.

Absolutely stunning. The trail was paved but it is only wheelchair accessible for part of it until you have to go down steps. There are benches throughout it and it is a very easy walk with many places to stop for photos.

Great place! Amazing landscape and rock formations.
Enjoyed watching the waves and feeling the wind.

Very good motel clean and friendly. The owner was so helpful. He suggested we go to treetop walk that is very suggested. We enjoy staying this motel.

Some thing very special about the west coast and pancake rocks is up there as a must see experience

A unique landscape beauty. The way rocks have molded themselfs is mesmerizing. Good picturesque location.

Grab your family and go take a stroll. So relaxing, the views are amazing. Highly recommended to all xx

An amazing destination that is a must-stop if you are ever travelling on the west coast of the South Island. The walk around isn’t long and only includes a few staircases. These rock structures are incredible!

Totally amazing place.the day was terrible with high winds and pouring rain, still really glad I braved the elements to see this truly beautiful spot.

About 35 million years ago, the present form of these rocks began with millions of tiny skeletons and shells falling to the bottom of the sea. The sand and mud that went from the land to the bottom of the sea created the pressure that would turn these remains into solution. For reasons still unclear, some minerals merged to form thin seams of mudstone between layers of limestone.

About 5 million years ago, these stones began to rise from the seafloor with the massive bending, rising, and falling of the land. This process continues today, pushing up the Southern Alps.

During the Last Interglacial Period, the pancake rocks were a beach covered at high tide. The bizarre-shaped buttresses of pancakes we see today are the result of weathering over the past 100,000 years. During this time, the land has been uplifted to its present-day position above sea level, and the pancake rocks largely stripped of beach sands and gravels that once covered them

The forces of sea and weather during the past 100,000 years have eroded the mudstone more than the limestone, enhancing the 'pancake" effect.