Pancake Rocks Sunset Punakaiki South Island New Zealand
Photo & Vacation Spot

A spray of water explodes from the center of the Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki on the South Island of New Zealand as the sunset lighting blankets the sky in soft pastel hues.

As the tides come in and out along the Punakaiki coastline on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, the Pancakes Rocks are continuously being sculpted into new shapes and forms. The water channels itself under the Pancake Rocks and through the gaps creating quite a show at times when the water shoots upwards into the air.

The rocks have a flatness across the top resembling that of pancakes as they stand in rows where the sunset lighting glistens off their flat surfaces. Made from limestone, the Pancake Rocks started their unique formations about 30 million years ago and nature has created their beauty in which they posses today.

A trail taking about 45 minutes to complete is well worth it when the coastline comes into full view, the sunset spans across the sky in various colors and the Pancake Rocks show off their geological features.

Sunset at the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand.