The valley provides a route into central Dunedin (Kaikorai Valley Road) which avoids the steep climb and descent over Lookout Point into Caversham, instead allowing for a gradual climb to the top of Stuart Street at Roslyn before a steep drop into the heart of the city.

This ridge was part of the crater wall of the long-extinct Dunedin Volcano.

The valley is largely occupied by light industrial and wholesale businesses.

Much of the land to the west of the valley is semi-rural; the eastern wall contains residential properties.

Notable features of Kaikorai include a KFC restaurant, a bowling alley and a sports ground, Ellis Park.

Like other parts of the lower valley, it contains numerous commercial properties such as wholesalers and car yards.

A road junction close to the boundary of Bradford and Kaikorai close to the former mills links Kaikorai Valley Road with Stone Street, which rises rapidly to the east to meet the ridge at Belleknowes.

This large suburb is predominantly residential, although it contains more wholesale commercial properties, some light industrial works, and several car sales yards, all on Kaikorai Valley Road.