Services in Punakaiki

There are bus services from Nelson to Punakaiki and from Punakaiki to Nelson. Check with Intercity for details.  East-West Coaches run a daily return shuttle service from Westport to Christchurch via Punakaiki.

Local business Paparoa Track Transport runs shuttles for walkers and bikers to the Blackball start of the Paparoa Great Walk. 

There are no grocery stores, petrol stations or ATMs in Punakaiki, the closest are at Westport or Greymouth.

The nearest primary school is at Barrytown, 15km south of Punakaiki. There is a school bus service which takes Punakaiki primary students to and from Barrytown School and takes local secondary students to and from secondary schools in Greymouth.

There are medical centres and dentists in Westport and Greymouth. The regional hospital is Te Nikau, Grey Hospital in Greymouth.

Punakaiki has a Justice of the Peace.

Local radio station 88.2 FM Pancake Rocks operates on the ‘Hobby Frequency’ i.e. very few rules, no bureaucratic involvement, a miniscule 1 watt power output. Simply music provided by enthusiasts sharing their tastes with anyone listening.

It operates 24/7, mainly on autopilot, but in the evenings people can turn up to play their own music. No news, no advertising, just music. 

24 years old and still rocking.