TMGT- River of Mangroves - (Whitianga) Whitianga, North Island, New Zealand
By Darby&Joan on 01-Sep-19. Waypoint GC8D1PM

We hope you enjoyed exploring and discovering the local history in the communities of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Tuia Matauranga GeoTour has now ended. Thank you to the community for all the great logs, photos, and Favorite Points over the last 30 months. It has been so fun!

No idea where this i. Night be gone

Search for a few minutes and the most obvious hole that had bar covering didn’t have anything in it except loose bark.

Poked around in just about every hole around the tree and the trees around it but still couldn’t find it.

Also managed to slip on the rocks and fall partly into the water when I when down to check it out from below!

Pretty sure this one is missing…

Interesting walk in the dark and even more interesting retrieval and replacement as you wouldn't want to drop it in the process. The red and green beacons put on a lovely show , shining on the water tonight. TFTC # 18,363

I enjoyed our night walk here, so peaceful. It didnt take long for Isis58 to track down the hide although some issues with her torch did make it awkward. Thanks for the cache Darby&Joan

#12019

Down for a weekend 'crafting retreat' with friends - went for a early evening walk with KakesNZ - prior to getting to this cache Kakes NZ and I had both spotted an amazing square picnic table - that we stopped at to take a photo or two of the setting sun. Cache was easy to find and in good order.

We had a really good look around, widened the search but still no luck. Only DNF out of 23 caches we have found today so we can't grumble. TFTC.

(# 7118) A flying visit up north by flying into Hamilton and then hitting the road up to the Coromandel primarily to get some geotour caches. A quick find where the container is nicely tucked away. Thanks for bringing me here.

Found it but forgot a pen to write our name on - found with my 4yr son

Found the replacement log.
Found with toby84

Hmm odd one. First attempt a few days ago proved unsuccessful. The cache has since been replaced so we returned to try again. Found the replacement cache, but between today and the replacement, the orignal was found. Odd, not sure what's happening. Signed the log of the new replacement cache. Found with Reny90

FOUND IT!!

One of our four “must do” caches in Fitty as we come close to completing the TMGT tour.
This one turned into a bit of a comedy. We came by yesterday afternoon and couldn’t find Capperz container so we messaged the CO’s and offered to place a new one. An hour or two later Pinocchio was a day ahead of us and put a replacement in situ.
Yay, so we biked down today to sign the fresh log. Ugh, no sign of a new container here, the hiding place is still empty! Messaged Pinocchio and got a reply straight away.
Searched that little bit harder and hey presto, my fingers located a mint tin.
Opened it up and to our amazement we were holding the original Darby&Joan container.
The last log was yeomanclan in December 2020!!!!!
Everyone after that has had a dnf .
It was good to see the place at both low tide and high tide giving quite different perspectives.
TFTC

Went back here tonight to replace it with the CO permission. Lovely evening ferry ride and stroll. TFTC

We too found likely spot, even 2 or 3 other possible spots, but sadly all empty

Couldn't find

Picking up caches in whitianga this morning but no sign of this one in either of the two obvious spots. May need replacing?

Found likely knee height crevice but was empty

TFTC

Beautiful little spot. Luke's first find of the year. Quick and easy find

I had a few hours to myself this afternoon without the family so wondered off to clear out the caches in Whitianga. I was hoping for a relaxing drive and cache and it was! With majority G-2 caches, it was sure it was going to be a difficult afternoon. Thank goodness it wasn't as the sun was out in full force. Perhaps G-2 was feeling merciful at Whitianga!

After the last cache, I decide to just walk out here instead of a ride and grab. Good walk and was quickly found. TFTC

Cool

Such a nice spot to stop on our way back to cooks beach. Good hiding spot too

Took a while to find the cache

My partner just introduced me to geocaching and this is my 1st one

Took me a few minutes, but worth to chill and look around. There was a plenty of trash, so took some of it with me. Tftc

Lovely spot to sit here listening to the water and birds. Didn’t take too long to locate.

Malinkaly and I planned a road trip to go to the MEGA but Covid has postponed the event again. We decided to continue on with our planned journey making adjustments as we go with the ever-changing travel restrictions.
Greetings from Dunedin!
Thanks for the cache, Darby&Joan
#2499

My maps told me to wade about 80m into the bay. On a rainy grey day like today I didn't much feel like that, so I was very happy when it turned out Google was wrong and I found the cache with dry feet. lovely hide.
Bring some time to stroll around the waterfront here if you come for this cache.

TFTC Darby&Joan

*** Out on our MEGA Roadtrip with Wilbywarrior. Who says this can only happen when the MEGA is actually held?! Greetings from Dunedin, caching friends
#263 ***

Spending a few days in Whitianga. Enjoyed a cycle along the estuary and collected a few caches. Enjoying all the history in this area. Didn’t take long to find the nice hide. Cache/log all fine. Some interesting letter boxes nearby. Thanks for the smiley.

Quick find at GZ. Blustery day today on this side. Bring back the sun!

Found crevice and bark cover but no cache

Found what I assume to be the spot with a piece of bark on ground in front and no cache. May have been found by muggles or I’m in the wrong spot. Beautiful area around here though

#9683. I have been at a conference in Thames for the past 2 days. Its now Queens Birthday Monday and I have a chance to pick up a few caches around the Coromandel, especially the TMGT caches. Problem is the rain has arrived and its quite heavy at times. Overall however I managed to find quite a few caches in the gaps between the rain showers. We parked near the cave and wandered over to GZ,. There were some people fishing below us but no-one was looking up. Saw two likely hiding spots. One was empty. The other had a small pill bottle. Signed the logbook and replaced the cache where found. Covered with bark. Thanks Darby&Joan for hiding it here.

Early morning visit - quite a few dog walkers. It was an absolute stunning morning. A little crisp but the air was clean, mist was rising from the water and it felt pure. Thank you for bringing me here and for keeping the cache going. Its doing well in its spot and rehidden with good cameo. TFTC.

Was up in the area for a relaxing weekend and to pick up the TMGT caches here. Due to the recent bad storms and a couple of DNF's, was unsure if we'd find a cache in place. Ventured out early Sunday morning , it was clear and we were greeted with several rainbows on the way.
A bit of of storm debris around , but wow, what a stunning view! Unfortunately the cache was gone but we replaced it with the CO's permission - it's now a small pill bottle covered with bark pieces, TMGT codeword supplied.

TFTC

Sadly did not find it, went back twice today but will go back another day to have another look

Nothing here for us today. Had a good look in places that siuted the hint but no luck.

Love the area still people around

Thanks to Capperz who have maintained the hide for us including the code word. If anyone has any difficulty please email us.

Charlotte found this.

Found it but nothing inside so have replenished

I'd noted the recent DNF and had contacted the CO here in advance and permission was granted to replace, along with the all important codeword. Another nice site, after we parked alongside the other historical old storage area. I added camo from the tree next door and left well covered, will need care from future finders to cover this cache upon departure.

Day 3 of our Coromandel visit and our last full day prior to heading back towards home tomorrow. We headed out nice and early this morning with a long-winded route to the TMGTs at Whiti the city and some more great scenery. Intent was to return via 309 kauri, but that got shelved and just picked a few off at each end instead.

Our last visit to the Coromandel was over 12 years ago so it was good to be back in the area after all of that time. We had spent Christmas away in Northland, and a quiet New Year at home before a 4 day/3 night stay in Coromandel town. We explored up the West of the peninsula up to Fletchers Camp, through the middle and across to the East coast of Whitianga and Whangamata, before heading back home 'via' Waihi Beach, where sadly that lady was killed by a shark whilst swimming, RIP. We found all available TMGT options, a few Earthcaches and saw some great sites and sights. Thanks to all COs for their caches here. We didn't do nearly as many as the Seagnoid and TB dragon whose steps we followed in on some days.

Replaced with CO permission, code word too.

This geocacher reported that the cache might be missing.

Logged with the generous permission of the CO. Many, many thanks.

Having collected my pizza , I decided to head over here to eat it. Parked up, wandered over and enjoyed the fabulous view (and a surprisingly good pizza, which I ate whilst it was still warm).

Then, having the area to myself, I began the search. I there was an obvious location which fitted the hint, but when I lifted the bark, there was nothing. Sent a photo to a friend who had already found it, and she confirmed that I had been looking in the correct location. Also checked around the area to see if I could locate where it had rolled to, but to no avail.

A truly beautiful spot though, one of the most beautiful of the GeoTour (and it's up against some pretty stiff competition)! Thank you for showing it to me.

We found this while kids discovered the tyre swing and another swing close by

Quick find. TFTC

This is an impressive tree - amazing how the roots are woven together. For a change the dragon stayed up the top and I did the adventuresome scrambling to find the cache.

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!

Mangroves are always interesting places to visit. And this one has the added extra attraction of a cache. Left our calling card. Cheers.

Day 7 - Christmas Eve Thursday 24 December - Whitianga - Matarangi and back to Whitianga. So lets go exploring!

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.

North Island Campervan trip Day 5

After the fantastic holiday I had a few months ago traveling around the South Island, making the most of one of those incredibly cheap campervan deals available at the time, I figured it was worth taking a week off work before the stresses of the usual holiday period to enjoy some of the delights to be found around the top of the North Island.

This would be a great chance for me to seek out some targeted caches such as the TMGT ones as well as some that would help me with my Jasmer grid, missing minutes (for a couple of challenge caches I'm working on) and any other caches that caught my eye.

Having spent last night in Whitianga, I was intending to head back down the Coromandel and make my way over to Tauranga by this evening. I wasn't sure how much help I was going to get from the weather, so made an early start to try to get as much caching done as possible before the rain hit!

It was still pretty early when I parked up near to GZ. It was a pleasant walk in solitude to get to GZ and I was happy to be able to find this one quickly thanks to the excellent Hint. I encountered no issues with this cache or it's log, which was signed and the whole lot replaced exactly as found before making my way back to the campervan to carry on my way.

Thanks for setting this cache up. FP given for the nice hide.

Thanks I thought mangroves had been introduced to New Zealand but if they were here when Cook arrived then I must be wrong. Oh well you learn something everyday.
A quick drive round the coromandel today mostly getting the TMGT cache with Kiscardi.

Heading up the Coromandel and back down to Tauranga while on a road trip around the North Island with NZ Bozzy.
We are collecting North Island TMTG caches and also some oldies and some missing DT ones as well And celebrating a special birthday too.
TFTC and bringing us here
sorry for the cut and paste

Out and about with ethness noseynel jude_e thedbees and lis'crew on our mega trip that wasn't a mega. Tftc

I was down in Auckland this weekend to help my son and his family move into their first house. I'd planned to join a group of cachers to do a one day blitz on the Coromandel TMGT caches. We left Auckland at 7. 30am and got back to their accommodation 12 hours later. Some beautiful sights were seen, fun had and interesting poses performed for a certain G-2 cache in Pauanui.

We have a nice river walk through bush and mangroves by us. There's one spot in a pohutakawa tree that the shag's love to nest in so I can imagine cooks crew quickly getting 20 of them for dinner. TFTC

Out and about at the Mega that wasn't with a group of five crazy kiwi caching chicks, Ethness, Jude_E, Nosynel, GracieGPSfun and me. We took a trip out around the Coromandel to get the TMGT caches. A quick find in a lovely spot. TFTC.

In Auckland for the mega that isn't! We decided still to come and find a few caches, especially the TMGT ones. A lovely spot. So attractive an area. Thanks for the cache and interesting information.
#6353

We enjoyed the peaceful of this spot. This is supposed to be a Mega trip. Jude_E and I flew up from Christchurch. Ethness flew up from Wellington. The DBees and Gracie's GPS fun drove down from Northland.
Thanks Darby&Joan for creating this hide. It was find 9190 for me.

======== NZ Mega 2021 ========
Planning for the NZ Mega 2021 event is well underway. It will be held in Auckland over Labour Weekend, October 2021

Jude_E, NosyNel, Thedbees, GraciesGPSFun, Lis’s Crew and I are on the ‘Mega that wasn’t’ trip in Auckland the weekend. We’re collecting the ‘Tour’ caches, plus others, plus seeing the scenery, plus having a good old time -as usual . TFTC.

Quick find while in town visiting family. TFTC

Nice easy find it was well hidden but nice and dry thanks

Quick wonder through a park with memorial seating.

Well hidden in the tree.

Hard to get out

Found! What a beautiful spot. Couldn't find the code word though

Found it! Left a little swap inside.

Always lovely to visit beautiful Whitianga. Nice walk and very quick found here thx. An amazing summers day even in the winter here today.

I am very confused since I found the cache, but there was no code in the container or log even though the CO recently replaced the cache and specifically said that it had the code. TFTC.

Found, full log to follow.

Found and signed log in the rain. A couple of messages to CO, a doggy walk to the recently flooded beach, and on our way again. Tftc

We have been alerted that the cache was gone again. Managed to get there today and replace the container complete with code word. All up and running again. Happy Hunting.

Found on a rainy day

Good Morning Whitianga. What a nice place. TFTC

Easy to find, but the codeword was quite hard to read and the logbook was wet.

After overnighting n the new NZMCA Park, that confused us because it wasn't there last time, today we headed off to find the four TMGT caches and a few other new ones that have popped up since our last visit. We have found a cache in this park in the past. Mr S's initial look found nothing and he worried it might be gone but we knew the CO had just done a maintenance run, so we had a closer look and spotted it. The log is very wet though and rather difficult to write on. Interesting tyre swing over the water. Think you'd have to be casrefu where you dropped though, the water isn't very deep.

Thanks Darby&Joan. One more TMGT ticked off our list.

Nice easy find on a rainy day with CODEHill TFTC

Super quick find with PhilBirdBoys in the wind and rain! Great spot, thanks for bringing us here. TFTC.

Called by to check the cache is still in place.

Has been a lot of rain, was in a great spot! Thanks heaps

Area free of muggles and a quick find. TFTC!!

great hide had a temp log sheet in cache

Once again we arrived at GZ to find someone fishing there. Literally 1mt from the cache.
Rather than walk away we opted to test the water and asked if they'd heard of geocaching to which he replied yes but he hadn't done any. So we told him now's his chance
They seemed like nice guys so I think it's safe.
Thanks for putting this here for us to find

Tftc

but no writing stick. Definitely found in right spot. thanks

This replacement does not have the codeword clearly shown. I think the CO could check on it, since it is a TMGT cache.
Thanks

Last one of the TMGT in this part of NZ. Great views of the 'River'

An important objective in today’s travels was to find some more of the TMGT caches. After scoring all the ones around Thames I came to here via the Tapu-Coroglen road and am staying the night in Whitianga. A lovely spot here and an easy find after a short walk through the park. Unfortunately in this location I fear this cache will require frequent replacement as it’s very difficult to hide anything very well here. Signed log, recorded code, TFTC!

Wow what a fab location for a cache. Quickly found and signed and replaced. Off round the coast to Thames today. This place is fantastic. Will holiday here more often.

Stayed at Hot Water Beach, headed to Whitianga to grab some of the Geotours. Got here and passed a group doing boot camp, and spent time looking for the cache, couldnt see it, expanded search and still no joy, contacted CO with a photo and they confirmed it should have been within my photo, and got permission to replace it.

Thanks to a call from YorkshireKiwi83 has alerted us it is gone again!! It has been kindly replaced. Thank you very much Lets see how long it lasts this time. If you have a DNF on this cache, please get in touch with us. Use the Message system, we see that instantly, we don't check emails every day. We don't want your Geotour finds mucked up.

Cool

Found a ideal location but not for us today.

Easy find despite a mother and child playing nearby.

TFTC

This has to be one of the most stunningly scenic TMGT caches I’ve done and we’re almost up to 50. In the late afternoon the light across the water is the stuff of dreams. A definite favourite point.

Nice find and nice to be here claiming this smiley. Being an owner of 4 caches in the geo tour i know the work that has gone into them to keep them in tip top condition.
I am not doing the tour but support the CO's when and where i can.
Of course a favourite point awarded.
From Timaru

Another TMGT for the collection! Staying nearby in the town we popped out for an early evening stroll. All good here! TFTC

Windy like Wellington, and to think we had our picnic here - weighting down our plates, crackers, bags etc.

Logged with permission.

Lots of dogs walking their owners in this park. Had to be quick. Lovely spot. Thanks very much Darby&Joan

Lovely shady spot to get out of the hot sun. Just watch out for wet dogs wanting to say hello.

Thanks Rosmar for the temporary repair of the cache. We called by today and popped in a camo container. Please cover well. Code Word is also on the inside list and the log. Happy Hunting