Two tourists who climbed over safety barriers to pose for photos atop a precarious rock stack at the Punakaiki blowholes on Sunday are being described as "foolhardy".
The men took it in turns to pose, undeterred by other visitors at the iconic West Coast spot watching their dangerous escapade.
DOC conservation services manager Bob Dickson, of Westport, said it only took putting one foot wrong. Although the rock stack they were on was firm, vegetation was very slippery when wet.
"You've only got to slip -- you don't get a second chance," Mr Dickson said.
On a recent walk around the blowholes, DOC rangers spotted several places where informal tracks had been formed, so people could stand on the limestone outcrop.
"They are putting themselves at considerable risk. They are pushing the boundaries... foolhardy," he said.
If rangers spotted people on the wrong side of the barriers they would quickly call them back, he said.
By Laura Mills of the Greymouth Star
