Image: ©
A canopy of nikau trees surrounding two people walking on a track.
Te Korowai o Punangairi Walkway

Located in Paparoa National Park in the West Coast region

Take a journey through the natural world of Punangairi.

A short forest walk to take in ocean views

As you wander along Te Korowai o Punagairi Walkway, the forest seems to embrace you as giant nīkau palms tower above and around you.

You'll stroll past spectacular limestone features on your way to steps that take you up to the lookout platform. From there you'll be rewarded with expansive coastal views up and down this stunning coastline.

The entrance to this nature walk is in the southern car park at Dolomite Point. SH6 Punakaiki, 44 km north of Greymouth and 57 km south of Westport.

Supervise children

This walkway passes through a limestone karst landscape. There are sinkholes also known as dolines and tomos, close to the track. Some can be hidden by vegetation. Keep to the path and supervise children closely.

All drone-use must be authorised by DOC

You must have a permit to fly a drone on public conservation land.

Visit drone use on conservation land for more information.

Though it is a short walk, Te Korowai o Punangairi Walkway is packed with biodiversity.

Native trees and plants

You'll be strolling beside native trees like:

  • nīkau
  • kāmahi
  • pigeonwood/porokaiwhiri
  • puka
  • cabbage tree/tī kōuka
  • māhoe
  • wineberry/makomako
  • five finger/puahou
  • toro
  • northern/southern rātā
  • tree fuchsia/kōnini
  • kiekie
  • marbleleaf/putawētā
  • lancewood/horoeka and māpou
  • various climbers/scramblers like supplejack/kareao, pōhuehue, NZ jasmine/akakiore, white rātā and scarlet rātā vine. 

There are many types of coprosma in the wider forest, two examples are Coprosma X Cunninghamii – a hybrid of robusta and propinqua, and Coprosma grandifolia/Kanono.

There's also epiphytes (plants that grow on another plants) like tank lily, bamboo orchid/peka-a-waka, fragrant fern/mokimoki, spleenwort/makawe, kidney fern/raurenga, leather-leaf fern/ngārara wehi, mares tail and more.

Native birds

You may have encounters with New Zealand native birds such as weka, wood-pigeons/kererū, waxeye/tauhou, fantails/pīwakawaka, tuī, bellbirds/korimako and even morepork/ruru if you are lucky, and have a good eye.

Native insects

Invertebrates may include prickly stick insects/rō , various cicadas/tarakihi, several species of wētā, spiders, beetles and moths.

Learn more about the history of Paparoa National Park.