Department of Conservation
Department of Conservation
Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.
Start your journey through New Zealand's stunning landscapes at a Department of Conservation (DOC) Visitor Centre. Information about conservation areas, as well as DOC's 14,000 km of tracks, 9 Great Walks, and network of 950 huts and 324 campsites.
DOC Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre is staffed by DOC rangers who have firsthand, in-depth local knowledge. We provide information about:
•Walks and hiking - short walks, multi-day hikes, Great Walks
•Track conditions, weather, and safety
•Hut and Campsite bookings
•Heritage sites
•Cycleways
•Maps
•Marine reserves
•Conservation projects
•Local stories, legends and history - our nature, our people
• Pancake Rocks, and the Blowholes in action during high tide
• Amazing limestone caves
•Spectacular Great coast road
•Beach walks, horse treks and river kayaking
•Walks in the virgin subtropical rainforest of Paparoa National Park
•The Westland Petrel, flying overhead in winter to the only breeding colony in the world for these unique birds
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Paparoa National Park i-SITE & DOC Visitor Information CentreLocal government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Punakaiki |
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Categories |
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Operating Season And Hours |
Nov-March 9:00am-6:00pm daily
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Standard i-Site fare.
Really nice centre!
Good documents for visit.
Very kind and helpful.
Friendly staff, a good answer to every question.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 5 |
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19% |
9/10 | 9 |
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33% |
8/10 | 6 |
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22% |
7/10 | 5 |
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19% |
6/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5/10 | 1 |
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4% |
4/10 | 1 |
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4% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4.0/5
Nice place to stop en route down the west coast.
We booked a few excursions here and had a walk around the pancake rocks.
Reviewed over 6 years ago and experienced in March 2018
4.0/5
Information about hikes and maps.
Reviewed about 9 years ago and experienced in January 2015
5.0/5
Very kind and helpful.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in December 2014
4.5/5
Very nice team and the woman gave us a lot of information.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
2.5/5
Very busy as both staff members were booking accommodation for people which led to a very long queue.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
3.5/5
Wanted to do a two day hike and had questions about it.
They were friendly and gave us a brochure, but refused to do outdoor safety (DOC does not do that anymore), seemed more interested in selling fancy stuff.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
3.5/5
Knew what was in the brochures, not very helpful in questions like track conditions in the NP.
Did not do outdoor safety.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
4.5/5
Friendly staff, a good answer to every question.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
2.0/5
A below average information centre for the Pancake Rocks and surrounding area.
Lots of kitchy souvenirs. Best part of the information centre was its friendly staff and clean bathrooms.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
4.0/5
Nice place to stop en route down the west coast.
We booked a few excursions here and had a walk around the pancake rocks.
Reviewed over 6 years ago and experienced in March 2018
4.0/5
Information about hikes and maps.
Reviewed about 9 years ago and experienced in January 2015
5.0/5
Very kind and helpful.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in December 2014
2.5/5
Very busy as both staff members were booking accommodation for people which led to a very long queue.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
4.5/5
Very nice team and the woman gave us a lot of information.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
3.5/5
Wanted to do a two day hike and had questions about it.
They were friendly and gave us a brochure, but refused to do outdoor safety (DOC does not do that anymore), seemed more interested in selling fancy stuff.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
3.5/5
Knew what was in the brochures, not very helpful in questions like track conditions in the NP.
Did not do outdoor safety.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
4.5/5
Friendly staff, a good answer to every question.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
4.0/5
Very helpful and told us about various things to do.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
4.5/5
Good documents for visit.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
4.0/5
Standard i-Site fare.
Did not see too much information but felt they were angling for commercial experiences. A little annoying!
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014
3.5/5
Ok information about glowworms, but what was really recommended was the paid trips.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014
5.0/5
Very helpful and informative.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2013
5.0/5
Very helpful staff.
Good shop, the staff helped us out when we ran out of gas.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2013
5.0/5
Very helpful in a sticky situation.
We ran low on gas and would have needed a long risky trip without a litre or so. They were stocked with an emergency can we could buy - kudos@
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2013
4.0/5
Some have been more helpful than others.
I mention this because these were particularly helpful.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
4.5/5
Small, but nice and friendly, good range of brochures for all over NZ.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014
3.5/5
Information available on walks.
Staff helpful.
Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013
2.0/5
A below average information centre for the Pancake Rocks and surrounding area.
Lots of kitchy souvenirs. Best part of the information centre was its friendly staff and clean bathrooms.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
5.0/5
Bridge south of Hokitika was washed out and really good at advising tourists who were not happy.
Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013
4.5/5
We nearly ran out of gas and were very hopeful that there would be a station in Punakaiki, but there was not for another 50km.
The crew sold us some of their emergency stash.
Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013
4.5/5
Well informed - keep to help and very friendly.
The coffee shop and gift stores were great, lovely helpful staff, good coffee.
Reviewed almost 12 years ago and experienced in December 2012