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Visitors to Punakaiki are being offered new walking options this summer following the completion of two new tracks as part of the Dolomite Point Redevelopment Project.
The new tracks include a short nature walk to a scenic viewpoint behind the Punangairi Experience Centre, which houses the Department of Conservation visitor centre, and a new pathway linking to the southern end of the village. The link removes the need for pedestrians to use a hazardous section of state highway.
The tracks mark the final stage of the Dolomite Point Redevelopment Project, which began in November 2020 and was designed to upgrade visitor infrastructure in Punakaiki.
The Provincial Growth Fund-supported project has been delivered through a multi-agency partnership led by DOC. It has included construction of the multi award-winning Punangairi Experience Centre, development of a new carpark, village landscaping, and a 4.2-kilometre shared walking and cycling path connecting the Punakaiki River in the south to the Truman Track at the northern end of the village.
Punakaiki is the gateway to the Paparoa Track and home to the internationally recognised Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Walk. The area also holds cultural significance for local hapū Ngāti Waewae, which owns and manages the Punangairi Experience Centre.
Ngāti Waewae chairman Francois Tumahai says the new nature walk has been named Te Korowai o Punangairi, meaning “a journey through the natural world of Punangairi”.
“The walk takes manuhiri through the nīkau forest to a viewing area where the Pancake Rocks and Paparoa coastline can be seen, and is a valuable addition to this place,” Francois says.
DOC project lead Phil Rossiter says the new tracks enhance the visitor experience while improving safety and connectivity within the village.
“They provide more slow-paced access between Punakaiki attractions and are the final elements of a project designed to support the destination well into the future,” Phil says.
