309 Pony Express #9 – Old Coach Stop Coromandel Kaimarama, North Island, New Zealand
By Darby&Joan on 21-Jun-14. Waypoint GC56KGP

Hi Darby&Joan

This geocache was brought to my attention as being in need of an owner maintenance visit and after my previous reviewer note, there has been no owner response. The cache owner needs to check on this cache ASAP and either replace it or archive it, after picking up any geo-litter. See the [maintenance section of the Geocache Listing Requirements/Guidelines](http://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx#listingmaintenance).

I've added this cache to my watchlist, and I will check back in four weeks to be sure that the maintenance has been done. In the meantime, I have temporarily disabled this listing. When the maintenance is completed, the owner can enable the listing by clicking on the link below the cache name to return it to active status.

Whatever your intentions, please **post a note** here on the cache page (not email) to let us know that you are still active and maintaining the cache. If a month passes without seeing a response, then I'll assume that this listing should be archived.

Please note, that if a cache is archived due to lack of owner maintenance, the cache is unable to be unarchived.

Regards
TheCoddiwompler

Looks like it hasn't been found after many attempts. Might pay to come and have a check if it's still there

While exploring the Coromandel for the week we decide to take the 309 accross to Coromandel town.
No joy with this one today.

DNF

No joy.

No cache to be found

Had a quick look around but didn’t turn up anything useful. Moved on.

No tyres and no yeast container

Cool

Unfortunately we came across the trifecta: Gorse, Cutty-Grass, and Blackberry bush... OUCH! And after the pricks and cuts, we came up empty handed after a good look around. Has it been covered over by the scrub or gone missing?

Toby84 brave the gorse for both of us and was not able to find anything ️

Staying in Whitianga for the weekend and decided to take this route to Coromandel purely for the Pony Express Caches!
No luck here today unfortunately

Couldn’t find a tyre. Thanks anyway.

We are away for 10 days touring around and collecting caches as we go along
We came over from Coromandle to Fitty as it was raining over the other side and as we were staying at the campervan park by the canels it was time to get out on my bike and do some caching

Lots of gorse and no sign of cache with out needing prickles removed

Nothing found but a prickle from gorse

Nothing found but a prickle from the gorse.

Ok finally found a container in a bag with no lid. Yucksville!! Arranged a replacement yeast jar with them RITR log to keep this one rolling along. Cheers. Lots of prickly stuff here

Day 6 - Wednesday 23 December - Coromandel - Whitianga - Coromandel -And back to Whitianga again. 309 Pony express is the aim today. But it was a hot dusty day and many caches below par so dissapointing. Left Zara in Whitianga and headed out around the loop in Toby.

The Seagnoid, Zara, Toby and I are off on another geocaching escape over Xmas, this time to the mighty Coromandel, then over to Opotiki and stop off at Rotorua to return home on 5 January. Had an fabulous time exploring many wonders of our country. Rounding up over 400 caches along the way, with a few LABS, 20 odd TMGTs, virtuals and lots of interesting earth caches to keep the mind busy. Watching the sun come up on New Years Day at Mt Maunganui was spectacular. Lots of walking and even more driving. But had an awesome time. Thanks to all COs who made this adventure so special.

This is an interesting one. We found the cache container but no lid. Found the log bag but no log! Did some proxy maintenance for the CO and replaced the entire cache (the dragon has the most awesome cache maintenance kit!). Tip: Never hide a cache in a tyre - they always fill with water.

Taybeedragon and I went on a tour of the Coromandel - one of the few places of New Zealand, especially of Te ika a Maui, that I have yet to explore throughly, and from there along the coast to Opotiki to see one of my many, many sisters. From 18 December to 5 January we found over 400 caches, including 12 adventure labs (60 caches), 20 or so TMGTs and a host of virtuals and earthcaches. And I hosted an event to see the sun come up on New Year's day - surprisingly popular given that it was at 5am. We climbed a lot of hills, saw some amazing beaches that were quite popular despite (or because of) the insane access to them, walk a lot of bush, entered and explored 8 gold mines and generally had an awesome time. However I am glad to be back, but now is the hard part, and I fear it will take just as long - logging!

Quick find unfortunately the bag and cache was full of water. Thank you for the hide.

Out and about for a few days for a bit of a road trip around the Coromandel area. Day Three of my road trip. I started my travels in Whitianga and ended my day in Coromandel Town. My main objective for today was to find as many of the 309 Pony Express caches as I could manage. Weather had changed from yesterday - it was hot and sunny then - a bit cooler today and I encountered a few showers along the way. Not enough to dampen my enthusiasm though. Apologies for the cut and paste logs. I'll note anything that stood out for me. Not tired of this search yet. TFTC, Biggles.

The hint really helped as gps failed. Found with mr c on our travels from the uk thank you

Found with MrsC on our NZ travels from the Uk. A day touring the Coromandel Peninsula. Thanks

Found it, but it was definitely surrounded by a very strong feces smell. Might want to change its location a little!

A new drive for me along the 309 road collecting caches along the way.
Most caches didn't take too long to find, a few took a little longer though.
Logs were signed and caches replaced as found.
Sorry for the cut and paste logs.
A few of the caches could do with a CO visit, but I didn't keep notes on individual caches, only the numbers of the ones I stopped for and found.
TYFTC

A nice quick find today. Parking was pretty good where we stopped, but someone must be playing with you. A lot of the bisons appear to be only a log book in a plastic bag. Time to pull the pin on the rest of te series so we can complete the TMGT's nearby. There was also a fender bender with a tourist going the other way near here (not with us) that put us off going back this way.

Christmas holiday road trip to Auckland time. Day ten Hamilton to Coromandel

Thanks to all CO's for publishing and maintaining their caches. Cheers.

Out and about aiming for a couple of caches for the GeoTour and Jasmer challenge...
Thought I'd grab some of the 309 caches on the way down to Thames to grab a couple more TMGTs! Have been meaning to do this series since after publishing, but I never seem to got around to it.

Thanks for bringing me here, Darby&Joan! TFTC, #2065

Found it during Coromandel adventure trip with Aiden29. Perfect day for it. Enjoyed fairly quick finds along Road 309 all together with perfect weather , first day of Spring and Father`s Day. Some of the finds took bit longer to locate some of them were just right there. GPS coordinates usually bang on and traffic was light too. Thanks for placements and recent maintenance on some of them.

Tramyard already had plans to complete this power trail today, but he asked me if I wanted to join him while we were at an event last night. I jumped at the chance to go on a road trip to the Coromandel - my first time this far up the Peninsula. The weather was perfect, just a little cold and quite foggy along State Highway 2 early in the morning, but once the sun rose we quickly stripped down to our t-shirts (contrary to the last month of weather in Auckland!).

The road was relatively quiet and not too dusty. We didn't have too much trouble with the finds although some took a little longer than others. All-in-all we managed to find 54 caches during the day and explored quite a lot of the Peninsula. Thank you for this series.

Forgot to add that the hiding location was full of water and there was no lid on the cache, so log was soaked and we couldn't sign.

Trouvé mais plus de couvercle donc logbook détrempé

This ended up being the hardest caching day of my trip so far. The weather wasn't good and some of the caches were hard to find. Still enjoyed it and thanks for the caches.

good hide. container needs a new lid or small replacement container. good stopping place both sides of the road. tftc

Tyres! Tftc

Today we make the Pony Express Route .. not an easy one. Thank you for this Route

On a road trip north, enjoying the day and pic up some caches. TFTC

Greetings from 2 Austrians  
Die_Asseln

Found it after visiting the cove. TYFC

Found this cache on our trip to Whitianga. TFTC

Morgens ging es mit Heckenstürmer zur Cathedral Cove und Hot Water Beach. Schöne Küstengegend. Danach wurde die Seite gewechselt und wir konnten bei einer interessanten Zugsfahrt den Dschungel begutachten und uns erholen, bevor es in die Unterkunft ging....

Greets from Switzerland

Day 24 in Newzealand. Today we drove from Whitianga to Te Puru.
A very beautiful Country with lovely places. We were able to find nice Caches and See Lots of beautiful places.
Thank you for showing us this place.
Tftc

On a whistle stop tour of the Coromandel (today and tomorrow) but always have time to pick up a few caches. We stayed at Cooks Beach last night, and decided to travel up this road to pick up some caches that I've had my eye on for a while. We had very mixed success - great series and fun to travel on this road from old NZ.... TFTC

TFTC!

On our trip around Coromandel we visited this box. At the old pony express road we found some of the boxes. Traffic was very heavy today. So we could not stop everywhere.

Greetings from Germany and
TFTC El_Mue

The Central North Island, Day 2: Coromandel - Tauranga.

Today, we traversed the East Coast of the Peninsula, visiting the key sites of interest along the way. The weather held up for most of the day, with even quite a bit of sunshine in the afternoon. Many places were crowded with tourists, but it wasn’t as bad as I would have expected. Didn’t cause muggle issues in too many places either. Another long, tiring but eventful day with a couple more places crossed off my NZ Bucket List.

The following is the specific log for each cache:
Spotted the hint object even before stepping out of the car. However, the gorse was guarding it well, and some strategic moves had to be made to retrieve the cache. Got away with minimum pokes here, TFTC!

Thankfully the log is waterproof as it was found a floating. TFTC

Haven't been geocaching in a long time. I'm glad it worked out this time. Thanks much to the owner for the cache

Logbook is a bit damp

sorry for taking so long to log. Found with Keylev TFTC

We took advantage of it being the school holidays to head across here from Auckland for the day to attempt this trail. Signed logs with SEAC x 6 - representing us, Keylev, craggar, laval, darthcacher1, and purply. Lots of gorse and blackberry with the odd patch of cutty grass as well along this road. There was lots of water here, both in the hint item and in the cache container itself. Difficult to write on the log, we did our best, as it was very wet (thankfully waterproof paper).

Out on a mission with Mrs HeMaLuDy, darthcacher, purply, cragger and laval to try and complete this series.

Thanks for the cache.

Signed all logs as SEAC 6 (South East Auckland Crew/Cachers x 6 of us) to save log space.

I was with seac
thanks for the cache

Out on a day with Team S.E.A.C. x6. Had lots of fun with these caches.

Thanks for the Cache.

I had a day off from my work remodeling our kitchen, so I planned a day doing both the "There n back" and the "309 Pony Express". This turned out to be quite a bit for one person, so if I couldn't find the cache right away, I gave up quickly.
Another wet log. TFTC.

Placed a discontinued NZ 5c coin. TFTC

This took a while to spot the host due to vegetation in abundance TFTC

Called by to check cache today. It is still in its original spot. All good. Happy Hunting.

For the life of us could not locate the Tyre. sent my fellow search into the bamboo forest. Was here for a while before the frustration hit.

Easy once tyre located.

Found it on our way to Cathedral Coves and Hot Water Beach.
TFTC!

Found it on our way to Cathedral Coves and Hot Water Beach.
TFTC!

Mit Epizentrikus + Die Fossa + xTheChemist zusammen in New Zealand unterwegs und schöne Plätze gefunden. DfdC

Quickly found, TFTC

Team BOP spent the weekend in Coromandel Pony express was the start of a weekend of hard out caching found most of the pony express caches even ones that were disabled we managed to find. What a great series of caches set out well and obviously maintained thanks Darby and Jones
Tftc

Team BOP have reunited for a two day journey up to the top of the Coromandel. We were pleased to be tackling these not long after a maintenance run as it's nice to know the caches are all in good order. They all seemed well placed with adequate parking and in spite of the repetitive nature of power trails - it was quite and enjoyable run.

This cache was found quickly and in good condition thanks to accurate coords and a straight forward hint. Cheers Darby&Joan, TFTC.

Team BOP were heading to the Coromandel west coast and we had to knock off the 309 Road first.
A quick stop here thanks to the ood coords and hint.
TFTC

On a weekend road trip with Team BOP - Heading to the top of Coromandel but completing this series first. With so many caches in the series it is hard to remember each one. It was great to see maintenance being done on the caches and thought done when placing them for parking. It did start to rain as we began our journey but by the time we finished the sun was shining TFTC

We didn't need a spare, but thanks anyway.

3058 It has been a long time since I have driven the 309 but these caches were a good incentive. Managed to find 32 with 8 DNF. Some were quickly found while others I spent some time looking. All part of the pleasure.
As I parked I could hear the voices of children enjoying themselves. Thankfully this was a quick find. Hint item easily spotted and cache retrieved. Thanks for the placement.

Please see main log at: 309 Pony Express #1 – Whitianga PO Stop Coromandel. I found this one and after I tipped the water out I managed to sign the 'rite in the rain' log, with no problems. TFTC

Cache soon found as DD had spotted hint item which is on site. Hinit item and pot full of water which I tipped out, dried log on my shirt and then signed! Replaced hint item better so that hopefully not so much water will collect. Please see main log at #1. Many thanks

Travelling around the world with Dartmoor Deliverer celebrating her taking early retirement!

NB Dont forget our Devon UK Mega 2017 GC6JZNY this August in the beautiful East Devon area of our county. UK Megas are over one week full of events and geocaching - a wonderful way to enjoy our county!

The object in the clue is no longer there. Just a mud ring where it used to be.

During our vacation in New Zealand we also did some geocaching. We already found geocaches placed on the year 2000. Now we are heading to Coromendal and there we also did some caches. We found some and also didn't found some. But we had a lot of fun, and that is what geocaching ment to be. We loved the route 309. We had the speed of a pony, so after a long day we finally found the last one. We had no idea what to do with the letterboxes, so we didn't found them. Randsom we ad some FP's.



Darby&Joan hartelijk dank voor het leggen en onderhouden van deze cache.

Groetjes,
Team Geo Meijer
(We loggen vaak met TGM)

Dit was onze: 6570 gevonden cache

After our journey in east Coromandel we drive back to Te Kouma. First we found some caches, but than we came in heavy rain, so we stops at #15.
Thanks for showing this places and hidding the caches.
Greetings from Germany!!!

10.40am. Had to search a bit but still a quick find.
Thank you. David and Noeline.

A very very decomposing cow nearby. Not the only one found today sadly. Tftc

**10984**
#9 of pony express series, spotted from car and soon in hand. TFTC
**4.27pm**

Great clue TFTC

Silly women they should have not been so quick running of to where they though the cache would be when I had parked right next to it. Mr beconaze had it before they realised.

Mrs BEconaze and myself both jumped out of the car, and in our rush completely missed the hiding spot we were parked right next to! Mr Beconaze spotted it. and we were on our way. All logs today signed BR.

While spending some quality-time together with my Manaia588 in Whitianga I thought that we could collect some nice caches. Thx for the nice trail.

With MUEZ (aka "the driver") on Road 309 from Whitianga to Coromandel: Thanks for showing us this entertaining and historic "shortcut" from the East to the West Coast.

TFTC

CZECH
to jako vážně??? místo abys tu pneumatiku uklidil, tak do ní schováš krabičku? HNUS!
dneska jsme si užili tuto cestu, jen 2 kešky jsme nenašli, některé ležely jinde než měly a některé nám daly trochu zabrat... ¨počasí bylo střídavě deštivo a slunečno, ale stálo to za to
už jsme podobných cest projeli dost, takže pro nás nic nového, ale přece jen byla nejdelší

As part of our trip from Rotorua to Thames today we drove along the eastern side then decided to do as much as we could of this series as we head across the peninsular to Thames. A very enjoyable drive and some lovely views. Apologies for the generic logs - series is certainly worthy of a favourite point. Thanks Darby&Joan.

While perusing the map looking for caches to do while over here in NZ for the MEGA we spotted this series and decided to give them a go. We are travelling today from Rotorua to Thames via the Coromandel Peninsula and this series. We will do as many as we have time for. Thanks for placing them Darby & Joan. We were able to do more than we had expected. Cheers and happy caching! (I apologise for the generic logs but each cache becomes a blurr when there are so many).

We were fortunate enough to have the use of a batch in Matarangi, and the weather today was not looking like beach weather, so what were we to do but go caching and hunt down a trail...this being the nineth of the series...Arrived at GZ and began the search....

Arriving at GZ thought this one might not be in play as there was evidence of recent earthworks, but the find was soon made and retrieved the cache from the water inside the hinted object, on to the next one.

Cache was very wet.

Thanks Darby&Joan for the work put in on this trail.

TFTC.

Easy find thanks.

Decided this was a must do while in Whitianga. Drove the 309 and braved the rain. Lunch at Coromandel and back over the Kopu- Coroglen Rd. Very muddy. Found with bkj97. Excuse the repetitive logs.

Not the least bit tired yet but getting damp. One of many caches found while on a mission to grab some caches on the 309 and the tapu-Coroglen rds. Found with little blue hen Enjoyed the challenge despite rain and mud. TFTCSL

TFTC

All good here, TFTC

The long and winding 309.
We were in thrall of the variety of cache containers and the extent of the ingenious recycling and re-use deployed. Also, clearly a large amount of the country's quota of waterproof paper was put to use.
We dodged mud, puddles, muggles, gorse, and assorted trees and their branches to access these caches. But it was a great road trip experience, all of it, east to west. Thanks for laying this trail.
All in order here; log signed, then cache safely re-hidden just as found.
TFTC found with team cacher Sweet P too
The Turtle strikes again!

We're visiting from Florida, USA. That was great fun. Thanks for placing the cache.

Waterlogged, emptied out
All ok now

along with fiona84 month on a 2 journey through new zealand and australia. on the journey we passed through the cache to beautiful places and were also some very old caches log. many thanks for cherish and maintain the caches.

Together with schrek77 I traveled two months through New Zealand and Australia . First we traveled with a camper for 6 weeks the North and South Island of New Zealand . Then we went to Melbourne where we visited the city and the surrounding area . then we went to closing in the north of Australia . During this time we visited several geocaches and were brought to very nice places through this partially . We also had the opportunity to visit some very old caches , which extremely pleased us . We wish to thank Owner for nurture and cherish the caches .

As we would like to have a little adventure, the_ kc and me drive the 309 to our next accomodation. And luckily there are a lot of stops to do! Thanks for hiding and maintaining this caches! !!!

Today we are on tour to coromandel town! Found it together with MFFK50
Thanks for the fun and greetings from Austria

Did the nice drive on the 309 with The-Shredder. Had a lot of fun. TFTC Skyryser

Did the nice drive on the 309 with Skyryser. Had a lot of fun searching for the caches. TFTC The-Shredder

This was one of the series of caches we had really been looking forward to doing, as we travelled along this road 4 years ago in pre caching days and thoroughly enjoyed it so we were very disappointed that today was so wet and windy. However we decided to set off and see how far we got. We got to number 9 before we had to give up as we were getting soaked. This was soaking wet so we dried it with kitchen paper before returning. The rain was getting heavier so we decided to abandon the rest for today hoping it is better tomorrow or Saturday when we can return to continue. TFTC

TFTC