Quick answers to common questions
Find answers below to the most common questions about Kaikoura Wilderness Experience at Puhi Peaks Station. If your question relates to a particular accommodation option or experience (for example, inclusions, what to bring, access/fitness requirements, or meeting details), please also check the relevant page for the most up-to-date information.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, please get in touch with us and we’ll be glad to help.
General Information
You can email us at info@kaikourawilderness.co.nz or call on +64 27 319 0089 (Please note: there is no mobile coverage in the Puhi Puhi Valley after leaving SH1). Our station is located at 1695 Puhi Puhi Road, Kaikoura 7371.
View our contact page for full details.
We are located in the North Canterbury District, nestled in the Seaward Kaikoura Range, on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, approximately 25 kilometres (16 miles) northeast of Kaikoura. The closest town is Kaikoura. Our accommodation and activity reception are located together at 1695 Puhi Puhi Road, Kaikoura 7371. You can find written directions on our contact page.
Upon arrival, please enter through the main gates and drive over to our woolshed to check in. We are located at 1695 Puhi Puhi Road, Kaikoura 7371. You can find written directions to Puhi Peaks Station on our contact page.
Yes, you can drive and park at all our accommodations. We do recommend 4WD where possible to access the station – the Puhi Puhi Valley is 18km long and is an unsealed gravel road with 4 small ford crossings. .Please contact us if you have any concerns or queries in regards to the road conditions.
We are open 7 days a week for bookings, except on some public holidays and private events. We are a working station, so some scheduled farm activities take precedence. Please check availability for bookings or feel free to contact us.
Activities include Guided Walks, Hunting – guided and unguided, Star Gazing, Station Tours and more. You are welcome to explore certain areas of the Station on your own. Read more about activities and pricing on our Activities Page.
Yes – we offer customisable gift vouchers to suit your needs, whether for accommodation, an experience, or both! Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Yes, you are more than welcome to bring your self-contained vehicle. There is a charge of $30 per vehicle. There are outdoor toilets you can use. If you wish to use the woolshed facilities (shower, toilet, kitchen, dining, lounge areas,) there is an additional charge of $50 per person. Please contact us if you are bringing a camper van as the Puhi Puhi Road may require 4WD access due to the weather/road conditions, depending on the season. There is also a DOC campground at the beginning of the Valley – bookings are made through the DOC website.
Bookings are made in full. If you would like to discuss paying a deposit, please contact us.
Yes, although please note that the beds are predominantly bunk bed style. Our Log Cabin has 5 beds – 3 of which are mattresses on a high mezzanine floor which would not be suitable for young children, unless under strict adult supervision.
Our sub-alpine weather can change quickly. Even in summer, bring:
- Sturdy walking shoes or boots.
- Warm layers (merino or fleece).
- A waterproof jacket.
- A headlamp or torch for night-time trips between the cabin and facilities.
BYO Bedding: Sheets/pillows and pillowcases are provided. You will need to bring sleeping bags/duvets/blankets.
Please contact us if you require bedding – we can hire some out for a small charge.
No – due to our livestock and native animal and bird species, we do not allow guests to bring dogs to Puhi Peaks Station.
Please get in touch with us to enquire about booking on closed days – we may be able to accommodate you.
A rainy day at Puhi Peaks Station is a special experience. There is nothing quite like watching the mist roll over the mountains and hearing the sound of rain on a tin roof, while warm and dry inside!
Bring a book, play a game of cards or a board game – the Woolshed and cabins offer plenty of space to relax, recharge, and enjoy the view from behind the glass.
You are more than welcome to just book accommodation with us – we love having people come out to relax, explore, and stay in our breathtaking environment. With little to no cell reception and no WIFI, it’s the perfect place to unwind and be immersed in nature. You never know – we might be shearing, moving livestock, checking traplines – and you would be more than welcome to tag along!
Our Facilities
Yes, we do not have a shop or café on site, and all food requirements are self-catered. We offer complimentary tea and coffee. The woolshed has a fridge/freezer and food storage space available for guests’ use.
Given our remote location, we would appreciate it if you could take out any rubbish and recycling that you bring in. Food scraps can be left to feed our chickens or used for composting.
We currently have two accommodation options available – The Log Cabin (sleeps 5) and The Red Cabin (sleeps 6), with further development underway. You can view all our accommodation options on our accommodation page. Check availability and book online or contact us to make a booking enquiry.
The Woolshed operates as a working woolshed for some of the year! However we have a mezzanine floor area with equipped kitchen and dining/seating and overhead heating, a gas hot water shower, and a toilet. There is lounge seating and a woodburner for those colder days and nights.
The kitchen has cooking facilities including hot plates, microwave and a BBQ, fridge/freezers and dishwasher for guest use, and crockery/cutlery/cookware.
Complimentary tea and coffee is available for guest use.
There is no cell phone reception here unless you have a One NZ Satellite mobile phone plan. Once you enter the Puhi Puhi Valley, you will lose cell reception. You will regain coverage at our top gate, but lose it again once you’ve left that area. There is no public WIFI access except by arrangement.
Each accommodation offers unique amenities, but all have sheets/pillowcases provided (BYO Sleeping bag/towels).
The Log cabin features lighting, a heater, power sockets.
The Red Cabin is off grid (solar lights provided).
Complimentary coffee and tea are available at the Woolshed for all accommodations.
All accommodations utilise our woolshed facilities which include – toilet and shower , a well-equipped kitchen, dining area, lounge, outdoor BBQ, and a wood-burning stove (with wood supplied) as well as a large covered deck area with picnic table seating. A separate toilet block is also located nearby to the Woolshed.
It means some of our cabins operate independently of the national power and water lines. We use solar energy for lighting and gas for heating water. It’s an opportunity to swap digital noise for the sounds of the bush, though it does mean being mindful of power and water usage.
Yes, our water is sourced from the land and UV Triple Filtered. It is perfectly safe for drinking, though we always recommend being conservative with water use to respect our natural supply.
You will need to bring any supplies with you. Kaikoura is our closest township, with a New World Supermarket and off-licence options. There are also numerous cafes and eateries to choose from.
Our cabins are designed for a “digital detox,” but we know a phone is often your camera!
- The Log Cabin: Equipped with power outlets suitable for charging.
- The Red Cabin: Truly unplugged—there are no power outlets. We recommend bringing a portable power bank if you need to keep your phone charged.You are able to charge you devices in the Woolshed where there are numerous power sockets.
We do not have guest laundry facilities.