Puhi Peaks is a high country station in the Kaikōura District of the South Island of New Zealand.[1] The Puhi Peaks station is located on the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges and includes the highest elevation privately-owned land in New Zealand, with the highest point at 2,438 m (7,999 ft).[2] Road access to the station is through the Puhi Puhi River valley around 20 km (12 mi) north of Kaikōura.[3]
An area within the boundaries of the station has been set aside by the owners in perpetuity as the Puhi Peaks Nature Reserve, under covenant to the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust. The reserve includes one of the two remaining natural breeding colonies of the Hutton's shearwater.[2] The colony is located above Shearwater Stream,[4] and this area, along with flyways the Hutton's shearwater use when travelling between the breeding colony and the coast, is within the Ka Whata Tu o Rakihouia/ Kaikoura Important Bird Area (IBA) of 30,800 ha (76,000 acres) designated by BirdLife International.[5]
An ecotourism accommodation, Shearwater Lodge, built at an elevation of 1,000 m (3,300 ft), was established in 2005 as part of a three-day adventure walk through the station.[2]
References
edit- ^ Harrow, Geoff (28 March 2005). "Highpoint for climbing duo". The Press. ProQuest 314770406.
- ^ a b c Killick, David (20 September 2010). "A natural high". The Press. ProQuest 818699530.
- ^ Williamson, Cameron (28 July 2009). "A walk in the peaks". Dominion Post. ProQuest 338357880.
- ^ "Hutton's shearwater/Kaikōura tītī". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ "Important Bird Area factsheet: Ka Whata Tu o Rakihouia/Kaikoura (New Zealand)". BirdLife International. 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.