As its name suggests, it is the valley of the Water of Leith, a 14-kilometre (8.7 mi) long stream which flows from the slopes of Mount Cargill south through the northern suburbs of Dunedin.

The motorway follows the flank of Mount Cargill's spur Pine Hill, which forms the northern boundary of the valley.

The valley widens, and is hemmed in by steep slopes and occasional cliff faces before joining the northern end of the wide plain which is the location of Dunedin's CBD some 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the coast.

Numerous popular walking tracks traverse the bush-clad reserve land surrounding this reservoir.

At its southern end, Leith Valley Road becomes Malvern Street, the main route through Glenleith.

The two suburbs, and particularly Glenleith, were both heavily industrialised during the early years of Dunedin, with the power of the Leith being harnessed for sawmills from 1850 and for flour mills shortly thereafter.

The first commercial paper mill in New Zealand was located in the valley, the last overgrown remains of which can still be seen close to a walking track.

These plantations contain numerous walking tracks, and also contain the historically listed Ross Creek Reservoir, constructed in the late 1860s.

Woodhaugh is the suburban part of the Leith Valley which lies below the Rockside Road intersection.

Lower down, the suburb is dominated by Woodhaugh Gardens, a large area of parkland and trees that forms part of Dunedin's Town Belt.

At this point, steep cliffs flank the valley, and nearby the Ross Creek passes through a narrow canyon.