Bus to Punakaiki

InterCity® buses operate daily services to Punakaiki from Nelson, Fox Glacier, and destinations along the West Coast. The main InterCity bus stop in Punakaiki is located outside the Pancake Rocks Cafe, 4300 Coast Road.

Search for an InterCity bus to Punakaiki with New Zealand's #1 national bus network today.

Approximate bus to Punakaiki travel times:

Bus Nelson to Punakaiki: 4 hours 40 minutes

Bus Greymouth to Punakaiki: 45 minutes

Bus Fox Glacier to Punakaiki: 5 hours 45 minutes

Bus Hokitika to Punakaiki: 1 hour 45 minutes

Bus Westport to Punakaiki: 1 hour

Bus Franz Josef to Punakaiki: 5 hours

Train and bus Christchurch to Punakaiki*:6 hours

*An alternative route from Christchurch to the West Coast is now available, travelling on the TranzAlpine railway to Greymouth. Travel on one of the world's most scenic rail journeys, and connect with our buses from Greymouth up and down the coast. Learn more about the TranzAlpine train.

About Punakaiki

Located on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, Punakaiki is chiefly famous for the 'Pancake Rocks' located on Dolomite Point just outside the town. These 30 million-year-old limestone formations are named for their curious shapes - like giant stacks of pancakes, sculpted by wind, rain and sea over the years, and with incredible blowholes at their base. You can explore the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki thanks to accessible walkways above and through the formations.

Punakaiki is also the home of the rare Westland Petrel, a seabird that is endemic to New Zealand and only breeds in the foothills of the nearby Paparoa mountain range. The petrels return every year to nest in autumn and a community festival is held in their honour.