Quazy for Quamby Golden Valley, Tasmania, Australia
By
Dippedidooda on 30-Mar-08. Waypoint GA1055
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Traditional |
| Container: | Regular |
| Coordinates: | S41° 39.165' E146° 41.826' (WGS 84) |
| 55G 474778E 5388733N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 1217 m |
| Local Government Area: | Meander Valley |
/146.6971,-41.65275,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
A walk up Quamby Bluff, 1227m high and a reasonably steep climb, but the track is mostly easy to follow and the views are fantastic.
Pick a clear day for increased ease of track navigation and to enjoy the views. It can be quite cold and windy at the top so take warm and protective clothing. Take sufficient water too – there are no streams along the way. This walk would be particularly magnificent in November/December when the many waratahs are blooming.
To get to the start of this eastern track (which is easier and shorter than the alternate northern track), drive to Deloraine and turn on to the Lake Highway. 21.3km south of the Deloraine turn-off, not far past the last of the hairpin bends, there is a side road on the right leading into farmland with a sign that says ‘Fairy Glade Track to Quamby Bluff”. Park beside the highway or in dry weather along the side road. Set off towards the mountain and past an old farmhouse. There is another sign that signals the start of the track.
The track passes through tea-tree forest and starts winding up lovely myrtle forest becoming progressively rockier until the base of a huge boulder field is reached. It’s here that you need to watch the track markers most carefully to cross the boulder field and re-enter the myrtle forest. Make sure you keep spotting the red triangle markers as you climb up to the saddle. From there it’s not too far to climb up some larger boulders to the plateau and an easy 400m walk to the trig point. Here might be a good place to have a rest and some lunch, find the cache of course, and then retrace your steps to return.
Cache is a 2 litre cammoed screwtop container containing logbook and pen, stash note and various nice swaps! My walks books (John and Monica Chapman’s “Day Walks Tasmania” and Tyrone Thomas’ “120 Walks in Tasmania”), vary the walk time between 3 and 4 hours, and the sign says 5 hours return. We stopped for ½ an hour at the top and it took us 3 and ½ hours in total. There is a fair amount of stepping up and down rocks: my knees were feeling it at the end of the day, so take it easy, especially coming back down the boulder field.
More detailed track notes may be obtained from the various published walking books but if you’re well prepared, choose good weather and take great care, this walk is relatively straightforward. I hope you enjoy it!!!
Hints
Haqre ybjvfu ebpx yrqtr, oruvaq ebpx. |
|
Decode |
Logs
Mr T made the trek to this one, on a mission to find this cache, the trig and the GC cache. He was successful in finding all three. A 3hr return trip on a cloudy drizzly day.
Cache and contents in excellent condition.
Many thanks Dippedidooda, for placing this cache, nice to find this oldie.
Cache and contents in excellent condition.
Many thanks Dippedidooda, for placing this cache, nice to find this oldie.
Rated: for Overall Experience
found it belong with Riverside scouts cleaned out all of the rubbish and expired medication took Scout peg from Tazscout and put in waterproof container of matches
We were on a trip with our walking club up Quamby Bluff and were happy to see there was a cache up top as an added bonus. As we left the cars it was very cloudy with the odd bit of light drizzle - but luckily not the heavy showers we'd passed through just after Deloraine. Fortunately we were to escape any rain on the walk. The lower forest section of the walk with misty atmospherics, soft underfoot and mossy trees was faerie like. Soon enough we reached the scree slope and the ascent steepened but nothing too challenging.
After the scree the track carried on upwards through more forest before reaching a small saddle just prior to the final ascent to the top. Thence another short but straightforward boulder scramble up to the plateau top. It was fairly breezy up here but the weather was improving by the minute with more and more sunshine breaking through. Along the path we wended to the trig point. The views were quite outstanding - as they are from most of the northern peaks such as Roland, Black Bluff etc.
The cache was sitting on the rock under the trig point. Referring to previous logs and photos we're quite confident it was the correct container. Even had the Quazy for Quamby log book in it. Needless to say - given it was hidden in "plain sight" so to speak - the log book along with another note book and various scraps of paper all had entries from non cachers. We added ours. We then placed the cache where we thought it should be as indicated by the GPS and the clue. Its about 7 or 8 metres from the trig.
We then made our way back down under increasingly sunny skies. By the time we got back to the cars it was quite warm and the morning cloud and drizzle just a memory. An excellent walk and a great cache location. Thanks Dippedidooda.
After the scree the track carried on upwards through more forest before reaching a small saddle just prior to the final ascent to the top. Thence another short but straightforward boulder scramble up to the plateau top. It was fairly breezy up here but the weather was improving by the minute with more and more sunshine breaking through. Along the path we wended to the trig point. The views were quite outstanding - as they are from most of the northern peaks such as Roland, Black Bluff etc.
The cache was sitting on the rock under the trig point. Referring to previous logs and photos we're quite confident it was the correct container. Even had the Quazy for Quamby log book in it. Needless to say - given it was hidden in "plain sight" so to speak - the log book along with another note book and various scraps of paper all had entries from non cachers. We added ours. We then placed the cache where we thought it should be as indicated by the GPS and the clue. Its about 7 or 8 metres from the trig.
We then made our way back down under increasingly sunny skies. By the time we got back to the cars it was quite warm and the morning cloud and drizzle just a memory. An excellent walk and a great cache location. Thanks Dippedidooda.
A very quick and easy find on a trek with Scouts, the trail up was very busy, more people than we've ever seen up there. Gorgeous day and beautiful views.
We had been planning a walk to Quamby Bluff for sometime and today was the day. It was a little overcast when we left home but as we walked in, the weather cleared into a great day - clear skies, little or no wind.
During our research we had read about the walk to Quamby Bluff and it sounded interesting. The experience today exceeded our expectations. The walk through the myrtle and melaleuca forests was wonderful. The carpet of myrtle leaves, the frequent fungi, the lichen on trees, the mosses on rocks and the magnificent trees made for a breathtaking visual experience. Even the clambers up the rock scree on the boulder field and the final ascent to the plateau gave us a sense of achievement and enjoyment. From the top of Quamby Bluff we could see a very long way in every direction. The only downside was the smoke in various areas from forrest fuel reduction burns. However this one aspect did not detract from Quamby Bluff being a wonderful vantage point.
During our research we also noticed recent reports that the Quazy for Quamby cache container needed maintenance. We contacted Dippedidooda and she provided a replacement cache for us to deploy today.
However, the caching experience on top of Quamby Bluff was very confusing. There should have been three containers and logs: GA1055 Quazy for Quamby; GC3RCV3 King Quamby; and the summit logbook and container (not a geocache). We found Quazy for Quamby very easily - the coordinates were spot-on, the hint excellent and, to our surprise, the cache was in perfect condition with a dry, bagged log book and many swaps(we will add a photo to the Gallery soon). The logbook's cover page said clearly "Quazy for Quamby". When we went to sign the logbook we noticed that the last two cachers to log a find for Quazy for Quamby had not signed the logbook - everyone else had. Pecstar said in their log that "Cache is looking a little worse for wear though" but we found it in perfect condition. The summit logbook and container was very much worse for wear (holes in the container, contents wet etc) and pecstar had signed the logbook. We are wondering if pecstar confused the summit container and logbook for Quazy for Quamby.
We were also wondering if Taure-rana also became confused as to which container belonged to which cache - she said that Quazy for Quamby "was on the ground out in the open so I put it back in a more sheltered spot, coordinates near enough to those for King Quamby". Quazy for Quamby was about 8m away from King Quamby, too far away for the coordinates to be "near enough". However the summit logbook container was right on the same coordinates as King Quamby. But to add to the confusion, in her log for King Quamby Taure-rana noted that she had found the summit logbook container, recognised it as not being King Quamby and searched elsewhere successfully for King Quamby.
We could not find King Quamby so were unable to see if anything in that logbook may have shed further light on the situation.
We are very confident that everyone has acted in good faith - it is that things have become very confused on top of Quamby Bluff and cachers visiting the area in the future need to be very clear about the cache they have found and the log they are signing. In the hour or so we were there, we dried out the summit logbook and removed sodden messes which could not be dried out. A photo of the summit logbook container will also be added to the Gallery. By all means, sign the summit log as recognition that you have completed a great walk but it is not a cache and cannot be logged as one.
The bottom line: the original cache container and contents for Quazy for Quamby are in excellent condition and we did not use the replacement cache supplied by Dippedidiooda. The coordinates are spot-on placing the cache about 8m away from the trig point. The hint is excellent.
TFTC Dippedidooda and for enticing us on this great walk.
During our research we had read about the walk to Quamby Bluff and it sounded interesting. The experience today exceeded our expectations. The walk through the myrtle and melaleuca forests was wonderful. The carpet of myrtle leaves, the frequent fungi, the lichen on trees, the mosses on rocks and the magnificent trees made for a breathtaking visual experience. Even the clambers up the rock scree on the boulder field and the final ascent to the plateau gave us a sense of achievement and enjoyment. From the top of Quamby Bluff we could see a very long way in every direction. The only downside was the smoke in various areas from forrest fuel reduction burns. However this one aspect did not detract from Quamby Bluff being a wonderful vantage point.
During our research we also noticed recent reports that the Quazy for Quamby cache container needed maintenance. We contacted Dippedidooda and she provided a replacement cache for us to deploy today.
However, the caching experience on top of Quamby Bluff was very confusing. There should have been three containers and logs: GA1055 Quazy for Quamby; GC3RCV3 King Quamby; and the summit logbook and container (not a geocache). We found Quazy for Quamby very easily - the coordinates were spot-on, the hint excellent and, to our surprise, the cache was in perfect condition with a dry, bagged log book and many swaps(we will add a photo to the Gallery soon). The logbook's cover page said clearly "Quazy for Quamby". When we went to sign the logbook we noticed that the last two cachers to log a find for Quazy for Quamby had not signed the logbook - everyone else had. Pecstar said in their log that "Cache is looking a little worse for wear though" but we found it in perfect condition. The summit logbook and container was very much worse for wear (holes in the container, contents wet etc) and pecstar had signed the logbook. We are wondering if pecstar confused the summit container and logbook for Quazy for Quamby.
We were also wondering if Taure-rana also became confused as to which container belonged to which cache - she said that Quazy for Quamby "was on the ground out in the open so I put it back in a more sheltered spot, coordinates near enough to those for King Quamby". Quazy for Quamby was about 8m away from King Quamby, too far away for the coordinates to be "near enough". However the summit logbook container was right on the same coordinates as King Quamby. But to add to the confusion, in her log for King Quamby Taure-rana noted that she had found the summit logbook container, recognised it as not being King Quamby and searched elsewhere successfully for King Quamby.
We could not find King Quamby so were unable to see if anything in that logbook may have shed further light on the situation.
We are very confident that everyone has acted in good faith - it is that things have become very confused on top of Quamby Bluff and cachers visiting the area in the future need to be very clear about the cache they have found and the log they are signing. In the hour or so we were there, we dried out the summit logbook and removed sodden messes which could not be dried out. A photo of the summit logbook container will also be added to the Gallery. By all means, sign the summit log as recognition that you have completed a great walk but it is not a cache and cannot be logged as one.
The bottom line: the original cache container and contents for Quazy for Quamby are in excellent condition and we did not use the replacement cache supplied by Dippedidiooda. The coordinates are spot-on placing the cache about 8m away from the trig point. The hint is excellent.
TFTC Dippedidooda and for enticing us on this great walk.
I think I can log this - I was the cacher Dippy referred to and I think I found the cache without realizing it! The drawback with smart phone geocache apps is that they don't list the GCA caches so I didn't know about this one. It was on the ground out in the open so I put it back in a more sheltered spot, coordinates near enough to those for King Quamby.
I need to do a maintenance run for this cache but my knees are actually both playing up at the moment! And this is a walk where your knees have to be good! I got a message today from a cacher (who doesn't normally do GCA caches) found it more out in the open, but put it under a rock. Sounds like there aren't any swaps left, but the log book is still there, although might be wet. Sorry...don't feel like I should disable it till actually checked though.
Great walk up to here. Cache is looking a little worse for wear though.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Thanks for this cache. My first ever. Didn't know about Geocache until the day before, when I went hunting for any information for the Quamby Bluff walk. Every birthday I drag the family out for a walk up a mountain. This year it was Quamby. Celebrated my birthday with a cache and, I suspect, a new hobby.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found on a perfect day for a climb along with some newbie geocachers.
I loved the different terrains encountered and the unsurpassed views from the top.
Thanks Dippy.
I loved the different terrains encountered and the unsurpassed views from the top.
Thanks Dippy.
Another great view. Was supposed to be at Warners track today but a last minute change and we ended up here. Complete white out and cold wind on arrival but cleared enough for great view after some lunch. Only 2hrs up and 1hr down so we went up the road and did Projection bluff (yet again for me) after this one to finish the day off.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Dippy you are a legend girl!! 
This walk is another one Ive been wanting to do since I started caching.
Today I came up the lake highway and thought if Quamby Bluff has clear skies above it then Im going to have a crack at it.
Well the skies could not have been clearer and it really felt like spring had arrived.
I think the pictures show how amazing it was better than I could tell it in words.
This cache is definately one of my favourites and is up there with Sirius Tas's Gauntlet series.
I would happily go back again and hope i actually do
Thanks Dippy
This walk is another one Ive been wanting to do since I started caching.
Today I came up the lake highway and thought if Quamby Bluff has clear skies above it then Im going to have a crack at it.
Well the skies could not have been clearer and it really felt like spring had arrived.
I think the pictures show how amazing it was better than I could tell it in words.
This cache is definately one of my favourites and is up there with Sirius Tas's Gauntlet series.
I would happily go back again and hope i actually do
Thanks Dippy
Rated: for Overall Experience
Alls well on a day like this with hardly a cloud to be seen, a bit of sun and fabulous views. TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
Thanks to forthferalz for the last-minute invite for the walk! It was a crisp and chilly day, but shining sun and not a breath of wind made it quite pleasant. The first half of the walk was not hard going and passed through some lovely mossy forest, at the rock scree things got significantly steeper, though. The final rocky climb was as forthferalz says, very icy, but stunning views and the white coating of frost on the boulders was very pretty. Made for tricky and slow climbing, though. I think the previous walkers had worn a bit of a path and we stuck close to the vegetation which wasn't as slippery. Then it was a fun, crunching stroll over the sun-bathed plateau, across the frozen mud and ice to the trig and cache. Some muggles were there before us, but posed no problem in retrieving the cache. Took some photos of the great views, then my hands started getting a wee bit cold, so had to shove them back into the gloves that forthferalz had kindly provided for me.
A great day out with three cache finds and another mountain conquered. Though two mysteries yet remain unsolved: What was in the plastic bag under the trig (which I, too, forgot to look in); and how the heck those people got their dogs up and down the frosty boulders...
A great day out with three cache finds and another mountain conquered. Though two mysteries yet remain unsolved: What was in the plastic bag under the trig (which I, too, forgot to look in); and how the heck those people got their dogs up and down the frosty boulders...
Rated: for Overall Experience
thanks for guiding me this track dippy! The scene on my coffee table depicts the view from the top in the round and i have always wanted to do the climb. So with all the encouraging notes provided by the cache owner, previous logs and hookline's company I seized the opportunity of a sunny windless autumn afternoon and set off at 12.30 Back in the car exactly five hours later.
Fortunately for feralz it was not all relentlessly uphill - the view from the rock scree was quite daunting, but the way over the boulders quickly lead right and into a pepperberry forest, winding a little to ease the gradient. The bonus was the pepperberry forest was fruiting - quite a few markers attached to these hardy little bushes as you head up to the plateau (i have been very keen to try them fresh - very nice in cottage cheese!)
The last section of rockclimbing began with spectacular views south - I think they were speccie enough to have called off the hunt here as the rocks were still coated in frost and treacherous (knowing 4 other teams had made it up and back gave me confidence) So by hugging the cliff side we avoided the frost and finished the climb. The markers led that way but there was a bit of a track to the right - perhaps there is a sunnier northerly route.
There was ice up to a cm thick on the plateau but with no wind it was very pleasant. Coords spot on and easily retrieved even with muggle team and their dogs ( gee how did they get them up the icey bit!!) Distracted by dogs, views and kodak moments I forgot to see what was in the mysterious plastic bag at the trig point.
One could have shaved half an hour off by keeping to the left hand road, which is NOT private as it appears (just the postie prefers the letterbox on the highway,) and driving uphill past the brown farm house to the forest track start. Anyone who is kind enough to take some pink tape along could save those who follow a little indescision and therefor some more time.
Fortunately for feralz it was not all relentlessly uphill - the view from the rock scree was quite daunting, but the way over the boulders quickly lead right and into a pepperberry forest, winding a little to ease the gradient. The bonus was the pepperberry forest was fruiting - quite a few markers attached to these hardy little bushes as you head up to the plateau (i have been very keen to try them fresh - very nice in cottage cheese!)
The last section of rockclimbing began with spectacular views south - I think they were speccie enough to have called off the hunt here as the rocks were still coated in frost and treacherous (knowing 4 other teams had made it up and back gave me confidence) So by hugging the cliff side we avoided the frost and finished the climb. The markers led that way but there was a bit of a track to the right - perhaps there is a sunnier northerly route.
There was ice up to a cm thick on the plateau but with no wind it was very pleasant. Coords spot on and easily retrieved even with muggle team and their dogs ( gee how did they get them up the icey bit!!) Distracted by dogs, views and kodak moments I forgot to see what was in the mysterious plastic bag at the trig point.
One could have shaved half an hour off by keeping to the left hand road, which is NOT private as it appears (just the postie prefers the letterbox on the highway,) and driving uphill past the brown farm house to the forest track start. Anyone who is kind enough to take some pink tape along could save those who follow a little indescision and therefor some more time.
On a very nice summers morning I climbed to the up to log this cache. The myrtle forest was welcome relief from the sun and the views from the plateau were just magic. I encourage others to make the effort to do this one as it is not a hard walk on a well marked track for those of reasonable fitness. You will not be dissapointed. The cache is in pristine condition and just waiting to be found. Thanks Dippy for bringing me back to this lovely area. TNLN
Rated: for Overall Experience
Checked this puppy while at the Trig cache and second visit with Sirius Jnr....all in pristine condition. Had been signed by 3 respectful muggles and replaced as found. There are now 3 caches to be had for those that haven't been here before....one on the way up and 2 on top.....so no excuses......Cheers.
I can't believe there have been so few finds. What a great walk with such amazing views! We were at a very nearby shack for a couple of nights, so I was very keen to do this walk. Unfortunately the boys weren't until the prospect of a couple of caches came to their attention. Gee-oh (7) then made it a matter of pride to race to the top with his uncle ahead of Freddymjt (9) and myself. TFTC!
Wow Dippy what an amazing cache! What an amazing view with a an awesome climb that a fit six year old and nine year old can manage!
This cache has been on my to do list for quite a while but between bad weather, work and scout commitments and injury has had to wait till today for an attempt. My son was keen to go and at the last moment my 6 year old pleaded to come because this was a "Dippy" cache so a quick ring to a couple of friends and it was all systems go. We used the Eastern approach and climbed with some challenge through the myrtle forest and were intrigued by the 'Beech Orange' (Cyttaria guniii) growing on many of the trees. The kids found the rock scree slopes fun and easy as it gave their legs a rest and their arms a workout and the views were motivating i.e. if this is good wait till we get to the top. The last 400 m is easy though quite chilly and the flowering holly like alpine shrub had to be warily treated.
We reached the trig point 2 hours after our start and were truly impressed by the 360 degree views. This is a truly inspiring mountain to walk up. The hazy view prevented us from seeing most of the scenery but the kids felt like lords looking over their domain as the worked out where Deloraine and Westbury were. We could not see Bass Strait due to the haze.
The cache was easily found as the co-ordinates were spot on and , as usual, well stocked. Swaps were made, the candle was replaced by a wallet and the doll by a motorbike. The log book was signed by all and the "Stick with it " movable taken. We also signed the other log book. An hour later we started our two hour descent.
My daughter was not the only 6 year old up there, a Swiss man had brought his son up there while we were there.
We had a great day and I would recommend this cache to anyone who wanted a speccie view of Northern Tasmania. Once again thanks Dippy.
This cache has been on my to do list for quite a while but between bad weather, work and scout commitments and injury has had to wait till today for an attempt. My son was keen to go and at the last moment my 6 year old pleaded to come because this was a "Dippy" cache so a quick ring to a couple of friends and it was all systems go. We used the Eastern approach and climbed with some challenge through the myrtle forest and were intrigued by the 'Beech Orange' (Cyttaria guniii) growing on many of the trees. The kids found the rock scree slopes fun and easy as it gave their legs a rest and their arms a workout and the views were motivating i.e. if this is good wait till we get to the top. The last 400 m is easy though quite chilly and the flowering holly like alpine shrub had to be warily treated.
We reached the trig point 2 hours after our start and were truly impressed by the 360 degree views. This is a truly inspiring mountain to walk up. The hazy view prevented us from seeing most of the scenery but the kids felt like lords looking over their domain as the worked out where Deloraine and Westbury were. We could not see Bass Strait due to the haze.
The cache was easily found as the co-ordinates were spot on and , as usual, well stocked. Swaps were made, the candle was replaced by a wallet and the doll by a motorbike. The log book was signed by all and the "Stick with it " movable taken. We also signed the other log book. An hour later we started our two hour descent.
My daughter was not the only 6 year old up there, a Swiss man had brought his son up there while we were there.
We had a great day and I would recommend this cache to anyone who wanted a speccie view of Northern Tasmania. Once again thanks Dippy.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found it this afternoon after a great walk with a group from www.bushwalking-tasmania.com. Great cache. Not as good as the weather today though, easily the best weather we've had in weeks. You could see out to Bass Strait! 
Thanks Dipster!
TNLNSL.
Thanks Dipster!
TNLNSL.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Third attempt at getting here due to time and so much cloud cover....was still cloudy today but at least the peaks were showing...albeit intermittently. Initial part of track is a nice gentle climb...middle section had me stopping regularly...but then the last section seemed quite easy. Geo-pooch didn't have any difficulty in making it all the way to the cache and after a brief sniff or two gave it the 4paws up. Time to cache was just on 1.5hrs...with cloud now lifted to reveal a very speccy 360 degree view. There was still quite low cloud to the west...so didn't hang around too long on top...and so taking in the fantastic view once again..it was a 'high ho silver'...or in this case(sirius) and back down the mountain with an all up time of 2.5hrs
This is a great climb with an excellent track and definitely a must do for those with the adventure spirit.
The next lucky cacher will also get two for the price of one.....as 'Stick with it" came for the hike.
Also an excellent hide...which should pass the test of time and with co-ords spot on. TNLNSL.....Thoroughly enjoyed this cache...so many thanks Dippy.....Cheers.
This is a great climb with an excellent track and definitely a must do for those with the adventure spirit.
The next lucky cacher will also get two for the price of one.....as 'Stick with it" came for the hike.
Also an excellent hide...which should pass the test of time and with co-ords spot on. TNLNSL.....Thoroughly enjoyed this cache...so many thanks Dippy.....Cheers.
Rated: for Overall Experience
