Happy Valley Route

Happy Valley is reached via Puhi Peaks Station and permission is required to cross their land. North of Kaikōura, turn off State Highway 1 into Puhi Puhi Rd, just across the Hapuku River bridge. The road ends at Puhi Peaks Station, and permission must be requested at least one week beforehand (Nicky McArthur, phone 03 319 3113) to proceed through privately owned freehold land. The building of a private lodge (Kaikoura Wilderness Experience) with hunting and tourist operations means that permission may be difficult to obtain.
At a gate on a saddle overlooking Puhi Peaks Station, follow ridge-top fence lines west to point 1086m, then farm tracks which descend into Happy Valley. There is a good campsite on a tussock shelf (map ref O30 697 904 / BT27 597 287). Climb steep tussock and scree slopes above the campsite, or a rocky rib slightly downstream, to a scree spur, and sidle into the large basin east of the summit. Alternatively, continue up to the head of Happy Valley Stream, and climb scree northwards, crossing a spur falling from point 2430m, and easy slopes to the summit. This is also a good descent route.