Rambler's Reward Challenge Cache (Dunedin, Otago) North Taieri, South Island, New Zealand
By daywalk on 31-May-11. Waypoint GC2XBA7

Well, seems like a great way to get up and walking. Ramble#1: 10/11/2024 Bealy Spur viewpoint (GC65EY0 - When I, in awesome wonder, consider all the works) We /started a bit late (4:22pm) and whilst the DOC it will take one hour to get there, we needed 1h45 /minutes. There was lots of mud, and the friend who was with us wasn't used to walking in these conditions. I found a stick and had fun. On the way down, I tripped on branches and rolled over, scary, but fun looking backwards.

This is a challenge that I have been aware of for years but I only decided to do something about it as I was recovering fitness after having hip replacement surgery earlier this year. The challenge provided extra encouragement for me to get out and about after having to limit my hiking for the past few years.I actually managed to qualify before leaving on my South Island trip even though I had plans to do rambles in the Wither Hills and Banks Peninsula that would have also meet the qualifying criteria. As it turned out, I completed another on my first full day in Dunedin in order to achieve a FTF of another daywalk cache.Today's ramble was done in ideal conditions and it was great to have the opportunity to find a good number of caches, including this one. The extra instructions to aid navigation were appreciated and I soon found what I was after. The container and contents were all in great condition. It's a favourite point from me.**Ramble 1:** I made a start on this challenge on Sunday 04/08/2024 with a loop walk of 5.1 km around Queen Elizabeth Park on the Kapiti Coast . The total elapsed time was 1:40:19 but only 1:02:56 was moving time. Five cache finds were added to my collection, including Queen Elizabeth Park Picnic Spot (GCAHQBH).**Ramble 2:** With my ramble 1 only just meeting the time criterion, I was pleased to be able to follow it up with something more substantial on Sunday 08/09/2024. It was an out and back walk of 16.57 kms on the Wild Coast track from Wellington's Wainuiomata Coast towards Ocean Beach in the Wairarapa. The total elapsed time was 4:06:23 with my moving time measured at 3:40:08. I found six caches including Rock Out With Your Cache Out (GCACD7V) which was my turn around point.**Ramble 3:** An out and back walk of 11.12 kms along the Orongorongo Track in the Wellington region on Saturday 14/09/2024. Starting at the Catchpool Valley carpark, I walked to secure a single cache find: Our Backyard...Orongorongo Valley (GC2KWH7). The total elapsed time was 3:10:33 with the moving time being 2:23:55.**Ramble 4:** What today's walk lacked in distance on my previous two rambles was made up for in climb. It was an on out and back walk of 6 kms in the Rangituhi (Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve) area in Porirua on Sunday 22/09/2024. I found two geocaches with my turn around point being Rangituhi North Ridge (GCADPKE). The total elapsed time was 2:05:52 with the moving time being 1:38:24.**Ramble 5:** Very pleasant weather on Sunday 29/09/2024 encouraged me to visit Belmont Regional Park, starting from the end of Takapu Road. It was an out and back (with a small detour) walk of 6.28 kms to find four caches with my turn around point being A Beeline to Takapu (GCAJ7Q7). The total elapsed time was 1:53:13 with the moving time being 1:38:13.**Ramble 6** was undertaken on a weekend away and I took on the York Road Loop Track in Central Taranaki on Saturday 05/10/2024. The walk was 10.36 kms in length and my moving time was said to be 1:17:43 out of a total elapsed time of 3:06:02. A good haul of ten cache finds was achieved with York Road Wagons Ho! (GCAHEKG) being the one that was the furthest from the car park.**Ramble 7:** I was back in the Wellington region this weekend and started my walk on Sunday 13/10/2024 from Karori. I ascended to the Skyline Walkway and later dropped down into Otari-Wilton's Bush, returning after finding four caches. Hiking Challenge - Medium (GCADP6B) was my turn around point. The walk was 7.12 kms in length and my moving time was 1:42:13 out of a total elapsed time of 2:06:38.

DAY Seven (28/10). The nice weather has been turned on today, a very nice day and it has become a very pleasant day to cache. Our team is still playing catch up, we have just the one event for today, we will work around that and make up for lost time. The plan is to finish the rest of aeroplane and albatross, to continue on the dts and a couple as we pass. Oh and then there is the old caches and some whereigos and my favourite letterboxes and multis ... OH so much to do, there is no time for food, lucky its still daylight till 8.30pm. Thanks to the COs for all the caches we found today. It was a great day and all caches were replaced as found.

Our third and final day of the Mega caching with geofriends from Aus before we go our separate ways. Group consisted of Bluewattle, chamad, Wollaston, Willis007, kolour, Ardom, Gcoven, BenM70, and Snickersallan. Logs were signed as QLD+1.A big thank you to all the cache owners who placed this great amount of caches for our enjoyment and the benefit of the whole geocaching community.Will action this one once I check all the hikes I have done previously.

Day three - Geo Toroa DunedinFinally the sun has decided to show its faceWith Queensland buddies, Snickersallan, chamad and Wollaston, BenM70, gcovernSigned log as QLD+1Thanks for creating and placing for our enjoyment

Rambler's Reward Challenge Cache (Dunedin, Otago)Dunedin MEGA Monday and day 3 of some great caching with QLD caching buddies! More great caches to be found while exploring the beautiful Dunedin. Signing our logs QLD + 1 to save room, we were pleased to see most of the caches had been recently maintained and enjoyed a great variety of hides and types.A massive thank you to all of the COs for the preparation, placement and maintenance of these caches. TFTC daywalk# 10684CheersWillis007

Out and about with Willis007 and other members of the group QLD+1 finding solved puzzles and multis plus other targeted caches. We decided to walk up to the oldie at the top, picking up a few traditionals on the way and signed this one too - hoping to qualify at some stage.

*** draft log for stats tracking, more later ***GC2XBA7 Rambler's Reward Challenge Cache (Dunedin, Otago)Mystery Regular28 Oct 2024T14:14:23 NZDTTFTC daywalkHeading south with Heihei, along with most of New Zealands cachers, for the Dunedin Mega.After the penguins and a rushed lunch I went for the Flagstaff Hill oldie, though didnt have time for the other 2 there I had on the list.Started recording my rambles in anticipation of the Mega. Quick find on another ramble. Handy trailhead marker, and the pigs? gave cleared even more.

Arrived in town from Queenstown and met up with the group of McLookers, Phetlern, feathertop, LuckyL10n and Wombatwandering and headed off for the 4 old Dunedin caches. This one was grabbed as we headed up the hill for Mt Flagstaff. Will check may qualification and work out my 'Ramblering' when home in a week or so.

Signed log as part of AOW team, Aussies on Walkabout . Will work on this challenge forthwith.Cheers

Day three of the GeoToroa Mega Road Trip with Sol de lune and our better halves. After a couple of nights in Queenstown, today we are headed across to Dunedin for the Mega weekend. On arrival, we met up with some other "Aussies on Walkabout" (McLookers, feathertop, Pheltern and Wombatwandering) to collect the four local caches published in 2000, along with some others we passed along the way, including this one, before wrapping up the day at the Meet and Greet Event. Logs were signed/stamped "Aussies on Walkabout" or "AoW" on behalf of our group and then returned as found. Signed the log for this cache and will claim a find once I can confirm that I qualify for the challenge.TFTC daywalk

I'll be Gazania's co-rambler, as long as she does the planning and the admin, as I am hopeless with keeping up to date with the various challenge caches she's made me sign. For any photos, please see her note.Ramble #1, 7th July 2024, Monadh Mor forest near Tore, Scotland. We spent 3 hours in the forest and walked for about 2 hours, the rest of the time was spent searching for caches and mushrooms. We saw some orchids and other wildflowers, and baby toads. I don't have a step counter, but looking at the map we must have walked a bit more than 5kms. Some areas were full of hungry mosquitoes, so we walked a bit faster in those. Our find furthest from the car park today was "Lovely Lochans Traditional Cache GC2KTDG" and we found a few other caches along the way too.Ramble #2, 11th July 2024, Mount Eagle, Black Isle, Scotland. Another forest walk, 1 hour and 45 minutes. We found 5 caches along the way, all quick finds, so we spent most of the time walking. The distance was about 6.2kms. Not much bother from bloodsuckers today, and hardly any people. "Wester Strath View Traditional Cache GC3MQB8" was one of the finds today.

Wombatwandering has alerted us to this challenge. We're hoping to come to Christchurch for the Mega in October too, so we'll try and get our 7 rambles done before then. Considering we live in the Scottish Highlands now, there really is no excuse for not qualifying. Zouavesauvage is going to join me on the rambles and the trip to New Zealand. Ramble #1, 7th July 2024, Monadh Mor forest near Tore, Scotland. We spent 3 hours in the forest and walked for about 2 hours, the rest of the time was spent searching for caches and mushrooms. We saw some orchids and other wildflowers, and baby toads. I don't have a step counter, but looking at the map we must have walked a bit more than 5kms. Some areas were full of hungry mosquitoes, so we walked a bit faster in those. Our find furthest from the car park today was "Lovely Lochans Traditional Cache GC2KTDG" and we found a few other caches along the way too. Ramble #2, 11th July 2024, Mount Eagle, Black Isle, Scotland. Another forest walk, 1 hour and 45 minutes. We found 5 caches along the way, all quick finds, so we spent most of the time walking. The distance was about 6.2kms. Not much bother from bloodsuckers today, and hardly any people. "Wester Strath View Traditional Cache GC3MQB8" was one of the finds today.

Id better start walking

I'm starting this challenge today so hopefully will have it completed in time for the Mega in October. Most of my rambles will be by bike I think. Ramble 1: today (21/4/24) I biked one of the longest rides I have done from my house, starting in Sydenham (south Christchurch) I followed different cycleways, through a few parks, and went and did some caching in Redwood (north Christchurch). I found three caches but the one I'll use for this challenge is GCAHTDP Tree Fishing Comes to Christchurch...Again. A long ride and I'm sore now but it was great to try tree fishing and catch up with the CO who lent me her tree fishing pole. Took me at least an hour each way, plus caching time.

This looks an interesting challenge. Hopefully I will be able to complete it before coming down to the Mega in October.

Found this reading someone's else log on a cache, this sounds quite easy as we love walking in the mountains. Will not be able to complete before the Mega, but maybe before our next visit to Dunedin in January.**19-10-2024: GC69KDQ Walk the walk canterbury**. I thought this wouldn't qualify, as I underestimated the T4.5 rating. An easy approach, a false start in the mud, a second false start on hard sand but in the wrong direction, a seagull attack, a wrong path chosen with water knee deep, and finally a cache found and return a better way. Probably just 1h walk in total, but at a terrain that left scars in few spots. ** suivre...**

Greetings from north Queensland, we have a couple of days booked in Dunedin in early January 2025 and hoping to sign the log then. Should be able to note 7 cache walks or paddles beforehand. Have records from map-my-walk/ride/paddle app if required. **Ramble 1**, well the 'Many Peaks' (multicache GCADJN1, 1/9/24) walk may not be all mountains in Townsville but it was hot, a good 3.5 hours and 12.5 km on a mosquito accompanied ordeal, at least in part, other parts had great bird life and views of Townsville and Magnetic Island though forest, grass and woodland. Past older caches (GC1P8XY, GCJYWA, GCVPNW, GCVPNW) signed 3 to 9 years ago and a heap of El Camino and Breaking Bad series caches, with a challenge (GCAKPE9) signed at the start.

**Ramble 1:** I made a start on this challenge on 04/08/2024 with a loop walk of 5.1 km around Queen Elizabeth Park on the Kapiti Coast . The total elapsed time was 1:40:19 but only 1:02:56 was moving time. Five cache finds were added to my collection, including Queen Elizabeth Park Picnic Spot (GCAJQBH).

We learnt about this challenge today, and it seems to be a do-able challenge before the Mega in October. We will update this post as we complete further ramblesOur first ramble today:Pauanui beach - out for about an hour and a half rambling and found 4 geocaches (actually 5 as at one location we found 2 containers) - GCAP677 was our first for the day. We also snapped a few photos of the birdlife along the way.

Challenge accepted, time to get hunting.

Challenge accepted! My wanderings, looking for caches, often turn into major rambles. Like Ramble #1 today (29/06/24), where I headed out to Wainuiomata Regional Park, looking for the legendary GC46, which I found, and then continued wombling along the available trails, finding an Earth cache and a further 6 Traditional caches. Here I am at GC46. Time spent rambling: 3 hours or so.Ramble #2 today (03/07/24) around the beautiful Whitireia Park Loop (have to look up the spelling every single time!). Just under 2 hours to cover 6.5km (big hill in the middle of it!), although there are ample opportunities to stop to look at the wildlife, pat friendly dogs or wander off onto other trails, as I did today, when gathering the info needed for virtual cache GC89107 Whitireia park views. There are many other traditional caches on this loop but I have collected them all as this is a favourite walk of mine (have been away for 3 years, so nice to re-famiarise myself with it). More info about this walk and others in the Porirua area can be found here: https://poriruacity.govt.nz/discover-porirua/walking-biking/walk/top-10-walks/. Time spend rambling: 2.5 hours.

Another Ramble todayRamble 3 Swampy summit via leith saddle track 29/6/24 10.8km returnGC1V7RW A little light relief -DNFGCZ0RC Walkways of Otago: Leith saddle -DNFGC36CC6 Cassia cacheGCR2GQ Swampy SpurGC3BV2V Along Swampy SpurGCJ1CF Swampy transmitterGC183CR Is that a FLAYING SAUCER ON SWAMPY?

Heading up to Dunedin the day before to meet up with my caching buddy to start this challenge . It may take a while to complete the 7 rambles but gotta start somewhere signed book on the 28th June. Off to Cromwell for a rest before catching up with TD again for my first ramble.Ramble #1 - Bendigo Kanuka loop track 30/6/24 parked at Welshtown then completed the loop from there 13.5km returnGC2GVMQ - Logantown goldGC2GVM4 - Chinamans creekGC2GVJQ - Kanuka track(PS this will be the only biggy I attempt!)

Im accepting this challenge starting today put my name it the book while up Flagstone so onto my ramblesRamble 1 Flagstaff 28/6/24I spent about 3 hours going up and down the hill for a mountain dog challenge and of course grabbed come caches on my wayGC8KJY9 a far sighted gapGC31PYY old school challenge - signed (yet to qualify) GC5ENED T for 2GC2XBA7 Ramblers reward challenge signed (yet to qualify)GCMK8H Done to a TGC180TC Flagstaff twins Total distance walked 8km Ramble 2 Mt Cargill 28/6/24Parked at the bottom of Bethunes gulley and walked to the summit and back 2 1/2 hrs return GC5VWF9 Older and Bolder - DNFGC4Y4W2 Bethunes Gully to Mt CargillGC186DV Cargill Cacheroughly 9km (my watch died)

ooooh I love the concept of rambling as a hike, having only known it as verbally rambling on, that I may be known for!Thanks to my Victorian friends for pointing out this fun challenge whilst I did my first ramble Ramble 1: [GC78CCG The Memory Code](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC78CCG). Blackburn, Victoria Australia on 26/5/24. Time taken: ~130 minutes.A fun whereigo with 22 waypoints to learn about memorising facts using sensory stimuli. We saw exotic fungi and tawny frogmouths.Ramble 2: [GC77WDH Treasure Island](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC77WDH ). Phillip Island, Victoria Australia on 1/6/24. Time taken: ~ 80 minutes.A good series through native bushland on a track with many wallabies and kookaburras out underneath the rainbows.

OK so the Melbourne gals put me on to this challenge a few days ago in anticipation for our visit for the Mega in October....Tiz13 loves to Ramble both verbally and physically...But OMG why so many rules...am I going to remember them all??..can't back log, can't update log..need to mention challenge in log..Doh looks like my 2 sepeate rambles from yesterday already logged can't count. Oh but I do love a challenge ...so I'm on board stay tuned for updates...

First ramble completed. 2 and a half hour round trip. Athens centre to the Acropolis and return. 30 degrees C and full sunshine. Every man and their dog trying to get a ticket. Luckily we'd prebooked. Apparently it was a quieter day than yesterday, when there were fughts in the crowd. Stopped to get a trad at the bottom (GC5G15Q) plus 4 Earthcaches that are on the way up.

I accept the ramble challenge. I'm in Athens just now although I live in Melbourne. I'm going up the Acropolis tomorrow and it's all off road and slippy, and uphill a long way, so hope that qualifies.

Looking forward to going to Dunedin in October, I better start rambling.#1 Ramble: Portland, Vic, AU. 19/5/24 Many multis half completed. One complete: GC2XNW8. Fitness tracker says 3 hours.

Im investigating the map around Dunedin due to heading across the ditch in Oct 24 for the Mega, so I hope to qualify for this challenge and claim the smiley! Ramble #1, coming soon!

Saw HHG's note in his log for the event about this challenge, and I'm keen to give it a go to see if I can meet the requirements in time for the Mega. Ramble 1 - 4/5/24 - Eastern Hills of Lower Hutt. Found a total of 10 Trads, 2 puzzles, and attended the event GCAN08V - Xtreme Xercise to celebrate 24 years of geocaching. Walked the Rata Loop Track, and parts of the ECNZ/Mount Ken Track and Stokes Valley Road Track past Trig BON9 391m. Around 3hrs walking (5hrs with stops)

Came across this challenge cache while starting to plan for the Mega-Event trip later this year. Will monitor and log future rambles in anticipation of the visit.

Tagging along with RNZ on this challenge Starting today

Have read the page and will commence the challenge from today.

Have read the page and will commence the challenge from today.

Starting this one from today

Have read the page and intend to start this challenge. Will keep a record of future caches that will help with qualifying.

I saw this challenge just after started caching. It was made for me. Dunedin has the Wednesday walkers well we have the Tuesday Trampers. Very foggy on the tops today. So no view and I didn't pick the best route. A big thank you. A FP given

Suppose I ought to start aiming towards this..1. 7/11/23 - A rather big loop, starting from Booth Road. Veered off to get [Treemendous](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC5R2VC_treemendous-otago) first, then back down and up the Old Pineapple to grab the [Old Pineapple Multi,](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1CPE1_old-pineapple-dunedin-otago) came out up the top, quickly nipped across to [A Different Kind of Torture](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC31ZXV_a-different-kind-of-torture-otago), then had a sit on the new seat up at Pineapple Point.. and back down. Took 2.5 hours. 2. 11/11/23 - With Mum, we parked at the Carpark by the start of the Leith Saddle Track, went up to the Swampy Summit, collecting [A Little Light Relief](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1V7RW_a-little-light-relief-otago), [Cassia Cache](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC36VV6_cassia-cache-otago), [Walkways of Otago: Leith Saddle,](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCZ0RC_walkways-of-otago-leith-saddle) [Swampy Spur,](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCR2GQ_swampy-spur-otago) [Along Swampy Spur,](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC3BV2V_along-swampy-spur-otago) [Swampy Transmitter,](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCJ1CF_swampy-transmitter-otago) [Flying Saucer](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC183CR_is-that-a-flying-saucer-on-swampy-otago), [No Moa no More](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC47KHM_no-moa-no-more-otago) then continued along the road until [VHF on Swampy](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC321X5_vhf-on-swampy-otago) where I turned back. Took just over 4 hours. An absolutely stunning day, no clouds, a gentle breeze, a helicopter up on top of Swampy and about 2 other people total!

At long last I am catching up with my logging after 2 weeks of tripping around the South Island. I had heard Itchyfeet2020 and TwigNZ talk about this cache and dismissed the idea of trying to do complete it -I am not the fastest of walkers (especially uphill) -TwigNZ will tell you that. However, during the week after walking the track to the Old School Challenge I did two other long walks which made me realise I could complete this challenge (and it will be a challenge), even if it took a while.So, I am logging my intention to start recording my rambles. More to come about the first two as I complete writing my logs.

***Logging as a Write Note until qualifying is completed***A group of friends have traveled together to Dunedin to collectively target a whole bunch of caches, primarily because of their value in terms of Jasmer Grid filling, or for certain Challenge Caches that we have elected to try to achieve.M.M.I.N.T.T are Mr-Mcgoo, matagouri, Itchyfeet2020, NZ_B, taybee nz and TwigNZ. Some logs were signed this way, some were signed as M.I.N.T for expediency, and some (mainly Challenge Caches) were signed with individual names.Our 'big' target for today would be a walk up to Flagstaff to get the old cache there as well as GC31PYY. We knew it would not necessarily be an easy day for a mixed ability group such as ourselves, but we were all keen to do it and worked together to help everyone through it.Having spotted this interesting looking Challenge Cache some time ago, it is to my own detriment that I didn't fully read the cache page as I would have qualified for this several times over during 2023 alone. However, in the spirit in which the challenge was set, I will start my qualification now. Thank you for placing this cache for all to find.Qualifying:1st Ramble. 19.10.23 to get to GC31PYY. Started from the Bull Ring, and the round trip took us 5 hours (with caching time). More details can be gleaned from my log above.2nd Ramble26.10.23. Whilst not strictly what I would term as a proper ramble, this evening I was joint FTF on GCAE75Y which involved a surprise walk of just over an hour including having to cross several streams and not all by bridge either. Photo added for this one.

Logging as a Write Note to be added to with each trip - A group of Wellie cachers have been playing in Dunedin, visiting old caches, specific wherigo types, geoart and having lots of fun. In the process of planning our trip to Flagstaff and the Old School Challenge I came across this Challenge. As summer approaches I am sure I will be doing more walking, esp as I chase the last few oldies I need. Qualifying Rambles1. On 19.10.23 we walked to GC31PYY. Starting from the Bull Ring parking up to Flagstaff and on to GC31PYY. The round trip took us over 4 hours including a couple of sideways bush bashes for caches.

13/9/2023 Find #6507
I had begun planning for this cache back in 2019, when Fangsoki and I were initially discussing plans to come to NZ for the Auckland Mega. Sadly Covid put a kibosh on those plans, and it has taken until now for us to make it out to NZ. In that time I have done many long hike, as a matter of fact the weekend before we flew to NZ we did a 10 hour hike with amazing views for 2 traditionals and an earthcache.
Finally I managed to make it up here and find the cache and add my name to the log. You are right about that gorse!! I am very grateful for the bunnies digging up patches. After today in particular I have a very real hatred for that bush - my right hand is currently full of prickles from landing in a bush.
My qualifying caches are listed in my write note, although I would love to add as a bonus #8 cache GCB0 Flagstaff Hill, found today, firstly as it is a NZ hike to add to the list, and secondly for the hell incurred in getting it today.
Thanks for the challenge daywalk.

Logging intention to start recording my rambles.

Ramble #1 - GypsySun&Rainbow and I had a nice ramble on a 12/6/23. We wandered down Kirks Track (just off Summit Road) so I could avenge a DNF at GC67XPG Tomtit (Canterbury). GS&R made the spot after a bit of a search. Happy to get this one in the bag! It was feeling a bit lonely. I was scouting locations for a few new traditional so we kept the ramble going down Nelson’s Track to Anne’s Waterfall. What a stunner! We went back up the hill on Rhodes Track and made the ascent to Gibraltar Rock. It was a clear day and the views were spectacular. Then back to the car for a well deserved lunch. All up, 5.4km at just under 2 hours.

Ramble #2 - 15/6/23. I went up Bridle for the first time today, despite living in Chch for over five years! The goal was to find the multi GC231WA The Pipeline Cache. Surprisingly got it straight away in one attempt. Heading back up to Summit Road to get a Grandalf oldie and a well deserved lunch. Still a bit to go but at time of this log (when I found the multi) it has been an hour and 15 minutes at 1.8km.

Commencing this challenge today. We will be completing a hike in to Omaru Falls GC46F3.

We have been on enough rambles to qualify for this Challenge many times over; but only spotted recently in a log while preparing for a ramble, which we decided to make our first for this challenge.

**First ramble, 22/12/2022, Ascent of Mt Herbert**: With Ilmari_the_Red and a non-cacher we picked up the trail where it crosses Bayview Road, leaving there at 9:45am and arriving at the summit of Mt Herbert 2 1/2 hours later, at 12:15pm. En route we collected all 6 caches of 8ManAfter's Mt Herb series ([GC8G1QZ](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8G1QZ), [GC8G1R5](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8G1R5), [GC8G1RD](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8G1RD), [GC8G1RE](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8G1RE), [GC8G1RF](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8G1RF), [GC8G1RJ](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8G1RJ)) plus Sandfly tucker's [Topo50 BX24 790637](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4ATYE). On the way up we had sun and clouds, and there was only a light wind at the summit when we ate luch; quite a contrast to a previous visit to Mt Herbert in the 2000s. We then found the classic [Sign of the Polar Bear](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCHAW8) by Bear_Left, [Shelter from the Storm](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6X3J5) by jess.daphne and [No sign of a Polar Bear](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC3D0W1) by Sandfly tucker. We left the last cache at 1:10pm and made the descent in 1 hour 10 minutes - with the wind picking up and clouds rolling in on top - to be back at the car at 2:20pm. Ilmari_the_Red's app tells us the total walking time (caching time excluded) was 3 hours 24 minutes.

... Continued:**4th ramble, 28/12/2023, D/T 5.0 5.0 Lyttelton harbour**: After much careful planning with the tides, Ilmari_the_Red and one half of trifolia argentea finally collected our first D/T 5/5, a puzzle, solved years ago. We left the carpark at 12:05 pm, squelched through mud flats, clambered over rocks, admired the beautiful scenery and bird life, and arrived at [GC6431D](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6431D) at 12:50pm. A quick find. The return journey had us back at the car at 1:38pm, making this a 1 hour 33 minutes ramble.**5th ramble, 7/1/2024, Hills of the Port**: The adventure really began a year ago in January 2023, with Trifolia B doing the adventure lab. Jogging down Witches Hill there was a tussock hiding hole with a huge basalt boulder inside the hole. Right foot went in and snap, snap, snap - the sound of 3 metatarsal bones breaking. The ankle was fine, so collected the final 2 A/L way points walking on the heel ... and drove home. As soon as the foot was in plaster there was no more driving, or caching, for some time. Today, a year later both team members came to get the final, parking at the road end. We walked up and enjoyed a lunch at the Gondola cafe, and found [GCA5QRY](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCA5QRY_the-basket-of-heads-can) before continuing along the Crater Rim track and the road to finally claim [GC9WBZV](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC9WBZV). The walking part was 1 hour 25 minutes, plus the many stops.**6th ramble, 10/3/2024, King Billy Cache**: A visit to the famous caches of Quail Island was deferred until a visited of Ilmari_the_Red aligned with the tides. We started with a Hex on Quail Island under the witches' spell and then proceeded to our King Billy [GC2JXZV](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC2JXZV) goal, with trifolia B and Ilmari_the_Red donning gumboots. The day's adventures included 7 other caches: memorable among them the historically fascinating [Lepers Cottage](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6687N), [Ex Veritas Aqua](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC84YV8) and [D/T 4.5/5.0](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6431N). The latter was an adventure in itself, with trifolia A waiting at the top of a steep (but scrambable) shute while husband and son carefully descended and returned having claimed the prize with the rising tide lapping at their boots. With a hearty lunch and DNF at [Otamahua Hut](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC805VP), a couple of other successes, a final search broke the witches' hex to uncover [GC2VEMA](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC2VEMA) from under branches that had been piled in the year since it had been last found. The time spent scrambling during our 5 hours on the island was certainly more than enough to qualify.

I will look for the cache sometime in the future. My rambles are as follows:
1) 4/1/22 A regular KHAM tramping day walk to Martin's Hut. GC90JDC. A 20 minute walk up the old road then a 35 min climb in the bush to the hut for lunch then return.
2) 28/3/22 A 5 hour return trip to GC90JC7 Turnbulls Hut from the Colac Bay end.
3) 19/5/22 From the Henley end a 90 minute return trip to GC17ECX Walkways of Otago : Taieri Millenium also picked up GC2XRCC and GcNXY
4) 26/7/22 On a KHAM trip walked to my cache GCQX7D Printz Battery from the Kiwi Burn road. Checked the cache then bashed our way up to the upper road. We took the wrong ridge what was to be a 90 min bash doubled.
5) 6/11/22 After getting permission from the trust walked up to GC2T5D Calling the kettle Black. Carried on to GC380ZD Exodus returned to the road via the reservoir . Picked up GC37V3E, GC6M4P3 and GC2A7ZA . Time about 2 hours.
6) 7/11/22 From the quarry walked up MT Cutten and part of the way to Mt Martin. Picked up GC95KA6 Len Lye tribute and GC3CF3M The Gross Challenge. Time one and a half hours.
7) 8/11/22 Did a loop around Flagstaff from the Bullring. The main objective was GCB0 Flagstaff Hill but picked up 9 caches . It took 3.5 hours
29/11/22 A mtb day trip to Boundary Hut. Took the 4wd track along Lake Mavora. Picked up GC6APNC Hut bagging Boundary hut as well as GC4PYYC, GC4PZ0T, GC4PZ29 and GC6APNA. It took about 5 hours.
Rambles are not a problem as I usually have a Kham trip once a week and as one of the other members is also a cacher it usually will involve a cache. Finding some caches is the bigger issue.

An afternoon outing from the Bullring to cut some of the dead gorse. Added a couple of swaps, had a cup of tea while we admired the view, then returned via the Firebreak track.

There's now a cleared path to the hide. From the main track waypoint, go up to the top of the tussock area and you'll find the path.

Was I glad to find this. The area is all waist-high dead gorse at the moment. Cache was only 4m from where my GPSr was pointing but there were a lot of rocks to search in a 15m radius. But I eventually found it after a reassuring phone call to the CO. Thanks for the challenge, I enjoyed the walks. A favourite despite the gorse

Rambles (all local):
10 August 2022: I drove out past Osborne to carpark for Purakaunui Beach. The return trip took an hour's walking and I found two caches in the back dunes between the end of the road and the entrance of the inlet: GC9NZNK Kete Bag, and GC9NZMV Purakaunui Beach Walk.

2 August 2022: we parked that the bottom of Spiers Rd and walked up to Ben Rudd's farm and back on the paper road, a couple of hours up and back. I logged GC37Z5X The Black Box, GC71DPE Above Ben Rudd's First Farm and GC24348 Ben Rudds 1: Gardener.

24 July 2022: I started at Booth Rd carpark at 10.30am and returned 2pm. The route linked two mystery caches, GC5R2VC Treemendous and GC1QJ12 Katie's Nightmare, the locations of which should remain mysterious. The route was partly along McGoun's Track, partly on an old track that I never knew existed and partly bushbashing between the two caches and then back to the old track. Along the way I also found GC1GE6E Possum Hunt and (on two short in-and-out legs) GC52Y1P Crossing McGoun's and GC60153 Having a Ball.

23 July 2022: we went up Swampy to find GC1ACMM Walkways of Otago: Flagstaff-Swampy Summit. Our route took us up the Pineapple Track to the cache on Swampy, then backtracked via the firetrail to Flagstaff, then back down the Pineapple Track. En route, we found GC5NQFW More Than Meets The Eye, GCTA3R Fruitless and GCQN0B A Glimpse of Distant Hills.

17 July 2022: I departed Nicols Creek carpark on Leith Valley Road and collected GC5HXCF Wanderlust, GC343M1 Looking for Something, GC348E9 Looking for Spiders and Finding Birds, GC921GT Love in Mist Too (where I logged this challenge ramble), GC921HY Admiring the View and GC6BXVF Moon Track Hideaway Cache as well as three mystery caches (in no particular order): GC4J2FF Just Bending the Rules a Little Bit, GC5N8XZ Hot or Not and GC4J2FF Vicious Vexation.

7 July 2022: my sister and I left her place below Booth Road at 8.45am and returned at 1.15pm. On the way we collected GC1CPE1 Old Pineapple, GC1GRHA Overnight on Pineapple, GC3851K Follow That Trail, GC5ENED T for 2 (where I logged this Ramblers Reward Challenge), GC6R8QY Just a Little Bit Rocky, GC6Z373 Track Maintenance, GC22XMB Finding An Even Smaller Gap, GC617KP Leith Valley School, plus two mystery caches: GC1HN70 Nicols Miss Communication and GC93XJV Stars In Your Eyes at Ross Creek.

3 July 2022: I left the Leith Saddle car park at 8.30am, and returned at 3pm.
I walked up to Swampy , along to VHF transmitter. I also diverted to pick up The WopWops mystery cache (I’m not giving any clue to its whereabouts). I then returned the same way.
I logged the following caches: GCZ0RC Walkways of Otago: Leith Saddle, GC36VV6 Cassia Cache, GCR2GQ Swampy Spur, GC3BV2V Along Swampy Spur, GCJ1CF Swampy Transmitter, GC183CR Is that a Flying Saucer on Swampy?, GC47KHM No Moa, NoMore, GC321X5 VHF on Swampy (in the online log of which I mentioned this was my Reward Ramble walk) as well as GC836QT The Wop Wops.

I completed my final ramble this morning (10 August 2022): I drove out past Osborne on the road to Purakaunui Beach and parked at the designated area. The return trip took an hour's walking: along the road to the beach and then down the beach, to find the two caches in the back dunes between the end of the road and the entrance of the inlet: GC9NZNK Kete Bag, and GC9NZMV Purakaunui Beach Walk. It was half tide so I was able to amble along the hard sand, on a glorious morning.

Today (24 July 2022) was my fifth ramble, on my own this time, starting at Booth Rd carpark at 10.30am and returning 2pm. It's hard to describe the route as it linked two mystery caches, GC5R2VC Treemendous and GC1QJ12 Katie's Nightmare, the locations of which should remain mysterious. The route was partly along McGoun's Track, partly on an old track that I never knew existed and partly bushbashing between the two caches and then back to the old track. Along the way I also found GC1GE6E Possum Hunt and (on two short in-and-out legs) GC52Y1P Crossing McGoun's and GC60153 Having a Ball.

For my 4th ramble on 23 July 2022, I coaxed my marine biologist away from the coast and up Swampy to find GC1ACMM Walkways of Otago: Flagstaff-Swampy Summit. We left Booth Road at 10.30 and returned at 3pm. Our route took us up the Pineapple Track to the cache on Swampy, then backtracked via the firetrail to Flagstaff, then back down the Pineapple Track. En route, we found GC5NQFW More Than Meets The Eye, GCTA3R Fruitless and GCQN0B A Glimpse of Distant Hills. A most enjoyable ramble on a lovely winter's day.

I completed my third ramble on 17 July 2022, this one in the Nicols Creek catchment. Departing Leith Valley road at 9.30am today, I collected: GC5HXCF Wanderlust, GC343M1 Looking for Something, GC348E9 Looking for Spiders and Finding Birds, GC921GT Love in Mist Too (where I logged this challenge ramble), GC921HY Admiring the View and GC6BXVF Moon Track Hideaway Cache as well as three mystery caches (in no particular order): GC4J2FF Just Bending the Rules a Little Bit, GC5N8XZ Hot or Not and GC4J2FF Vicious Vexation. I couldn't find On yer Bike though: I'll return with other searchers, another time, to make that task easier. I arrived back at the car very tired at 3.30pm, minus the back cover of my GPSr , which was a bit annoying. (Next day, I went back to the last cache I found yesterday and managed to locate the back cover off my GPSr, which cheered me up.)

On 7 July, I did my second Ramble. My sister and I left her place below Booth Road at 8.45am and returned at 1.15pm. On the way we collected GC1CPE1 Old Pineapple, GC1GRHA Overnight on Pineapple, GC3851K Follow That Trail, GC5ENED T for 2 (where I logged this Ramblers Reward Challenge), GC6R8QY Just a Little Bit Rocky, GC6Z373 Track Maintenance, GC22XMB Finding An Even Smaller Gap, GC617KP Leith Valley School, plus two mystery caches: GC1HN70 Nicols Miss Communication and GC93XJV Stars In Your Eyes at Ross Creek. It was a brilliant walk. We detoured to see Nicols Falls, where neither of us had been before.

For my first ramble, on 3 July, I left Leith Saddle car park at 8.30am, and returned at 3pm.
I walked up to Swampy , along to VHF transmitter. I also diverted to pick up The WopWops mystery cache (I’m not giving any clue to its whereabouts). I then returned the same way.
I logged the following caches: GCZ0RC Walkways of Otago: Leith Saddle, GC36VV6 Cassia Cache, GCR2GQ Swampy Spur, GC3BV2V Along Swampy Spur, GCJ1CF Swampy Transmitter, GC183CR Is that a Flying Saucer on Swampy?, GC47KHM No Moa, NoMore, GC321X5 VHF on Swampy (in the online log of which I mentioned this was my Reward Ramble walk) as well as GC836QT The Wop Wops. It was a lovely midwinter day on Swampy, no frost and only a gentle breeze. Leith Saddle track wasn’t too muddy - not particularly slippery, surprisingly.

Completed my 4th ramble today: I coaxed my marine biologist away from the coast and up Swampy to find GC1ACMM Walkways of Otago: Flagstaff-Swampy Summit. We left Booth Road at 10.30 and returned at 3pm. Our route took us up the Pineapple Track to the cache on Swampy, then backtracked via the firetrail to Flagstaff, then back down the Pineapple Track. En route, we found GC5NQFW More Than Meets The Eye, GCTA3R Fruitless and GCQN0B A Glimpse of Distant Hills. A most enjoyable ramble on a lovely winter's day.

Today, I went back to the last cache I found yesterday and managed to locate the back cover off my GPSr, which cheered me up.

I completed my third ramble, this one in the Nicols Creek catchment. Departing Leith Valley road at 9.30am today, I collected: GC5HXCF Wanderlust, GC343M1 Looking for Something, GC348E9 Looking for Spiders and Finding Birds, GC921GT Love in Mist Too (where I logged this challenge ramble), GC921HY Admiring the View and GC6BXVF Moon Track Hideaway Cache as well as three mystery caches (in no particular order): GC4J2FF Just Bending the Rules a Little Bit, GC5N8XZ Hot or Not and GC4J2FF Vicious Vexation. I couldn't find On yer Bike though: I'll return with other searchers, another time, to make that task easier. I arrived back at the car very tired at 3.30pm, minus the back cover of my GPSr , which was a bit annoying.

Today (7 July), I did my second Ramble for this challenge. My sister and I left her place below Booth Road at 8.45am and returned at 1.15pm. On the way we collected GC1CPE1 Old Pineapple, GC1GRHA Overnight on Pineapple, GC3851K Follow That Trail, GC5ENED T for 2 (where I logged this Ramblers Reward Challenge), GC6R8QY Just a Little Bit Rocky, GC6Z373 Track Maintenance, GC22XMB Finding An Even Smaller Gap, GC617KP Leith Valley School, plus two mystery caches: GC1HN70 Nicols Miss Communication and GC93XJV Stars In Your Eyes at Ross Creek. It was a brilliant walk. We detoured to see Nicols Falls, where neither of us had been before.

This is my first ramble: on 3 July, I left Leith Saddle car park at 8.30am, and returned at 3pm.

I walked up to Swampy , along to VHF transmitter. I also diverted to pick up The WopWops mystery cache (I’m not giving any clue to its whereabouts). I then returned the same way.

I logged the following caches: GCZ0RC Walkways of Otago: Leith Saddle, GC36VV6 Cassia Cache, GCR2GQ Swampy Spur, GC3BV2V Along Swampy Spur, GCJ1CF Swampy Transmitter, GC183CR Is that a Flying Saucer on Swampy?, GC47KHM No Moa, NoMore, GC321X5 VHF on Swampy (in the online log of which I mentioned this was my Reward Ramble walk) as well as GC836QT The Wop Wops.

Sorry, I didn’t take any photos. It was a lovely midwinter day on Swampy, no frost and only a gentle breeze. Leith Saddle track wasn’t too muddy - not particularly slippery, surprisingly.

11:23
The hardest part of this challenge was to remember to mark the activities as rambles conciously and tie them to this challenge. I had put it in my list ages ago but was not marking the geocache walks down as rambles for a while.
Finally started doing it end of last year.

Today, going up to Flagstaff Hill, this was right on the way! Well, a bit of a detour, only 50m off trackk, right, not too bad, right!?
Turned out, that 40 of those 50m were just straight up bashing through gorse. Ouch, ouch and ouch again!
I thought, well, maybe once I get to the cache I will at least find a path back down not through the gorse but that was not possible. Gorse is just unavoidable here. Also, so damn windy today!!

These were the rambles. I have dones more since the 7th and before finding this challenge but I will not list any more

**1) 30.12.2021. - Lake Marian Track tramp** - [Marian Falls](https://coord.info/GCHXGQ) & [The stunning Lake Marian](https://coord.info/GC7439C). Trip stats is about 2h40min walking time ~7.7km distance, 441m elevation gain. Tracklog (split into two activities) - [Uphill](https://www.strava.com/activities/6445465821)/[Downhill](https://www.strava.com/activities/6445467065)

**2) 02.01.2022. - Chalkies-Leishman Loop tramp** - [Walkways of Otago: Leishman Falls Ridge](https://coord.info/GC1MDTK) & 3 other caches on the walk but at the bottom. Trip stats is about 2h15min walking time ~7.3km distance, 445m elevation gain. Tracklog (split into two again) - [Uphill](https://www.strava.com/activities/6468386570)/[Downhill](https://www.strava.com/activities/6459536753)

**3) 08.01.2022. - Motuariki kayak paddle** - [Tekapo Island](https://coord.info/GC18B4P), [Tekapo Sumberged](https://coord.info/GC77H7W), [Tekapo Sanctuary](https://coord.info/GC77H7B). Total 14km paddled, 2h50min moving time, 4222 strokes recorded. Maximum speed registered - 7.1km/h! [Paddlelog](https://www.strava.com/activities/6488935763)

**4) 23.01.2022. - Browns Island grassy struggle** - [✪ Browns Island - Adventure Lab Bonus ✪](https://coord.info/GC9M41D) was the main cache, but picked up 14 other caches, 5 Adventure Lab points, and even hid one geocache on the way! Total 1h21min walking time, 5.8km distance and an amazing but obviously erroneous 2117m elevation gain! Total descent is reported at 174m, and that should also be the gain value as finished at the same point where started. [Tracklog](https://www.strava.com/activities/6566354486)

**5) 12.02.2022. - Duffys Creek Route** - [Duffy Creek Route](https://coord.info/GC4F3JZ). About 1h40min moving time, 4.6km covered, 298m total ascent. A very memorable one as this was the hunt for NZs 2nd loneliest cache! We found it! [Tracklog](https://www.strava.com/activities/6669144916)

**6) 12.03.2022 - Hike up Mount Herbert** - Several caches on the way, but let's be honest, the [Sign of the Polar Bear](https://coord.info/GCHAW8) was the main goal. About 4h30min moving time. 18.4km distance and 1km of accumulated altitude gain. [Traacklog](https://www.strava.com/activities/6810163987)

**7) 26-27.03.2022 - MTB/Hike/Madness up the Poulter River and to Lake Minchin** - DNF for the main goal but this was also on the way [Got another hut pass?](https://coord.info/GC2MT26) Duration - 2 DAYS!!! This is by far the mammoth effort of these rambles, so a fitting closing one. A total of about 11 hours of moving time. A grueling MTB ride out to Poulter/Trust Hut, 28km one way. Then 2.3km walk to the Poulter Hut, and sleep. Next morning hike up to Lake Minchin, and unfortunately a DNF on the Loneliest Cache in NZ. Back down, and back to the bikes. Total of about 10.5km walked. Then the 28km MTB ride back to the car. Had not been that exhausted for a loooong time!! But good fun, makes me want to get a MTBike.

I have now deleted my note as the rambles are included here.

OUT - measuring tape
IN - USB-A to USB-C adapter

Kia ora! Paldies!
TFTC, daywalk!
#8876

Placeholder note so I remember to ramble when I ramble!

Starting note recording my interest in going for some rambles. Marius Imperator visited.

No caching during Covid-19 alert levels Level 3 & 4.
This includes virtual waypoints - we need to stay home except for essential outings.
Working together, we can beat delta and keep our community safe.

[https://covid19.govt.nz/](https://covid19.govt.nz/)

[https://wiki.groundspeak.com/display/GEO/New+Zealand?fbclid=IwAR2GUaxN7zpUQI2Suglt1ggVnCqw8V1emnygD1Tdw6YTu1f4LUcIt92oZhs](https://wiki.groundspeak.com/display/GEO/New+Zealand?fbclid=IwAR2GUaxN7zpUQI2Suglt1ggVnCqw8V1emnygD1Tdw6YTu1f4LUcIt92oZhs)

Had recently completed my rambles so this was a must do today. Access from the track was ok in the beginning but the closer to GZ we got the more mutuel the gorse and therefore more scratches. The cache was found after a short search at GZ. Thanks for the cache and thanks for getting me out and about by foot and on the bike.

Finally remembered to log a ramble as counting towards this challenge.
1. 26-09-20 John Bull Gully View GC2XR2C. Along Millennium track from Henley end. 1hr 15mins
2. 3-10-20 Viva La Vida! GC5REMR. About 4 hrs return including finding other caches.

For some reason I stopped noting rambles at ramble 6. Well I wanted to plan something for the almost within reach 400 geocaches goal and thought a challenge cache would be a good milestone. Fortunately I checked well before I had time to head up into the hills and discovered I hadn't logged a 7th ramble. This was going to be more of a challenge, juggling geokiddos and long walks haven't been on the agenda, we've been more of a park and grab type year .... but today was the day and headed out along Silverstream.
Total walk time was 2.5 hours and a good haul of geocaches.
- Started at GC6XNYH Shiver me Timbers! that I had previously found
- Past GC3KKNE another previous find
- A quick detour to GC8P3NX Nose Dive. A DNF thwarted by dog walkers
- Fashioned a bit of a cover up at the lying exposed solitude GC3D28Y
- A needle in a haystack until you find the hint at GC3WZEC Knott Hole, didn't spot on the way out but bingo! for the hint on the return.
- The right kind of day to search for GC3B7JA Parkside without a pitch side audience
- Learning some new botany at GC5DKFR Silver Stream Walkway - Ribes
- A lack of cover story led to more of a 'did not search' rather than a "DNF' at GC3D28D Under or over
- Happy for a straightforward is where it says in the title and cover story provided at GC8TM7W Silverstream Libraries (must not be the only one making the most of the gap between showers today).
- GC8TM7T A World of scrap reminded me of easier to travel times and sculpture hunting with my dad (currently half a world away)
- Realising it's straightforward when you follow instructions at GC8TM7Q Sitting is crucial (and now realising I haven't been following instructions and logging these all as rambles - hopefully logging the furthest cache covers it)
- Couldn't time a search for GC3CR65 Silverstream Stroll with the dog walkers
- The furthest point of the walk and a favourite point at GC75D9A The Abacus. Logged as the ramble
- Meeting the W.E.K.As at GC6C72Q Silver Springs
- Last cache of the day with encouragement (all right and a significant hint with Mrs W.E.K.A) at GC8F173
I believe that's me now qualified for the challenge cache, now to inch towards my 400 cache goal (hopefully a lot quicker than the 6th - 7th ramble gap)

This looks like fun! Just heading to Dunedin to do some walks up in the hills so logging my intention to start this and see how quickly I can do it before heading to the finish.

1. 16/06/20 Flagstaff Hill GCB0 the oldest still going in the South Island. Also signed the Ramblers Log as was close. 3hr 55min hike as loop closed due to possum trapping.
2. 17/06/20 Haywards Mistake GC6MFF8. 3hr hike.
3. 18/06/20 Tank You For This GC2FQHN. 1hr 50min hike on long loop trails.
4. 18/06/20 Wanderlust GC5HXCF. 2hr 30min hike. Very slippery.
5. 19/06/20 Under or Over GC3D28D. 2hr 25mins hike along the Silver Stream. Took 4 goes to find it but got it in the end.
6. 20/06/20 Swampy Transmitter GCJ1CF. 4hr 35min hike up Leith Saddle Track, past the flying saucer etc then down again.
7. 21/06/20 Puketapu GCJWR0. 1hr 25min. Shortest hike up to the cairn but the hardest as very steep! Great way to finish the challenge.

Re enabled because of the move to Level 2. Stay safe; be kind.

New Zealand is under Level 4 lockdown from today for at least a month, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I am disabling all my caches for the meantime to remind people that we MUST break the chain of infection.

Covid-19 is now being spread within the community, person to person. We know that the virus will remain on surfaces like metal and plastic for up to 4 days.

We have only one chance to stop the Covid-19 virus spreading further. This is to BREAK the chain of infection by keeping each household separated completely. During this time each of us MUST keep isolated and only share with the people in our own household.

The best advice is to act as though you are infected... which you might be. We know there are cases in Dunedin... I might be infected and so might you.

If you touch a cache container, you will leave viruses on the plastic, logbook and pen. Those will remain infectious for up to 4 days. Suppose some other person finds the cache tomorrow. They are likely to pick up those viruses and will get infected.

Playground equipment is out of bounds for exactly that reason- touching surfaces can spread infection.

Each of us has to do our bit to save lives. If the Covid-19 virus spreads, a lot of us will die. Maybe your grandmother, or my friend who has just had a bone-marrow transplant.

Stay home, stay safe, let's get to the other side of the pandemic before we go geocaching again.

other rambles I have been on

GC43HEH The Submerged Town (Portmarin) 15/6/19

GC42EWQ Groenhof's Camino #2 12/6/19

GC42G0A Groenhof's Camino #5 13/6/19

GC42M9N Groenhof's Camino #10 16/6/19

GC43HEH Groenhof's Camino #16 19/6/19

A lovely day which would should not be wasted. Messaged Eve07 to see if she was feeling up for a walk and after a debate in the car we decided to avenge my attempt of the bull ring flagstaff and swampy road round walk. 5 years ago I attempted it and at T for 2 area I fell down a hole and well doctors said that I would have been better off breaking it, 2 years it took to recover from that. I swore I wouldn't come back on own and Eve07 agreed.

We had a bit of a laugh but the lack of shade up here and lack of wind made it very hot hiking up these hills. Luckily we found along the bullock track some flax bushes tall enough to rest under out of the sun. By late afternoon near the pineapple track we could hear some noise, like a boombox .... but wait its the Six60 concert at the Stadium.

***[======== NZ Mega 2020 ========](http://nzmega.com)***

[NZ Mega 2020](http://nzmega.com) is definitely happening, but has been postponed until 2021. It will be held in Auckland over Labour Weekend, 22 to 25 October 2021. It's going to be a massive celebration of geocaching:

* 20+ years of geocaching worldwide.
* 20+ years since New Zealand had the very first geocache hidden outside of USA.
* All the 20s and now 21 as well!

Talk to your geo-friends and start planning to be part of [this event](http://nzmega.com) - you won't want to miss it!

Rambles for challenge;

#1GC6N3CD_free-kai-dunedin-otago 08.10.2016 Took several hours as travelled along the coast from the end of Aromana Road.
#2 GC56GRZ_almost-at-the-end-otago 09.11.2019 It was a 3 hour return trip to this cache from where we parked car.
#3 GC21HCG_high-on-the-shag-east-otago 01.10.2016 It took me nearly 2hrs to get to this one, as I was really pushing my leg after an injury last year. With the concern of the tide on the causeway to the car decided to cut this trip short. Will have to return for the next one north of here.
#4 GC4V4QH_lake-mackenzie-fiordland 04.04.2015 we took 3 nights and 4 days to travel the Routeburn trail and this was found the morning of day3 and what an amazing day it was.
#5 GC64TD0_living-giant 04.02.2018 Took a stroll from the gates through the magical woodlands to the start of the Kepler Track. I think with the photos of muggles in group it might have taken close to 2hrs to get here, after all we had to stop for tea and shortbread on the beach. Unfortunately not doing this trail right now but maybe another day.
#6GC43FWW_lee-bay-stewart-island 21.04.2014 weekend walking the Rakiura Track (the opposite way) so it took us 3 days to reach this cache despite starting 1km from here.
#7 GC6K73M_lotr42-nazgul 22.10.2016 This is about midway of one part of the figure of 8 walk to find the full series. It took 90mins to reach this one.

We have done plenty of rambles but will start again from today with this write note and add to it each time we do a qualifying find.

It looked very spooky in the mist with the burnt out gorse and flaxes. Down from New Plymouth and keen to do some of the SI rambles as well. Amazing how quickly the flaxes are sprouting back. Will include this ramble to Flagstaff Hill on the list. If only there' had been some decent views. Never mind. Thanks.

Amazing, isn't it? When I first came up FLagstaff - some five years ago - I walked from the Bullring to the circular monument and back, thinking that was quite the walk.
Today, five years later, the quick stroll from the Bullring to the circular monument was hardly enough as a warming up.
Getting out and about, taking regular long walks makes you fitter and improves your endurance. Who knew?
After finding this cache, I continued towards the Pineapple track, backtracked along the Swampy Ridge track, went down the Moontrack, ventured along Katie W's "secret" Orchid track, back up along the Pineapple track, again Swampy Ridge track, take a left onto Firebreak track, take a right towards Ben Rudds, continue to a Rhododendron garden, continue to follow the track down to the Possum track, emerge out of the bushes onto Whare flat road, and walk back to the Bullring.
Well. I do imagine that before [the fire](https://www.smokejumpers.com), this cache was quite a bit harder to find.
Anyway, I'll be claiming today's walk for the ra...euhh, wait..

Have been on countless rambles to find Caches
That is one of the reasons I continue to cache -I love walking but the joy of finding a cache as well makes the walk seem worthwhile
thanks for placing this challenge cache . Enjoyed listing some of the many rambles I have been on recently

Having read the guidelines this is to indicate that I will be getting this challenge underway. As a keen tramper this appeals to me. Being out of Otago and in the North Island I will do it backwards with a visit to Dunedin soon to sign the log.

Qualifying caches 1/2/2020 GC6J6BW #13 LOTR Lower and Upper Silica Springs track
loop.approx 7 km + 2km back to start. 3 hrs 35min.
2/2/2020 GC2XBA7 #42 LOTR Upper and Lower Taranaki Falls Track loop
approx 9km 2.5hrs
20/2/20 a.m. From the Bullring GCB0 Flagstaff Hill 3.5km return. (actually
did GCMK8H Done to a T 4km before signing GC2XBA7) - a round trip of 2.5
hours.
20/02/20 p.m. From Leith Saddle GCJ1CF Swampy Transmitter 7km+ return
in approx 3.5hrs.
24/2/20 GC547 ChCh Port Hills Cabbage Trees 1.2 km ramble Elevation
exactly 100m. Round trip 1hr 20 min . GC3YDGV City View on the way. Two
quick stops.

As I’ve completed ‘heaps’ of rambles finding caches over the years I better log my intention to start this for when I’m next in Dunedin. I believe the CO has even completed at least one of my cache rambles too - GC683HF A ton of fun on Kaitake - a 3.5 to 5 hr return ramble.
**Qualifying rambles...**
*29 Dec 2019: GC83H3R Isthmus Peak,* D2/T4; 8km each way, 3 hours up, 2 hours down;
*04 Jan 2020: GC83BB2 Pretty in Pink,* D2/T2; up & over Sticky Forest hill (twice) and around the *Outlet Track* for 6.1km, taking 3 hours;
*09 Jan 2020: GC80HBW Sugarloaf,* D1.5/T3; 4.2km loop with +/-120m altitude, 90 minutes;
*10 Jan 2020: GC21W2Q Stewart Town,* D3/T2.5; 3.7km loop, 2.5 hours (with a lot of sign reading);
After discussion with CO, this one also qualifies...
*15 Jan 2020: GCB0 Flagstaff Hill,* D1.5/T2.5; 3.5km in & out, 1.5 hours;
*25 Jan 2020: GC5V452 Race to the Top,* D1/T4; 8.5km each way, 5 hours up, +1360m, 2.5 hrs down;
*26 Jan 2020: GC2T505 Walk Kaikoura Peninsular,* D2/T2; 11.7km loop, 5 hours;
**Challenge completed, but now I’m nowhere near Dunedin! One day!**
*16 Feb 2020: GC23E4 Fern Walk,* D2/T3; 5.5km loop, 2.5 hours;

I have begun collecting caches for this challenge in the hope to be able to claim this cache next year if plans to visit New Zealand for the mega pan out.
Cache 1: GC7583 Venmanta 2/11/19
Cache 2: GCA84D Redlander 2/11/19
Cache 3: GCAA55 The Lost Lake 9/11/19
Cache 4: GCGEKV Lakeside 16/11/19
Cache 5: GC264F9 REHCSIF 16/11/19
Cache 6: GC1M1J5 Mt Coot-tha Tap Dance 23/11/19
Cache 7: GCQ5NV Auburn 30/12/19

2/11/19- Out with Kerynz and the newest member of our geocaching team (the 4 legged kind!) we parked near the Karetai Track and found GC89JDE (Entrance to the Karetai Track) then walked to GC5WPAH (Southside Road Train Tracks). We walked for an hour by the time we got back to the car.

15/2/20:
A ramble with Grapea this morning. Headed out to find Treemendous (GC5R2VC). Enjoyable trek.

14/12/19:
Another ramble with Frame Family and Nala. A new multi Robin Hood (GX8GGZK) to complete which was fairly close to home. Took us an hour to complete which was very enjoyable.

2/11/19: Out with Frame Family and Nala (our 12 week old puppy) for a ramble today. Another gorgeous Saturday morning following a cold week. We parked near the Karetai Track and found GC89JDE (Entrance to Karetai Track) then walked to GC5WPAH (Southdale Road Train Tracks). Walked for an hour by the time we returned to the car. This was Nala’s first proper walk so although she walked/ran most of the way we had many stops so she could investigate new smells.

26/10/19: Out for a ramble on Flagstaff this morning with Grapea and co. Found a couple of caches (Ben Rudd’s II Hermit GC24349 and Done to a Bone). Did a loop including heading back to the car via CastleRock. What a ramble. Was at least a 2hr jaunt. Pleased to get back to the car and head home to recover!!

Today completed our second ramble (or at least 2nd that we can claim ) towards this Challenge.
As it was International Earthcache Day we visited our nearest unfound Earthcache (Coloured Earth GC6P0E0) at Waiotapu.
Although it was an overcast day with heavy drizzle it was reasonably warm.
It took us 50 minutes to reach the final waypoint and 1hr 26min by the time we returned to the carpark.

I have participated in seven different rambles listed in notes below, on the dates 17/03/18, 26/03/18, 7/4/18, 27/4/18, 14/7/18, 16/12/18 and 06/02/19. I have been sitting on completing this cache for a while since my aborted attempt on the last ramble, and the recent fire and cache replacement seemed like a good opportunity to return to the cache, since most of the gorse should now be out of the way.

This was indeed the case, and I made short work of locating the final cache. Great views, and I am very happy to have completed my first challenge cache! Tftc!

17/03/18 - Wakari Stream/Redwood Track, 2 hours
GC3CEYJ, GC733KC, GC39HCD, GC6015B, GC70GH3.

26/03/18, Flagstaff, Whole Day
GC2FQHN, GC72VMR, GC1CPE1, GC1GRHA, GCTA3R, GC6QN0B, GC5ENED, GC5REMR, GCMK8H, GC180TC, GCB0, GC3QXN4.

7/4/18, Fraser's Gully, 3 Hours
GC4GCQD, GC1HN7D, GC4HTDJ, GC4HWYW, GC4NBR2.

27/4/18, Urban Ramble Doing Historic Walks in Town, 2 Hours
GC5AHTB, GC5AHTB, GC5GCTY, GC5P8JZ, GC2P6JF, GC5GCTY, GC5AHTB.

14/7/18, McGouns Track, 2 Hours
GC5ZY1P, GC60153, GC1GE6E, GC5YD8Q.

16/12/18, Flagstaff, 3 Hours
GC7RGBV, GC5NQFW.

06/02/19, Nichol's Creek, 2.5 hours
GC6R8QY, GC1HN70.

Flagstaff was officially reopened yesterday, so we staggered up with a replacement. Easy to get through the burnt vegetation - hadn't realised how much the gorse had taken over this last year or so. Lots of pig rooting and hare droppings now evident.

Yes, as feared, the 10 litre pail was melted plastic slag.... but it was only 5 metres from the edge of the burnt area...! Firefighters had marked the area with pink tags as a hotspot to keep their eye on. The cache is now a 1.8 litre screwtop, hidden under rocks.

Having re-read the requirements, I"m logging a note to indicate my initialisation of the challenge. Pity I didn't do it before as Putangirua Pinnacles would have been an excellent ramble to log.

Fire on Flagstaff has probably burnt this cache. Area is closed off. I expect it will be a couple of months before it can be replaced.

Today we completed our first find towards this challenge. We need to complete a walk of at least 4.7km towards an apple fitness challenge and we also needed to find a cache today towards the August souvenier so we set of on the cycle way/walkway around Tauranga Harbour.
We set off at a fast pace but had to watch out for the speeding ebike cyclists everywhere with additional stops for our dogs to greet the numerous dogs along the way which delayed our progress. No problems finding GC6XP2J.
Total return distance was 7.82km taking us 1hr 52m.

Have just read the challenge, I will make note of any rambles as I am planning a trip to Dunedin at some point soon.

Ramble #6
After having found The Gross Challenge on top of Mt Cutten, I came down the wrong side of the mountain. This ment that there were two options to go back to the parking spot at the start of the Forest road.
The first option was to traverse Mt Cutten again, hoping to descent on the correct side afterwards.
The second option was to walk over Mt Cargill Road, around the Mt Kettle/Mt Cullen area, back to the carpark.

This second option turned out to be the lucky winner, as I figured I would visit the caches along the way.
It would also allow me to claim this for the rambler reward, I think.
Therefore: ramble #6

Main target for the day:
The Gross Challenge (https://coord.info/GC3CF3M), found.

Cherries on the cake:
£10 Worth of Water Trough (https://coord.info/GC3REE6), found
Stihl Here (https://coord.info/GC4K2DE), found
Solid Seat (https://coord.info/GC4A0V8), found
Perfect Sunday Drive 2 (https://coord.info/GC4A0VZ), missing in action


-------------------------------------------------------------


Ramble #7
It was time to go and find the highest located cache on Swampy Ridge. Thus, I set out with "Is that a FLYING SAUCER ON SWAMPY?" as the motherlode, trying to pick up other caches along the way.
Started at the parking spot at the start of the Leith Saddle track, along the motorway. Took the path up to Swampy Spur, continued to the transmitter. There, I turned right along the Swampy ridge to the flying saucer. Afterwards, I continued on the ridge to the space observation station, and took a second turn to the right to follow Burns track across Fergusons Creek all the way down to the Waterpipe track and from there back to the carpark.
WHen descending along Burns Track I was starting to get a little worried if I would make it out of the woods before dark; being stuck up the hill in the dark is not a good idea. Luckily, as I emerged onto the Waterpipe track there was half an hour of daylight to spare. Phew.

Well, after three (?) years that was ramble number 7, time to get the reward. Some day. Thank you for the challenge.

A Little Light relief (https://coord.info/GC1V7RW), found
Walkways of Otago: Leith Saddle (https://coord.info/GCZ0RC), found
Cassia Cache (https://coord.info/GC36VV6), DNF
Swampy Spur (https://coord.info/GCR2GQ), found
Along Swampy Spur (https://coord.info/GC3BV2V), found
Swampy Transmitter (https://coord.info/GCJ1CF), found
Is that a FLYING SAUCER ON SWAMPY? (https://coord.info/GC183CR), main target of the day, found
Hole Numbers (https://coord.info/GC7T325), easily solved, but deemed a little too big of a detour for today. Will have to wait.
No Moa, No More (https://coord.info/GC47KHM), DNF
VHF on Swampy (https://coord.info/GC321X5), found
Fergusons Creek (https://coord.info/GC2YC3C), DNF
Steel Stile (https://coord.info/GC46R9H), found
Kashmir...Otago (https://coord.info/GC174RK), found
Off The Beaten Track: Burns (https://coord.info/GC2YC39), was getting too late to attempt this

Have been on lots of 'rambles'but unfortunately they won't count for this so any from now on will be noted here.

We are walking the Pineapple Track to Flagstaff to snag the Ramblers Reward. Have enjoyed this walk so far and thankfully the rain has stayed away. We left the carpark shrouded in mist but its all cleared back now. OK time to head off track to snag this one. Bugger its surrounded by a security fence of 6ft high gorse. So this has become a god awful scramble through the brambles with my legs ending up scratched to pieces. The only good thing about it was no blackberries to add to the mix. Finally I snag this bucket. Love these cache containers. Thanks Daywalk. Now for the return journey back to the track - which way through the security fence?? The Seagnoid leads the way, I hope of least resistance. This stuff is mean. Glad to be back on the track for the ramble back to Toby.

These are the rambles we completed while in Dunedin. I am not sure I have tagged all rambles we completed as part of this series. I hope it meets your requirements.
My rambles:
GLYJH7X3, 3.5 hrs, islands in Otago Harbour with William the wrascally wave wider
GLYJHM3M, 1.5 hrs, Bacon track
GLYJV2VQ, 1.5 hours , Otago Rail Trail on Jill
GLYJVKNV, 1.75 hours, Sutton Slat Lake (3 times around the lake!)
GLYKQP2N, 1.75 hours, Blue Spur goldfields.
GLYJGJTH, 2 - 3 hrs, Oval wherigos
GLYJ22RE, 1.5 hrs, Scenic Sandymount
GCJWR0, 1h 10m Puketapu
GCMK8H, 1.5 h Done to a T - Flagstaff
We've been everywhere - Man!

Also completed 2 cycle trips in Oamaru on our way to Dunedin. Both well over an hour.

Its Saturday 27 April and our last morning in Dunedin. Its the Rambler Series and the Virtual in the harbour, in our sights today. Then its homeward bound with the team stopping near Christchurch for the night to snag some Lab Caches.

Its another awesome geoventure to Dunedin, with The Seagnoid, Zara, Toby, Jack, Jill and William all along for the trip. Had a wonderful 10 days exploring Dunedin. It was great catching up with local cachers at several events we attended. Lots of walking and driving, with the odd cycle and wave ride to jazz things up. Thanks to all the COs that made this trip a wonderful success. Even managed to bag some lab caches along with wherigos, earth caches and events, with the usual mix taking us to some amazing places..

Man. What a mission. You'd think this is a trivial walk, and it is, up to a certain point. Up to the point were Taybeedragon and I left the path to get to the cache. We walked the track till we got to the closest point and then bee-lined to the cache. Or at least, that was the plan. But I was wearing shorts. And there is a LOT of gorse here. Luckily it is living gorse - dead gorse is much, much worse. Even so, I had blood all over my legs by the time we came out. Came out a different way - it wasn't any better. So sorry - no favourite. Without the gorse it would definitely qualify.

So - bring PVC over-trousers. And a PVC raincoat! And a machete! (and don't think you are going to sit on the grass with a thermos at GZ. That just ain't gonna happen!)

Sorry, cannot log caches as I do them. My caching is not set up that way. I can send you copies of my notebook entries if you like .

My rambles:
https://coord.info/GLYJH7X3, 3.5 hrs, islands in Otago Harbour
https://coord.info/GLYJHM3M, 1.5 hrs, Bacon track
https://coord.info/GLYJV2VQ, 2 hours, Otago Rail Trail
https://coord.info/GLYJVKNV, 1.75 hours, Sutton Slat Lake (3 times around the lake!)
https://coord.info/GLYKQP2N, 1.45 hours, Blue Spur goldfields
https://coord.info/GLYJGJTH, 2 hrs, Oval wherigos
https://coord.info/GLYJ22RE, 1.5 hrs, Scenic Sandymount

Taybeedragon and I have an eleven day Easter weekend in Dunedin. Although, let's face it, given that we are from Blenheim and Picton that means two of those days was spent in travelling. In that time we grabbed a smidge over three hundred caches. Not bad, considering the amount of time spent way out on the back roads, on bicycles or canoeing on the water. A few virtuals, larges, letterboxes, earths, wherigos, and even ten lab caches in the haul. An awesome weekend!

I am going to start my rambles, I am always walking to find caches as that is part of the fun of finding them, and I also love the walks, will tick this one off pretty quickly I hope

Ramble 1 GCT6C3 Key Summitt 17th May 2019
Bridge friend Moss and I headed up to Key Summitt on a beautiful Southland Autumn day . Amazing views . I think the total walk is 3 hours return from the divide

Ramble 2 GCHXGX Marion Falls 19th May 2019
After playing bridge not so successfully at Te Anau we headed back into Fiordland for my second walk up to Key Summitt and the earth cache . This walk is also amazing and takes about 3 hours return - Moss had a swim as did a couple of young American chaps. Perfect day and then home to Invercargill

Ramble 3 GC64K35 West End Ulva Island - boat trip involved in this cache as well. For the total trip to Ulva Island we walked for well over 2 hours . Lots of birds and beautiful beaches included West End Beach

Taybee dragon and I starting our rambles...

Ramble 1:
Was a dot day and we thought we would head off along part of the Te Araroa Trail and enjoy the afternoon/evening in the outdoors after a few busy days inside. Ambled along and explored the area and then did some hunting for the cache (GC7RMFR, 20/3/2019) and then explored some more and then returned to the car with some very happy dogs. Walk was longer than expected just over an hour and approx 5kms in length.
(apologies we thought the other had added this note but miscommunication eh? lol)

Ramble 2:
It has been five years since Mrs last visited the Island and she had been wanting to bring Mr to explore this area. So when the chance came, with the local's deals, we jumped at the chance and joined the rest of the group planing for the Rakiura Raid. Piled into the water taxi for the short trip across the inlet to Ulva Island... So peaceful and full of bird song. Well done to those volunteering and DOC with the Pest management. Quick discussion at the cross roads and then it was off to the West End, opps Beach... We then returned along the tracks to Sydney Cove, always a favourite spot. Stopped to find the nearby cache Mr hadn't found. Then it was off down the beach to the shelter and the event. Was great have a chinwag and swapping stories and talking about all things caching and also planning for next visit lol. A couple of us relived our youth by getting on the rope swing. (Found: GC7JVVT, GC64K35, GC45CJM. Attended: GC8771M)
We did over two hours of walking, covering approx 5.5km

My first list of rambles got too long so here's a new one for the final ramble:

06/02/19
Nearly a year since the first ramble, I took myself on a 2 and a half hour walk up for the last ramble I need for this challenge. Wandered up Nichol's creek, locating GC6R8QY and GC1HN70 on the way. GC1HN70 was the goal, so once found I headed back downwards. A very nice trek.

Onwards to the Rambler's Reward!

We are on our summer holiday driving around the South Island with no real idea of where we will end up each day. We are often drawn to an area that has the potential to give us a few geocaching smilies and somewhere we have not spent time exploring before. In some cases we are revisiting placed that we have been before but liked so much we are going there again.
While in Dunedin we were mostly searching for the old caches that fill a gap on our date placed grid and some Challenge caches that fill a gap on our D/T grid.
This was one of our targeted caches. If I had known how much gorse GK would have to go through to get this one, it may not have reached our 'really want to find' list. He came out of the scrub bleeding and not terribly impressed.
See our notes on 14/5/18 that outline our rambles to qualify for this cache.
Thankfully he spotted the cache, he signed the log and returned it as it was found.
Thanks for placing the cache and thank you for the smiley

Ramble #6 - The original plan was to have a go at coord.info/GC3CF3M The Gross Challenge, since - somehow - I seem to qualify for that one. After reading up on access information, I gathered that the route to that cache might be a bit problematic at the moment. Which is why it was decided to go for coord.info/GC2T5DJ Calling The Kettle Black instead. I figured that would provide a nice opportunity to scout out the area.
The details of several other caches were jotted down under the motto: "since you're there anyway might as well see if you can have a go, should the occasion arise", however only one other was found: coord.info/GC6M4P3 2 + 2 = A Nice Walk. Admittedly, that was by pure chance. Something just seemed to shout "here I am!" at me, so I poked my finger where it didn't belong and the cache popped out. Regardless of the lucky find, I swear I had the puzzle solved and the proper coordinates written down before I found it - and I can prove it should the CO so desire.
The track to the top itself was a breeze: super easy to follow, and apart from the occasional overhanging branch clearer than a crystal ball after a good polishing. Someone really did shred up their entire linen cupboard, didn't they? Whomever that might have been: your nights may be cold, but my thanks is warm. (cold nights...they shredded their sheets and pyjamas..get it? Ha. Hahaha. Euhmmm, yes...).
After having made my way down again I contemplated for a second if I should go after the other caches on my list, but nah. It was a scorching hot day up there with nary any wind (24° says Metservice. Really, only 24°? It felt a lot hotter.), I was sweaty, had run out of water, and quite frankly the calling of an ice cold G&T was stronger than the calling of another smiley. Life is a matter of knowing your preferences, I find.
Total time going up and down the Kettle: 4 to 5 hours. This did include a side-excursion to the end of the gravel road with a bit of a rummage round there, plus a lengthy battle with a big, white bird at the summit of the Kettle. The grey beanie on my hat probably looked like a rabbit to him. My recommendation to the bird: eat more carrots! (Carrots are good for your eyes..get it? Ha. Hahaha. Euhmmm, yes.)

Ramble #5. Up Flagstaff today, and I certainly wasn't the only one. Who can blame them: a wonderfully sunny day, warm but not scorching, and just a hint of a breeze to prevent things from overheating too much.
Main objective of going up was - unsurprisingly - coord.info/GCB0 FLagstaff Hill, with some other caches in the vicinity as secondary objective.

After having made my way to the plaque on the summit, having come from the Bullring, the well maintained track kept on going as far as the eye could see. As far as my eye could see at least, however as I'm far-sighted who knows really? Or is it near-sighted? Better stay off the road when I'm driving, until I've figured out which one it is.

In any case, cross-referencing this observation with a scetchy map led me to believe that this track might ultimately join up with the track leading up from Nicholls Falls. You know, the one leading up to the waterfalls, not the one going to the glowwurms. Is that true?

Nevertheless, the score for today was 7 out of 7, with the last one being coord.info/GC108Z6 Iota Nut case. Bad choice for wearing shorts. Could have been worse, though, could have been wearing jandals.

Total time for this ramble: about 4 to 5 hours maybe? Not being in a rush, I took my time, stopped frequently to admire the views, and took time at most caches to sit down and read the log. It was a well-spent afternoon.

coord.info/GCB0 FLagstaff Hill
coord.info/GC3QXNE Where Bullocks Passed
coord.info/GC3QXN4 Road Crossing
coord.info/GC7RGBV Flagstaff Boulder
coord.info/GC7RFET Above The Bush Line
coord.info/GC3YW5F iRufus' Mega Menagerie
coord.info/GC108Z6 Iota Nut case

Ramble 1 : 21.11.2018
Today we visited the Bendigo goldfields and completed the virtual Goldfield (GCDDAB) and Earthcache Logantown gold (GC2GVMQ) here. As it was the day following a lot of rain, the first intended tracks we tried had to be abandoned as didn't want to take on the swollen streams. We then walked from Welshtown down to the Matilda battery and back up to the number 2 shaft. Still very wet and shared the track with a stream at times but thankfully the water ran off into the shafts.

Ramble 2: 24.11.2018
Today we visited the Franz Josef glacier. We took the side trip up to Sentinal rock and found GC64MQ1 Sentinal Rock and the Earthcache View of Franz Glacier GC1PPX9. We then continued up the valley towards the glacier - admittedly we didn't make it all the way as far as you can (it's a long way back to the car with a certain someone protesting) but easily a couple of hours excursion for us today.

Ramble 3: 26.11.2018
Today we walked along the Arthurs Pass track from the village to Jack's Hut. We found Arthurs Pass village GC6G6AW, the slightly precarious Cafe with a View GC657Q8 (mostly shrouded in cloud), bypassed another DOC cache as GZ appeared to be (?intentionally) under water and finished with Jack's Hut GC4R402 where the rescue vehicle awaited to take us to lunch with the kea

Ramble 4: 31.12.2018
Back onto home territory for this ramble. It wasn't the most successful geocaching trip but a favourite place of ours to wander. We parked at Whare Flat. We didn't attempt the Whare Park GCPEZT cache due to the presence of brambles and I'm still scratched up from a bungled search a day or two ago. We failed to find, Geocaching: Scouts PB Challenge GC4WE16, we did find Angling: Scouts PB Challenge, GC4WE2G in a pretty poor state, failed again at Exploring- Scouts PB Challenge GC4WE3K. Then deviated onto the tunnels track and found the recently placed Tunnels GC80YGJ. A round trip of about an hour and a half walking - it's a shame the Scouts PB challenge appears to have been somewhat neglected but on the upside I have learnt down to download offline on the app

Ramble 5: 04.01.2019
We were geohound free today so decided to head back to Aramoana to look for the dog free Aramoana saved. We parked near to Spare a Thought (GCTV3G) - found on a previous trip. We walked down to Aramoana Saved (GCTV3H) - where things started to get strange. The geobubs finding the cache before me ...... there should be a blushy smiley face for that scenario. We then headed to the reliable 111PAF's Gordon Johnston Arboretum at Aramoana (GC6BABG). After that the unfound caches get harder but as the rain had held off, we decided to go and scope some out for future. We looped round to the beach and decided rather than play guess the tide, we would head along the mole. We had done our homework but were still surprised to make a find at Cardinal Marks (GC3NFA4) and happily headed back to the car. Another hour and a half wander for us today.

Ramble 6: 10.01.2019
An unanticipated ramble but I think it meets the criteria (we will check). We had a couple of trackables we wanted to drop off and so had planned to come to Dalmore reserve where there were a couple of good sized achievable geocaches. We found Dalmore reserve and admired the community garden. Crashed around finding an archived cache A Cross to Bare No More (GC20ZAM) before finding One for the Tui and Kereru (GC611DG). Found a geocache Dalmore reserve (GC611DP) but lost a dog. Headed back around and eventually found the dog. As everyone was present and correct extended our walk with some pavement pounding up to Empty playground at Pine Hill (GC6JF9T) and around to Tensing St to Pine Hill Rd pathway (GC6JF9H) before heading back to the car. Found all the caches today without any trouble - bringing our walking time to an hour.