Paparoa National Park
Paparoa National Park is one of New Zealands smallest at 30,000 hectares. The Pancake Rocks of Dolomite Point is the main focal point of this National Park. These rocks trap water in their elaborate system of underground caves and squirt the water high up into the air.
The park was given National Park status in 1987, after proposals to log the lowland forests during the 1970's were met with swift and vigorous action from environmental groups.
The unique landscape of the park is caused by millions of years of buckling, which created it's deep limestone canyons, high sculpturous mountains and its massive network of caves.
The mild climate, heavy rainfall and fertile soils have encouraged a lush inland forest of podocarps, beech and broadleaf trees. This lowland forest supports the high density of native forest birds (the highest concentrations recorded in New Zealand) that can be found within the park. Tui, bellbirds and kereru (New Zealand pigeon) migrate seasonally between coastal and upland forests, the harsh whistling cry of the great spotted kiwi may also heard during the night.
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