Four More Silverdale Boulders --- Exported! (Akl) Parnell, North Island, New Zealand
By TheWonderStuff on 30-May-10. Waypoint GC29DEW

I can't believe there was such a drama about kidnapping rocks!

A slightly late entry to get myself the earthcache souvenir this weekend, and perhaps the only viable night earthcache, as the boulders are still well and truly visible and measurable at nighttime. A fun little excursion in the rain, although the water did obscure some of the more intricate textural details here. TFTC!

Awesome boulders and history TFTC

It was the first day of two days of long walks as I came across these boulders. Didn't have any actual measuring equipment except for my feet and a reference point on my body. So took the measurements and finally got around to performing some calculations before sending off my answers.All good here, and thank you to TheWonderStuff for the placement of your EarthCache.Find: #7166

I always wondered where these boulders came from, now I know TFTECFind#136

Cool earth cache , TFTC

Nice evening walk to the boulders. I guess now I have to visit those in Silverdale! Thank you for helping me notice these!!

Out and about again, left Perth on a trip to USA and Canada. We stop briefly at Sydney and Auckland (New Zealand). Caching time is limited so trying to get as many as muggle family will allow without a mutiny on my hands. Headed to Domain from the hotel which was only a couple of km away. Stopped by here to answer the EC questions and take photo. Got the tick from CO.This cache is find number - 16387.Thanks to TheWonderStuff for the caches I have found.

Currently staying with junior cache whom is in PICU and needed to grab some fresh air and stumbled upon this one.Intel has been sent to the CO TFTC.

Fascinating. We do not have these in the USA.

My pic didn't load! Here it is.

M26: while I didn't have any measuring device. I went with my brain and tried to answer some of the measurements myself. Texture questions are better to answer, and hopefully the photo should pop up. Thanks for the cache, Wonder Stuff.

Answers emailed to the CO. Thanks for setting up this earth cash and providing the background on these interesting boulders.

Stopped at this cache while visiting **New Zealand**! [^]**My #151st visited Geocaching country!**---Place was visited, answers were collected and picture was taken.One more smiley face for me in the GEO map.Random rocks in the park.Thank you for hiding this cache and showing me this place! ---Greetings from ***Riga, Latvia***! [^]**Happy caching!**----------***For a little entertainment, here are 10 Fun Facts about Latvia!*** 1) Latvia is among the worlds greenest countries.2) Its home of the first Christmas tree.3) The Latvian flag is considered by many to be the oldest national flag in the world.4) Country has the widest waterfall in Europe.5) Latvia boasts the finest Art Nouveau architecture in the world.6) Jacob W. Davis, a Latvian tailor, was an inventor of rivets on famous Jean pants.7) The Latvian Song & Dance Festival is recognised by UNESCO as the largest amateur song and dance festival in the world!8) Alexander Laime, a famous Latvian-born explorer. He is most noted for being the first recorded human to reach Angel Falls (highest waterfall on earth), located in Venezuela, by foot.9) Latvians love basketball and Ice Hockey.10) Latvia is famous for being the home country of the inventor of the flavor of Pringles.----------..\*""*.,,.*"",..,*"",.\...\ ------- **MATISONS!** ------- \....\*""*.,,.*"",..,*"",..\.....\......\ /// \Paldies/ Aith / Ai / Thanks / Merci / Gracias / Danke / Bedankt / / / / Tak / Kiitos / / / / Ksznet / Grazie / / / Whakawhetai / / Dziki / Obrigado / Mulumiri / C / Hvala / Dky / Teekkrler / Ngiyabon / / / Tak / Kiitos / / / / Ksznet / Grazie / / / Whakawhetai / / Dziki / Obrigado / Mulumiri / C / Hvala / Dky / Teekkrler / Ngiyabon

Used to live nearby visiting Auckland today sent answers TFTC

Just getting around to logging the caches I found while visiting New Zealand from the U.S. with LaFavorite Cacher. We had a great time traveling around the country seeing the sights and picking up some caches along the way.Thank you for being a part of our adventures!Note: LaFavorite Cacher has sent in the answers for any earthcaches or virtuals required for both of us.

This was the last full day that GeoJayne and I spent in New Zealand together. We went to the zoo, ran some errands (guess how much yummy NZ wine she took home in her checked bags?!?), picked up a couple of caches and then headed back to the hotel. We were able to walk around a bit and had a yummy dinner. This was one of our geocache stops. Getting in and out of this place was NOT easy. I managed to snag a parking spot the second time through. The parking person came around just as we finished and got back to the car, so we didn't get a ticket. What a stressful earthcache! I'm sure it wasn't intended to be, though. We just did that to ourselves. LOLAnswers have been sent to the CO.Thank you for the smiley and the fun!

Danke fr den cache

We have seen these in other parts of her world as well. Always cool to see! Answers sent. Thanks for an interesting EC. Visiting from Calgary .

Ive seen small concretions in Tennessee, USA. These are definitely the largest ones Ive ever seen. Really amazing when you think about it. They were building a scaffolding on top of the stones. Hopefully its a temporary stage. Thanks for the Geocache. And for bringing me out here. Glad I got the chance to see them.

The area has been fenced off to house an event. No chance of getting this Earth cache for now.

Gehschei started visiting Auckland here. TftC.

Thanks for the earth cache. Found at 1415 while walking in area.TFTC

Find #586Walking round the city and suburbs today trying to fight off the jetlag.What a weird and wonderful phenomenon. Never knew these existed.Answers sent and issued a favourite point for teaching me something new

Thanks for the cache TheWonderfulStuff. I was heading in the general direction of the Domain and needed an EC for the shaky isles, and yours was the chosen one. Answers sent, now logging with the anticipated acceptance of the CO.Thanks for the EC, so cool to learn of these concretions, and to see and feel them in person.

Found on our walk to The Domain. Our first EC in New Zealand!! Interesting that just 1 month ago we were seeing similar concretions in South Dakota, US. Answers being sent soon, TFTeC.

Out looking for some more smileys. Cool boulders. Thank you for the cache!

️ Trouvée ! / Found it ! ️

J'ai oublié de valider cette cache après avoir envoyé les réponses. C'est maintenant chose faites

4044ème cache trouvée.
Merci TheWonderStuff pour la cache

I forgot to validate this cache after sending the responses. It's now done

4044th cache found.
Thank you TheWonderStuff for the cache

Found during a day of geocaching in Auckland for the current souvenir. Once again a great earthcache by TheWonderStuff. TFTC

Came here today to fulfill the requirements for the current geocaching challenge.
This will be my Earth cache icon.
On the picture you can see my caching buddy Princess Bluedress.
Tftc

Early morning start and out first Earth geocache

This was a nice quick and completely random earthcache that i came across when on my way into the nearby huge park.

Thanks the wonder stuff for creating an earthcache here and filling me in on what these boulders were doing here!

This is earthcache number 127!

And find number 4021.

Got this one, sent answers to CO, will update shortly.

We are visiting Australia from Florida, USA for a multi-week vacation which will have us visiting two states in Australia (Tasmania and the ACT) we missed in 2014 followed by 28 days on the Ovation of the Seas including New Zealand and a Transpacific to Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

We are now onboard the Ovation of the Seas sailing to New Zealand, French Polynesia and onto Hawaii. We missed the Bay of Islands due to high winds and today we are visiting Auckland, a sunny day with a light breeze. We would log @8 miles of walking while doing 3 sets of Adventure Lab caches, two multi-stage Virtual caches, two more Virtual caches, a couple of AL Bonus caches and a few traditional caches.

This was a slight detour before heading back to downtown, we didn't have a measuring tape, however we did have four hands and our to do list paper. Thanks for having us visit, email on the way. tftc!!

Day 16 on our holiday in New Zealand. Today we are on the way to Auckland, and in the city of Auckland. We also visited this Earth Cache, took a photo, and of course we sent the answers to the CO.



***T4T$ - Many Thanks to TheWonderStuff for hiding this Virtual Cache, and showing us this unique spot!*** ️

Found [:(!]

Greeting's from Calgary, Canada (for real this time, logging these finds from the comforts of our own home after an amazing trip)! Last batch of caches for us on this trip alas. Can state unequivocally that this will not be the last time we visit New Zealand! We loved all of the sites seen and the generosity and friendliness of the people was amazing! Just an awesome trip all around and it's always bittersweet to leave but there's always next time! Our last couple of days were spent in Auckland as we geared up for the flights home. Started our first day by checking out some more of the central business district before walking over to the Auckland Museum picking up a couple of caches along the way. Found the virtual in front (or maybe back of the Museum, we weren't really sure). The museum was awesome! We enjoyed some of the unique exhibits like the war canoe and the volcano exhibit. The war memorial was also excellent and it was cool to see five Victoria Cross (with most if not all of them being awarded to people who was able to receive them personally). Our last day was spent heading to One Tree Hill (or Six Tree Hill right now, ). We had set up a challenge for us to have two events on March 11th one in Auckland and one in Calgary and we had picked the peak of the hill for our meeting place in Auckland. Nice walk up (even if TheGrunch think's I'm trying to kill him with the length and steepness, ) and a nice walk back down where we picked up a couple of caches, one of them being a really cool gadget cache! Took us awhile to get an Uber back to the hotel and, shortly after that were soon on our way home where everything went smooth in regards to that and we were able to get back in time for our event in Calgary! This cache was cache 3 of 5 and was found on 2023.03.10 at 12:33:00 PM for a total of 5152. No dnf's as well which is always awesome to say! TFTC TheWonderStuff!

I'm in New Zealand for a two-month holiday to explore the country and nature. Here in Auckland the journey starts and ends and I am happy to be able to log my first and also the last cache here.

I wanted to visit the stone balls at the start of my trip. But there was a tennis game here. Now at the end of my days in New Zealand it was possible.

Kind regards
Semper73

I came down from Whangarei yesterday as my son had an early morning start with orientation into the University of Auckland today. Having made sure he got to the right area I set off on my geocaching day.

I didn't really have a set plan as I didn't know what time he'd really be finished. I ended up doing the Botanic garden area and then moved on to the caches around Cornwell Park. I was pleased to avenge a couple of dnfs and think I managed to get very close to my souvenir to help Signal escape from the dragon's lair.

This was a cache I'd originally been saving for the Auckland Mega as I had big plans for 13 types in a day. Unfortunately many events at the time got canceled so I couldn't achieve that goal.

This was an easy earthcache and I just parked nearby for the short time it took me. They are certainly interesting boulders. A bit dubious of the "high up city councellor" moving the boulders in semi darkness. Thanks for the informative cache

We took the walk over here from our hotel. It was another lovely day in Auckland! It was really interesting to see the rocks and learn about their history. We gathered the information and have sent it to the cache owner. We will post a photo. Thank you! Hello from Wisconsin USA!

Jup and I passed this one on the way to the Domain.

While my muggle friend was battling his jet lag I took the opportunity to do some geocaching on my own in Auckland, and this earthcache was one of the hides I attempted.

At gz I made my measurements and observations and then wrote my answers and have just sent those in to the CO. Hopefully I have it more or less correct but am of course happy to elaborate more on my answers if needed.

A big thank you to TheWonderStuff for creating and maintaining this earthcache, so that the rest of us can entertain our hobby.

As the weather forecast still wasn’t to good, with decided to visit Auckland Domain today, with the possibility to hide in the Museum, if it would be to wet.
First stop at the boulders, which weren’t accessible today as workers are preparing a temporary structure for an event. But we were still able to observe them and end of afternoon on the way back, get a closer look, just before the fence was closed for the night.
Thank you for showing us this special stones
NathanS05

I visited this interesting earthcache on the way back to the city from the Domain.

I have sent my answers to the CO.

Thanks TheWonderStuff for setting this up.

Passing by as we walk to the Domain. So this is Grafton Gully - it makes sense of how the motorway is routed. Our measurements are approximate, so logging a note until we hear back. We didn't choose the almost cubical boulder! At least it wasn't Moeraki boulders that got purloined for this landscaping!

Taking the scouts on the coast to coast. Thanks heaps.

Thanks heaps

Wandering back from town to the hotel after a bit of sky towering etc, this was a spot to watch fire engines and ambulances go past on the way to some call - exciting stuff! The kids climbed all over the stones and then got to thinking how they ended up here with all sorts of answers.... Cheers

Interesting objects to be taken to! Helped with another cache too 2 dutifully measured and answers sent in, thanks TWS!

Well, no better way to start the day with an earthcache and since this was right outside the tennis centre, it was a nice, short walk to GZ. It was my first training back since injuring myself 3 weeks ago with a torn muscle in my lower back, and fortunately all is well now! I've been past these interesting boulders many times before, while making my way to tennis games here but never actually had time to complete the requirements for the earthcache. Armed with a roll of string, I performed some calculations for my measurements and used the ruler in my bag to make rough approximations. Sent all my answers to the CO and have attached the photo of me at the boulders below Thanks very much for setting this EC up TheWonderStuff!

After completing my tennis training at the Next Generation tennis club this morning in Grafton, I thought I'd make the most of my time in the city and collect some caches... AND attempt to break my "Most cache types in a day" record In the end, I walked 17.1km through Parnell, Newmarket, Mount Eden, Epsom and Sandringham (See attached image), over 7 hours and made a grand total of 23 finds including 9 Traditional's, 4 Earthcache's, 3 Ad labs, 2 Wherigo's, 2 Mystery's, 1 Letterbox, 1 Multi and 1 Virtual - 7 cache types in 1 day Thanks very much to all the CO's for their wonderful hides, but these two caches - GC89NQA & GC9AZC6 deserve a massive shoutout because they are some of my all-time favs!

16:28
How had I not done this before!? I remember walking or biking past here and looking at the boulders, and noting that there is an earthcache.
The original Silverdale Boulders EC was my 2nd EC find in New Zealand! And look at me now, more than 100 other Earthcaches later I'm at these boulders.
Anyway, stopped here today on my walk. I did not have a measuring tape but I did have a USB-C cable for charging my phone and I used that for measurements. So forgive me if they are a bit approximate. Answers sent on 3rd Feb.

So, the boulders were.. STOLEN??

Kia ora! Paldies!
TFTC, TheWonderStuff!
#8705

We really have not been geocaching much since covid arrived on our doorsteps and our daily caching streak came to a grinding halt. For some reason we started the geocaching app yesterday and up popped a news note stating that an Earthcache souvenir could be gained this weekend. No containers to pick up, no logs to sign, masked up - we can do this.

We have actually visited here before a few years back to complete this Earthcache (as well as its sister cache in Silverdale). Somehow they never got logged and the information gathered is now long lost.

There were other people in the park sitting on the other large boulder looking at us and wondering what we were up to so we only took a photo of the 2 boulders we investigated.

Tried to get Kiwiscot to do something on the boulders when taking the photo but she is now too grown-up and is just humouring us by being here today - boring photo with GPS has been uploaded. Answers sent to CO.

Thanks for the Earthcache and caching souvenir.

Going through caches in the area when I realised that I have completed this earthcache months ago but haven't yet sent my answers in or logged the cache.

I kept meaning to log this cache earlier, but couldn't locate the notebook I had written down all the measurements. Was cleaning out my room and located it last weekend.

I have driven past the boulders many times before but never thought too much of them until looking at this earthcache and learning so much about them.

Answers sent to CO. Thanks for bringing me here.

What a great story to discover behind these rocks! We didn't have a tape measure on hand so B used a long piece of string and did the measurements later at home. Not sure why the photo is sideways sorry! TFTC +fav

Completed while taking a "shortcut" walking from Central city to Newmarket. Interesting story behind the arrival of these boulders to their current resting place.
Answers emailed to CO. TFTEC

I found it challenging to get the right measurements but hopefully my answers will do! Photo of my cache name as I'm using my GPS unit i.e. my phone

I walk past these boulders all the time and had wondered why they were there, but hadn't stopped to look at them up close. It was interesting to find out more about them. Answers sent to the CO, TFTC!
(The photo is the view of 3 of the boulders from the 4th one, plus my shoe in there for proof.)

Wow... That was a quick find and log...

Thank you for the cache

My 1398. Smiley on the map

Every time I'm in Central Auckland this earthcache ends up on my radar. Today was the day to come and take a look especially as I had recently completed the sister cache in Silverdale. Thanks for the earthcache. Answers sent.

Was in the area working today and saw this nice contactless cache was nearby.

I quickly stopped for a little walk on my way home.

I have passed by here many times, but I never notice these boulder, such a cool geological formation.

Favorite point for getting me to slow down and take a moment!

Thanks for the Earthcache!

Answers sent to CO.

We are currently planning to do the Tongario Crossing early 2021. However we need a lot of fitness training.

Today we did the Coast To Coast walk starting in Onehunga and ending at the Viaduct. We of course had to cache on the way. As we exited the Domain we came across these boulders and the corresponding Earthcache.

We have submitted the answers to the CO and the attached photo of Mr NZTravellers straddling 2 of the boulders was taken with much embarrassment for Mrs NZTravellers.

TFTC

Returned to Auckland Domain today an in spite of the threats of rain it was brilliant sunshine and even hotter than yesterday.

Found the stones, made some calculations and have sent the answers to CO.

Thanks for the cache!

Greetings from Sweden.

Interesting to see silverdale boulders in the middle of the city! TFTC

Cool story how these ”rocks” were formed! TFTC from Sweden and germany! With F&A

Nice day for a walk in the park. Thanks.

Found with Mrsc on our NZ travels from the UK. Thanks. Answers sent to CO.

Thank you as we wouldn’t have known these were here otherwise. Found with mr c on our travels from the uk thank you. Mrc has sent our answers. I was reminded of the Moreki boulders.

Cruising around beautiful New Zealand. Spent some time at the Domain. Email sent with answers. Interesting earthcache. Our picture didn't turn out the best.

So we had fun completing this cache even though we didn’t bring an adequate measuring tool. We used this piece of bark, which worked fine. We forgot to take a photo of all 4 boulders but hope we will get credit for the cache. Our detailed answers going CO soon. TFTC. We have really enjoyed caching around Auckland!!

We arrived in Auckland yesterday but the jetlag got reason of us and we slept for the rest of the day

Today we are feeling better and we can visit the city, the wharf and the memorial. The weather is very good !

Answers sent.

Thank you for the cache.

Had half a day free to roam Auckland, and of course I went to search for some geocaches. GZ was easily found and then some closer investigation. Since I use my phone both as camera and GPS I but my bag between the stones. TFTC.

Found before heading for a wander around the park. I had expected GZ to be closed off due to the last logs and no recent activity, however I was delighted to see GZ accessible again while I approached. Gathered the required information and sent to CO, pic attached. TFTC.

Not available..

Visiting NZ on my Christmas holiday trip. I planned to visit this EarthCache on my way back to hotel, but while approaching the GZ I found out that the GZ was fenced off and visiting the location was impossible.

Out today on our first day back in NZ for 7 years, wandering and clearing some new caches.

Answers sent.

Thanks for bringing us here.

Greetings from the UK.

TFTC

Mud and Kim

Today we walked around the whole park and visited the museum. It took us a whole day to explore the grounds. These boulders were our first stop of the day. The people working nearby must have wondered why we were so interested in these stones!
TFTC!

Found this cache while thru-hiking the Te Araroa trail. Because I don't carry a tape measure in my bag I had to get creative measuring these rocks; I also use my phone as a GPS and camera, so couldn't take a picture of my GPS. Instead, I included my hiking poles in the picture (what I used to measure the boulders)- they are leaning against the closest rock in the photo. This is a really cool spot, with interesting geology that I learned about in school but have never actually seen in person; thanks for brining my attention to these spherical boulders!

I'm on a trip of a lifetime with folks from USA, Canada, and PuertoRico, calling our collective caching name NZCA2019. We really enjoyed this fascinating earth cache! Answers sent for our group:). Gets a favorite vote from me

Squirrel! I am one of the 30odd cachers and i am visiting from Tennessee , with muggles, and friends traveling to New Zealand and Australia. We signed or stamped the logs as NZGA2019 aka New Zealand Geocaching Adventure 2019. It is a 25 day adventure through 9 different cities between the two countries.

Answers sent in by one of our group -- Geo-tek

all is good, so cache on!

Greetings from St. Louis, MO. Traveling with other geocachers from USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Catching up on logs since I'm back in the states. Geo-Tec sent in the answers to the CO. Signed the log as NZGA2019. Enjoyed doing the earthcache. TFTC

TFTC
Greetings from Puerto Rico.
My first day in New Zeland wiht a group of geocacher- travellers from Canada, USA and Puerto Rico.

I am visiting from Beautiful British Columbia, Canada along with others from Canada, the USA, and Puerto Rico. We are signing logs as NZGA 2019 on behalf of the group. Thanks for placing these caches for us to find and for adding to our fun day

Answers were sent in on behalf of the group

Arrived in New Zealand from Canada for a couple days before our cruise. there are 33 in our group so we signed NZGA2019
First day in Auckland Out for walk

Answers sent in for our group NZGA2019

I am traveling with a group called New Zealand/Australia Geocaching Adventure 2019. We are from all over the USA and Canada. We are stamping the logs with NZGA 2019 to save time and space on the logs. If answers are required for this cache, at least one of us will be submitting them for the group. Thanks for placing and maintaining this cache for the rest of us from the other side of the world to enjoy finding!

Found as part of the 33 caching group from the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. We stamped the log with NZGA2019 to save space on the log pages. Thanks for placing and maintaining this cache that added to our caching adventures.

Out caching with the NZGA 2019 group. TFTC Great travel, site seeing and caching along the way. We do not see things like that in Oklahoma

I am visiting from Rhode Island with a large group (31) of Geocachers from USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico. We will be signing as NZGA 2019 (New Zealand Geocaching Adventure 2019) to save room on the logs. We are out caching on this beautiful day in your wonderful country. If answers or pictures are required one if us will send them soon. Thanks for placing and maintaining this cache!

Wow, what great specimens. Had a great time looking at these concretions. Have seen several in other places and always are amazed at their looks. Thank you for brining us here. TFTC

Neat cache. Funny to see perfect round boulders in a park. TFTC

TFTC

My only weekend in New Zealand i spent in Auckland and suburbs to discover some interesting places and of course to look for some geocaches. Despite I'm in a city here, the GPS signal is much better than in e.g. Brisbane. So at least one barrier less compared to the last two weeks in Aussy. It was a hard day with more than 20 kilometers walked. I'm tired but happy to find so many geocaches.

Many thanks to all owners for hiding and maintenance their caches!

Greetings from Germany
st_klein

This nice cache was searched and found together with my dad "Tango-Addi"!
Many thanks for showing this place!

TFTC from Tango-Junior

P.S. sorry for the late log!

Today we walked around in Auckland and enjoyed the time as this would be our last day of holidays in New Zealand.
Passing by we stopped here and looked for this earthcache.
We found the boulders quickly and easily. And we could answer all questions.

Many thanks for showing us this place!

TFTC says Tango-Addi!

An early afternoon stroll in the Domain aiming at this particular cache since it is earth cache weekend. We parked by the pond and came down following the Pohutukawa trees and then went back up by the Lovers track. Nice place, TFTC

Its been a while since we got out on Earthcache Day, but decided to head over to this one today. Aren't these boulders amazing how they are so evenly round. Anyway with it raining, we quickly did the required tasks and got a pic. Thanks for the interesting history and information on these boulders. Its always great to learn something new. TFEC

On the way to the geocaching quiz today we called by here to grab this cache while in the area. It had turned into a beautiful afternoon after a showery morning so there were a number of people about - some were probably wondering why we were measuring the boulders.
Have sent the answers to the CO and photo of the 2 we measured attached. TFTC.

Stopped by here with Pazza2 and Geocchi after the Quiz event this arvo. Pazza had a tiny xmas cracker type tape measure; so there was a lot of "hold your finger in this spot, while I measure from there ..." to work out the answers. Hopefully we weren't too far out!
Also, only took a pic with one boulder ...may have to go back and get the rest... doh!

Earthcache weekend managed to get Bertie Blowfish and Mr Pazza out of the geo- event at Gailbraithes slightly earlier than I thought possible on this beautiful spring evening. We did all the measurements with a very inadequate 1 meter tape measure which meant we chose the 2 smallest possible boulders to measure. We were so taken with photographing the Cherry blossoms in full flower nearby that we failed to take the other photos as per instructions. Bertie emailed the answers and hopefully the c.o will forgive our failure to follow instructions to the letter. thanks for the Earthcache!

Thanks for taking us to this bowls as well. During our holiday we haven seen the ones of Moeraki, Koutu and Silverdale. Even we haven't seen the 5 m examples near Koutu, we feel the the boulders there are the most impressive because of their natural environment.
It's simply amazing how such a sperical structure could be formed.

GPS in hand as requested! Thanks for the cache. We have emailed the answers, hope nobody is too picky on our maths!!
Awesome birthday weekend caching in Auckland.