First one for the day I thought was very interesting in that it had a great piece of history attached to it, Well worth the read and in fact an easy cache in the end… just lot’s of mugglers although on a Sunday not too bad Bassett Rd Machine Gun Incident

The next that popped up was called Laminated Bridge (Auckland) Sure we had been here a few years ago with another cache not far. Found this one within a few minutes as we had been looking close by but not where it was at first

Now the next one was a little harder in that the people who lived in the house in the front of the cache was out cleaning and probably wondered what we had been doing, Easy once we waited until they went in doors but was a pain to be honest…. My Street, My Cache (Auckland)

Something in the ayr… (Auckland) Found a GC and took it from this one which these days I haven’t much but thought what the heck… Cache was easy to find and a good little work out as coming back was a small rise the good part it was away from any mugglers

McNuts (Visits the Museum) (Auckland) I had been here a long time ago and due to it being wet, raining and mud everywhere I decided not to bother however today being a great Autumn Sunday it was much different. Found easily after a couple of mugglers tramping though had passed us. Another for the list.

Geocaching 121: Beginners Stealth (Auckland) Last one for the day and rather felt exposed here due to traffic however wasn’t that hard and most people had been worried about driving than looking at us. Quickly signed and off we went home as it was past lunch time

One that we had been looking for was right out side of some house and a woman was calling her husband as she was saying some strange people are out the front of the house, Of course we had been on the footpath but decided to leave as she appeared to be upset… Possibly the cache needs to be moved as it was too exposed lol Oh well at least we didn’t bother to look

Was a great day short but seven finds so cant complain.

Went off to west Auckland today to visit some family and thought we had better start looking at some of our own caches and replace some log books. Even though they had been our own caches it was great to get out and start walking again… Doesn’t take long to get the bug back

All caches up and running and replaced those that needed to be so was a good day after all.

I have a few interesting caches I want to place soon so watch this space

The first of these caches in the power trail is Are We There Yet? # 1 (Waikato)  and the last in the trail is Are We There Yet? # 33 (Waikato) i’m not going to go through all the caches one by one and to be honest not one stood out from the other, we didn’t find two of them one being muggled I’m sure although time will tell, the other I have since noted the coordinates are out by some 50 meters yet the owner hadn’t changed these which is a pity conci8dering others spend the time to plan these finds…. Apart form this though the trail is worth doing if you want some quick finds. Alot of the road is unsealed so be aware when planning. Nine times out of ten there is enough parking off to the side of the road and at places you can use the opposite side when looking so no real dramas.

So for the first cache of the day just before the power trail started we found the cache called The Wind in Those Hills (Waikato) it was a easy find and nice to be able to stop in a car park and stretch the legs before continuing on to the trail.

As I said I’m not going to go on about the trail so after the trail we went on to find the cache called Rest Area with a Harbour View (Waikato) this had just been replaced as the previous log indicated so a quick find was made and signed the log, Great place to stop and take in the views.

Gidday Pete (Waikato) was the next on the list, had to take a picture of Pete, see below

Kiwiana Walkway This was really an easy find but at GZ there is some really interesting information…. as quoted from the cache page – (A wonderful display of Kiwiana and history – photos, storyboards and nostalgic sounds). Well worth just to have a look at al the interesting stuff here

Waitomo Stopover (Waikato) This is a small rest area off the road and a quick find, had a muggler here so parked right up his rear he soon left lol

Lock Up (Waikato) Another quick find here and in an interesting place…. Old jail…. Had parked on the main road on the grass as very busy road here but a good find and just another to add to our slow find to 1000!

St Johns Mission (Waikato) There was plenty of parking and luckily not alot of people around so it was easy to locate as this cache was a good hide with good camo.

T A Sounds (Waikato) Good parking again and had a couple of young mugglers passing through but once they went it was a quick find at GZ, interesting park with lots of musical instruments made of stainless steel.

For the Twins (Waikato) Another quick find busy area but no worries to find

Te Awamutu Gardens (Waikato) Here was a great garden full of flowers etc all out and very well kept! A credit to the area I think and well worth a look if your into gardens… I’m no green finger though

Anzac Green (Waikato) was the next on the list and a quick find, just follow your GPSr here and all will be reveled lolNice area here as well

Centennial Park (Waikato) This appeared to be an area where you could take your dogs for a walk….Not that I have one… Mud was rather on the nose but never the less a cache was there to be found.. Another quick find thankfully

End of the Rainbow (Waikato) Not sure why but i wasn’t really into this area at all.. may have been due to the swell while walking to GZ, But of course there was a cache and we had been needing another to get closer to the 1000 finds…. Quick easy find and we were out of there and on to the next.

The Priest rests at Nightwind (Waikato) as the cache name you can only gather this was in a cemetery… You would be correct, we came across a few caches in cemetery’s in this trip however that doesn’t mind me at all we will all be in the same boat one day! Quick find to add to the list.

Nano convenience (Waikato) This was a valuable cache to retrieve as it was in front of a pit stop so the office was needed to be used… Quick pit stop along with a bonus cache

Quercus robur (Waikato) Yet another cemetery but a quick find which has been a bonus with this trip as I like quick and easy finds

Haere Mai Hamilton (Waikato) Look at that Welcome! and yes a cache to be had.. Busy with traffic but all good as there was plenty of area’s to hide… Found! that was quick

Resthill Warrior (Waikato) this was a quick find as I own one of the same caches so stuck out like….. Signed and replaced back soon after… On to the next… Cache 999!

A Shopping We Will Go (Waikato) cache number 1000 for us… I have to admit it was nothing special but hey you cant have it all ways right! I admit though it was nice to find and better to sign Sorry to me mates in Oz (Kevs_Team) as we had a small contest of who would be the first to 1000… Couldn’t wait any longer Kev so good luck with your finds

Europe in the Waikato This was the last find for the day as we thought one more just in case I miss counted however I new I didn’t Anyway this was another quick find and a good sized one. Signed and off towards home as we had over a hundred k to go. All up we must have traveled 300k and found 51 caches. Took our time as wasn’t in no hurry and enjoyed the finds and the drive. It started to rain at the beginning but didn’t last although threatening all the way. 1001 in total we have found so pleased with that… On to the next thousand

headed up the road to Kirks reserve which we pass almost daily from work so strange we hadn’t bothered before now… It’s a bush Jim, but not as we know it!” (Ack) was the first of the day and a rather easy one although it did take longer than expected

Barry the Beetle Buys Some Jam (Auckland) this was the next and great area with a small local water hole for those to enjoy a swim, no one around today so we headed to the water and took some photos, cache was spotted soon after arriving at GZ

Colina Roja (Auckland) This was a walk in the bush and we headed down the bank towards GZ which we got to all OK, heading back I thought might be a mission however even going up hill was OK… Must be getting used to the walking after a long break! The cache was easy to find and a good hide!

The next was just up the road and to be fair this was the better of the caches for today… Only because of the walk and the great views once near GZ, The cache itself was large and plenty of swaps. This cache is well worth the small effort you do.. Just watch the slippery walkway as I gather in the wet it could be rather slippery Pukekiwiriki Traddlestick (Auckland)

On the way to the east coast the niece had mentioned a few caches on the way through so ended up going for these first!

Hockey # 2  was the first cache easily found once at GZ but the traffic was on going one after another…. Signed the log and headed over through the gates and past the security person as something must have been going on so we said we are going in for a tick to look for caches… Oh OK was the reply from the security woman fully not knowing what the hell we were talking about

Hockey # 3 (Auckland)  was another we had found nice walk to GZ and quickly found as well…..

Banzai pipeline?– the take-off zone.  Walked also to this one and although could have taken some time to find this one due to being a nano it ended up being a good find and I hate heights

Backdoor Pipeline  yes while walking on to this next one I was running out of steam…. Hmm must be unfit I thought to myself…. Good hide but the name says it all once your at GZ

Hockey # 1  this was yet another of the hockey series and the last of these Enjoyed the find….. now onto the next…….

Kiss and Make Up (Auckland)  this was one that the niece had looked at in the past but must have been having a bad hair day! Of course we went to the things looking right at us first and started even pulling these upright BUT then after reading the hint we found it’s all about the numbers easily found once the brain was switched to ON! Nice cache hide…

Abandoned House–out of Africa (Auckland)  just around the corner and found easily, nice thatches close by so new what the description was on about…. Signed and headed off to where we were meant to be!

Support Crew (Auckland)  Yes finally in the area we planned for although with no apparent plan as such we ended up looking for this cache… Me and the niece while getting to GZ said to each other in agreement yes there it is, Niece went in like a charging bull and became an electrician for a short time until realizing she is actually pulling the light apart Hmm me thinks.. there it is Doh!

Forgotten Sentinel (Auckland)  Good question was had we been here? Cache of course and found quickly after walking across the field and around the corner.. Nearly had us going bush at one point but alas a golden moment came fourth

A Fresh Start. (Auckland)  this was the niece’s 300th so congrats Mon (SSGBME) way to go! Quick walk from the previous cache…. easy to find and tick off.

Browns Bay Bus Stop…The sequel….(Auckland)  this was the usual quick find at the bus stop even though the bus stopped! All good signed and off to the following bus stop cache down the road…

Browns Bay Bus Stop  New where to look while approaching GZ as it stood out… nice to sit and sign, quickly on to the next as the traffic was flying past while here.

Knights Treasure (North Shore, Auckland)  Quick find from the niece as this was her second attempt, this time she was there within seconds

Reservoir Puppy (Auckland)  Quick find while parked up opposite the cache…. Niece was like a detector with this one as last time she was here it had been 200 odd meters away

The Defender (Auckland)  Parked up the road walked down looking everywhere about ready to call a DNF then the niece came up with the goods… Mind you she had been calling me names and got abusive here… I was about to leave her here… Let the japs get her I thought Nah all good we had been having fun!

Pasta 3 – Spaghetti Meat Balls (Auckland)  Nice walk to GZ with lots of people walk to and from the beach. Great views and lots of sailing going on down the beach….

Walkway Wonder (Auckland)  Another great walk to GZ again lots of people around with lots of boats out today due to the regatta today at Tor Bay.. This cache was out in the open so was easy to find so hidden out of the way again

Partners in Grime (Auckland)  The niece had found this one before so was a quick stop to tick it off… DNF though, niece confirmed it must have been muggled Oh well on to the next we go!

ZORK gets Zapped! (Auckland)  Quick find and all was getting to be tired hot and had enough…. One last one coming up!

Emergency Response (Auckland)  Last one for the day Found easily but hard to get at…. Big hands! Sign with lots of traffic about on the main road so was far enough not to have to worry about…

Enjoyed the morning caching with fun had! traveled just over 200k’s from home as we live some distance from any caches these days But I am wanting to get 1000 before Xmas… Hmm can we do it? Good question as should be out looking today although the weather is crap! Below is some pictures of the day… In no particular order

Cache

Another odd looking cache lol

Hmm

Signing

View

Regatta

Had to go over to west Auckland so on the way there was a fairly new cache called A Little Bit Country (Auckland)  I was hoping to hide one in this area myself as I pass it every day going to work but alas I was beaten All go. This was a quick find as no one around so had the place to my self…..

Caught Again

Next was close to where we used to live when in west Auckland and this place has changed in just one year of moving away…. Always enjoy being here and always good to see new caches coming up in the area… Lancaster Memorial (Auckland)  was the cache and never new this to be here.. Not alot of people around which made for a quick find!

Air Men Lost

cache number three for the day was Harbour View Reserve (Auckland) while driving here I thought I have been here before and sure enough yes! There had been another cache here sometime ago so must have been replaced with the newer one… Found easily enough although a couple of mugglers where about taking photos.. Soon after I think we must of made them wonder what we had been doing staying on rocks looking out to sea!! Whats up with that I say! Good cache and on to the next soon after..

Found!

The next was just up the road and again very quick find as walk to the correct tree and there it was staring at me No fruit = No temptation Eve (Auckland) Quickly signed the log and on to the next before heading towards the families home.

Hanging around

On the way there has still been a few caches showing on the GPSr so what the heck off to those seen where out this way… With your Powers Combined, I am Cache-Tain Planet was the next around the corner and was surprisingly easy as getting used to these tricky hides

Can you pick the cache?

The Magnetism of Baby Plants (Auckland) Now this was a good cache although for me it stuck out some what! Not sure if it just didn’t look right for me or that I thought that doesn’t look part of the gate. Quick find while the neighboring dogs had been going off.

Cache!

The last for the day was New,Sealed,Road,Old,Stone,Fence (West Auckland) I have a cache in the same park here Indigenous (Auckland) and again since leaving this area had noticed a vast change and great things happening.. Don’t miss the rat race though.. Only the fast internet lol Anyway this was tricky but found the goods soon after noticing something a little different

Cache

The next day was another day of caching, Headed off to Huntly south of Auckland traveling 200k’s looking for the power trail called 52 Cache pick up series, the series starts at Ngrauawahia and ends in Huntly so of course headed off to Ngrauawahia. However there had been one cache that we had been at once before and due to it being on the main highway we thought we may as well grab it while passing through Huntly D.E.K.A. (Waikato) this had been a pain for a few that we new so armed with some good information (thanks Kevs team) we ended up finding this easily and of course it’s one of those easy caches that just eludes you the last time you where here even though the GPSr was all over the place last time we had been here this time it was bang on! Go figure aye…

The next was at the starting point called Rotund – As… in Ngaruawahia (Waikato) this one was beginning to brass me off though as we had two woman sitting at GZ watching the river and having something to drink… I think they had wondered what we had been doing so left soon after Great in for the find and yes found with ease!

Next was the last before the 52 we needed so off to Bridge over Waipa River (Waikato) found easily enough and signed the small log before heading off again to the next!

Ready for the hunt!

Now I’m not going to name each and every cache for the series but I do recommend those that haven’t done go out and do it. It took around three hours to complete and I went through 1.5 litres of water lol

Highlights had been a find at the rocks and the one that was a pain was meant to be hanging in a tree however found it on the ground all in all it was a good days out finding the 52 caches in the series.. Didn’t worry about the bonus one though! One thing you need to look out for is the vehicles as this road is a busy road considering the highway is not far from here. Below is a few pictures from the day although not many as with power trails you just want to get out of the vehicle find and sign then on to the next Getting closer to our thousand so Kevs Team get your act together we cant wait any longer mate!

Cache

Near GZ

Made a Friend!

Cache

Cache

Cache

Cache

Wet log Book

Where's the cache!

Found!

Cache

Just remember there could be a cache near you! Go look and sign that log. Oh also was good to meet YuGeo4 as they had stopped for a chat while looking for the harder one that eventually I had found on the ground and not the right tree

We traveled from Auckland through Cambridge along to Taupo then on through to Napier. Hastings and finally Waipukurau.

Turbine (Waikato  was the first on the trip, wife had been driving so this allowed for me to quickly get out and search as it was a busy road, early morning and everyone going to work. Found easily so on we went and sure enough another cache came up on the GPSr

You can’t eat this berry (Waikato) this was right across the road from where a police car had been waiting so I had to look as if I was doing nothing but looking suss Luckily he was too busy with traffic than to worry about me! Quick easy find so on to the next one that came up!

The Giant Steps (Waikato)almost drove past this one as a truck driver had been parked up however didn’t have to wait long as he took off soon after we parked up right across from GZ Quick easy find.

Close to GZ

Came up to XC’s Corrugated Quickstop (Waikato)  this was cool, most of the family got out for this one just to have a look at all the handy art work…. I have to say this one I got caught out! the fence was electrified and yes I got a nice BIG boot of course the whole family thought it to be a great joke!

What ya looking at!

Hi Ya!

Lets Go!

The Hub (South Waikato) was a quick find although had a council worker wondering what we had been doing so had to wait for him to go, lucky enough it was still early enough that there hadn’t been a lot of mugglers around so this helped.

South we went and soon we came to the cache called Log Shunter (Waikato)  was a good stop and while the kids stayed in the car me and the wife headed to GZ, Interesting place this and stayed for a little while as the wife took pictures and so did I while you guessed it the kids had been in the vehicle waiting

GZ

Large Tree

Stopped off to the next cache Rocky Rest (Waikato)  While the family had been busy talking on the phone I went for it and soon came up with the goods. Nice place for a stop and stretch the legs!

Cache

The next cache was on the side of the road as with most from today so a quick park to the side road and off we went to find Welcome to Tokoroa from Taupo (South Waikato)  It was a little tricky in that there had been a few spots on the item but soon had it in hand and heading south again.

Following the yellow bick road south and parked up to look for What a mish (Bay of Plenty)  quick and easy find while others had been waiting in the car

Close to GZ

Next one was some distance as we wanted to get going and make some finds the next day so the last for the day was Expressway Extension (Hawkes Bay)  Found but to be honest it was a pain as we nearly gave up, lot’s of trees that it could have been in and the GPSr had us no where near GZ so it was a matter of perseverance and this finally paid off as the wife came up with this one

Clever Hide

Day Two

Next day we had been at our destination and thought we would have a look for a couple as we had been busy visiting family in the local area. The Dungeon of the Red Castle (Hawkes Bay)  this was only a few hundred meters away from the motel we stayed in Thornton Lodge Motel Easy find and no one in the house that the cache info states so no waving out today to the owner

We had been heading to the wife’s aunty and uncles place which was one street away from the next so thought we better get this one before getting busy again with family A’Deane Park (Hawkes Bay) this was a quick easy cache and to be honest most down this way seem to be easy Picture here shows some snow as we had been heading out of town (Waipukurau)

Heading out of Waipukurau

Just outside of Waipukurau was the cache called 40° South (Hawkes Bay)  this wa sa quick and easy find so didn’t stay long in the rest area as we needed to head to Wanganui to visit more family before heading back to Auckland the next day.

Wonder whats there!

We sailed past one cache at Norsewood so didn’t want to miss too many more Domain & Wildlife Reserve (Sthn Hawkes Bay)  was a really cool area, never new this was here and enjoyed the wild life, left a TB here too!

Look Out!

Deer

Oh No Humans!

Wahipai Domain (Hawkes Bay) had been another in the area so found this quickly and interesting to see an area for dog lovers to enjoy there pets.

Almost forgot the next cache called A Hole In A Tree (Hawkes Bay) quick and easy again while the kids had been in the car waiting.

Cache

Headed towards Wanganui and came across Milk Train (Hawkes Bay)  Quick stop and I jumped out before the milk tanker could see what I was up too.

Large Vat

Headed to the house where the wife had grew up in at one point and then found a cache called On the QT (Wairarapa)  strange place I thought but apparently years ago the wife said it was a cheese factory. Found the cahe easily enough and snapped a weird boat just sitting there all along….. Strange I thought..

No Where To GO!

The Manawatu Gorge (in Maori Te Apiti, meaning ‘The Narrow Passage’) runs between the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges of the North Island of New Zealand, linking the Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay regions.We had intended to travel this way as we usually do when down this end of the country however we couldn’t as it was closed. We had to go through the detour which meant heading along Saddle road this in turn has a cache and this is also where the wind farm is. the cahe is Feel the power (Manawatu)and the wife found this with no trouble. Been here before and always a great place to see.

The power of wind

Many of these.

Next was close to where we are heading for the day Avicache2 (Manawatu)  This was a really easy cache as there had only been one possibility so in for the find….. pit stop here for the kids.

Large cache

Microlight Club

Straight up the road and we found Planes, Trains & Automobiles (Manawatu)  took a little finding as the grass had been long here

Cache

Onto the next on the main road to Wanganui Mt Stewart (Manawatu) It looks like the locals use the back of here for there personal gatherings as there was a rubber! close to GZ……

On to Samson and yes the unusual house that we have past many times and never stopped outside until today! Cache was found by the wife while I took a picture of one of the local residences Meet the locals (Manawatu) 

Onlooker

While the family waited I crossed the road (busy too) and quickly found the cache called Cameron Park (Manawatu)  easy enough but crossing the road was a worry!

Cache

In Wanganui and on the way to visit and stay with the brother and Sister n law, while travelling one of the many roads we had in years by (we used to live in Wanganui) we suddenly found a cache come up so I yelled out stop! Got and and this was a very easy find but was really good to find as this was all about a school project… How cool I thought and signed the log! MS4 (Manawatu-Wanganui)  was it’s name.

School Project

This was our last cache for the day as we had been visiting family and the following day we was to head back home to Auckland!

Last day of our trip.

We wanted to get away nice and early as we had lot’s of caches to pick up along the way… Little did we know the Sister n law was interested in having a go at caching and wanted to do some locally… Yes we had been in a hurry but as we wanted also to show someone else what we had been doing and hoping they too would catch the bug we opted to do some local caches and to head off later than expected. first up….. Over and Under (Wanganui)  some mugglers had been under the bridge looking at the waters edge so we had to wait some time until they went All good as quickly came up with the goods on a great day!

Another Cache

Next was just up the road, I used to work not far from here and live not too far either… Balancing Act or sharpen up(Wanganui)To be honest we had been thinking the caches here are just too easy and no challenge… Not like Auckland this cache ended up being the easy one to find but was in a cool spot as it’s amazing how things pop up when you have been away for sometime

Attack of the pencils

You know how I just said we had been finding these caches just too easy….. Well this next one was just the opposite A challenge at last and yes it was a great challenge yet so simple Ye Old Gaol (Wanganui)  recommend this to anyone as it had us going for a little while with the Sister n law barking out instructions Wife came up with an idea and I just had to find the way to open it! FOUND

Clever Hide

The next one the wife grabbed while I was coming from the other direction, really I had just gone the long way The Steam Age (Wanganui)  we went driving across all the various rail line tracks to get to this one

Close to GZ

The next cache was in a park or close by. This park is very popular with the local kids and adults alike The brother n law has his food truck here on a regular weekend and this weekend was no exception so a hot dog and chips had been the order of the day while caching McGregors Trees (Wanganui) this was a clever hide too.

GZ

Kowhai Park

Up the hill to The Tank (Wanganui)was a little annoyed as we used to walk up the tower all the time as good views and good for ham radio But sadly enough there has been people jumping off and dying hence the fence and no admittance now! lucky we hadn’t been here for that so the cache was a good find

Found the cache

Last one for the trip as we had been running out of time and just had to leave for home so this was the last one to find Gordons Bush (Wanganui)  Nice walk in the bush with good tracks and finally found although I figure it could have gone the other way as lots of places to hide a cache here.

The trip was a good trip south and really enjoyed the drive down due to all the stopping and finding the cahes along the way Going down again around Christmas time so will ensure we do the same but stopping for caches on the way home too!

On the way home

Just down the road was The Cache of the Dissapearing Pipeline (Auckland)  got to the road above the walkway and found lots of activity with builders across the road having there mid morning snack, walked down and wondered where this cache was taking us as haven’t been here before, Amazing at what they have done here and it looks great considering. Got to GZ and quickly found the cache container before a couple of mugglers had arrived and past us on there walk around the coast.

Cache in hand

Water catchment

Gateway to the Beach Front. (Auckland)this was the next as it was showing just down the road as well so what better to do while we are in the area… Go caching! off we went and had forgotten about our new friend Milly, Milly came from the cancer society today as we had been here and done some donating and purchased one of there bears so now this will be our caching mascot.. Got to GZ and was a little muddy but not too bad, wife went one side and I the other then we swapped I finally came up with the goods oh and Milly too.

Milly with the cache

Ended up driving towards home and thinking we wont bother with more however what happens when you have a cache pop up in front of you and right near the road side… Find it of course Quick easy find with a few mugglers around the area and a hell of a lot of vehicles moving around here! Orient Express (Auckland) 

Cache Found

So once again on our way home and yet another just up the road…. The Johnny B Cash (Auckland)  this was a quick find for the wife while I was logging from the Ipad. Nice view and you would want to watch the edge here certainly need to watch your kids if you have any with you around this part and at night it could be dangerous if your anywhere near the edge! Good find though

Cache

The last cache for the day was Orakei Basin Hideaway (Auckland)  we parked above the beach and walked down the walkway only to be greeted by a few people here walking there dogs. Nice spot for a cache and we found this very easily as it was looking right at us once at GZ

Milly with the cache

Cache

Great day had even though it wasn’t a planned day caching or at least a morning caching. Lot’s of mugglers around but was easy enough to look as if we had a reason to be around

While the wife went off and done her thing I decided to go and do this Wherigo cache as this would be our first and for sometime I have been meaning to do one or this particular one, it helped having all the information in the Oregon so off I went! The Absent Minded Professor! (Auckland)  was the one and this is in the domain itself so was a short walk to the starting point, I felt a little uneasy at times as there had been a lot of woman walking there prams and jogging and I must have looked out of place at times Anyway I walked around collecting the necessary items and finally go the coordinates to the cache I thoroughly enjoyed doing this cache and am keen to do more of these types rather than sticking just to traditional. Below is the walk around the domain that I had to look for and was directed too… Had a great walk around and again enjoyed this particular cache as I actually found it without the wife being there!

Smile!