Paparoa National Park is around 300 km² in size and is located on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. In the coastal area, the landscape of the Paparoa National Park is predominantly characterized by limestone. Erosion has therefore eroded bizarre rock formations in the park. Deep canyons and many caves have formed. The Pancake Rocks, as well as the Paparoa Karst, are arguably the most famous.
During our stop between Greymouth and Westport in Paparoa National Park near Punakaiki we marvel at the Pancake Rocks. The bizarre sedimentary rock with its different layers looks like stacked pancakes. When the surf is strong, the water of the Tasman Sea shoots up like geysers in so-called blow holes.
The sedimentary rock in the coastal area is subject to the influence of the surf and strong erosion, which exposed the different layers of formation. This is particularly impressive to see at the Pancake Rocks. Elsewhere in a narrow cut in the coastal area caused by the strong surf. We often see small rocky islands off the coast, which will probably have disappeared completely from the surf and erosion in a few years. In this way, the landscape is constantly changing.
