The Punakaiki - Pororari Loop it's a beautiful ring route next to the Pancake Rocks - Punakaiki area. Leave the car in the parking log in front of the Pancake Rocks and start walking in any direction you like, North or South, until you find one of the entrance to the path. We went to the northern entrance, so that our hike started from the Porarari river.
Please note: our gpx track does not include the paved road, the total distance to walk is 11km.

Short description of the path: entre the route from the Pororari river side, whose impressive valley welcomes us inside the forest.
There are many wonderful birds along the river, unfortunately we could not understand which kind of birds they were. There are also many blooming Nikau palms, the only endemic in New Zealand. The flowing water seems muddy, but it is actually clear and transparent, as you can see in the stretchss where it flows slowly.
The return trip to the Punakaiki river begins turnig right, here the forest is even more pristine, ferns are enormous as well as the dragonflies we met. But the most surprising encounter is with this wild Weka.
The last part of the trail is a peaceful walk leading to the Punakaiki River and then the end of the path.

More info:

• Punakaiki - Pororari loop and other hikes in the area

• Download track in KML format!
• Download track in GPX format!