Coal Bluff lookout Recherche, Tasmania, Australia
By
nutwood on 20-Sep-12. Waypoint GA4602
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Traditional |
| Container: | Regular |
| Coordinates: | S43° 36.233' E146° 48.322' (WGS 84) |
| 55G 484292E 5172103N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 67 m |
| Local Government Area: | Huon Valley |
/146.805367,-43.603883,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
At the moment we think this is the most southern GCA cache. Currently the ocean is waging war against this headland and I suspect few walkers will be taking the easier, sea level route between Lion Rock and South Cape Rivulet. We chose to place our cache up here as it should last a bit longer than anything placed near the watery battle field below.
In the right weather this is a pleasant spot to stop for a snack and a drink. The view is impressive as you sit 100m above the waves and relax in the knowledge that this is the highest point the track reaches. The walking notes describe the track from Cockle Creek to South Cape Rivulet as "Easy, 3.5 -4.5 hours". We'd suggest that in it's current condition it should be considered as "Medium, 4 - 5 hours". There's a climb down to the beach at South Cape Bay, as the steps are gone. A similar situation exists at the Lion Rock end of the beach and there are trees of various sizes across the track over Coal Bluff.
The cache is a 1.2 litre Sistema, painted black. It is located between two rocks to the right (inland) side of the track, just before you reach the look-out clearing. It's covered with some vegetation. We're not putting in a hint and making finders hunt, as the intention is to have as small an impact as possible. The cache can be accessed by a small animal track and, as it's only a couple of metres off the track, it should be possible to retrieve it and barely break a twig.
At the time of hiding, the cache contained a log book, pencil, spare clip-lock bag, several small plastic animals and a GCA Easter path-tag.
Hints
Frr qrfpevcgvba. |
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Decode |
Logs
We were heading out to Cockle Ck on our ninth and last day of a walk along the Southern Ranges and back along the South Coast track. Took us four hours from the Rivulet to Cockle Creek. We stopped at the nearby lookout for the views and photos (weather was fabulous) and of course retrieved the cache. It wasn't in too bad condition, log book a bit damp but no problems signing it.
Many thanks for the log Budgie. It's sad that the cache is so wet but it's difficult to know what to do about it. The location means that everyone who visits is in a hurry so they only have time to sign before heading on. Any moisture that finds its way in accumulates as there are not enough finds to give the cache a chance to dry out. We trialed an IP rated cache at Cockle Creek but unfortunately they upgraded the section of track it was located on before it had much of a chance.
Found this cache on a recent visit to the area. Was waiting on some walkers from Melcula, so nipped up to find this one and back. Log book was wet through and I didnt have a spare. Made a mark as best I could
Many thanks for the log. 4.5 years between finds makes it tough on a cache so water expected. Good to know it's still there and the directions remain valid!
Yep found, was full of water, which we drained. A little old school caching was done here, that is found without a GPS.
Great to hear the cache is still there. Three years since the last find, your detailed logs are much appreciated!
With plans made a week or so out, we got packed and ready on Friday night and then dragged ourselves out of bed at 0530 on a mild Saturday morning. We collected Stainless-steel-rat at 0645 and then dropped of the girls with friends at 0700. Now we were off on our southern adventure. We met OldSaint in Huonville around 0745 as we fuelled up (with coffee 
).
Arriving at the start of the walking track we got ourselves ready and trotted off not long before 1000 (a bit behind schedule). We made good progress on the rocky path at the start and then got quicker on the duckboards (no we didn't see any ducks but heard some). With one or two short stops on the way and a slight backtrack we arrived at GZ two hours later at 1150. We soon had the cache in hand and log signed -mission complete. Now we have logged the southern most GC cache in Australia and were all very happy with ourselves.
Now onward to the coast and along the track a bit further for the southern most GCA at Coal Bluff, but not before a bit of lunch and some (lots) of photos. We had lunch under a tree at the top of the steps near the creek as we sheltered from a shower.
We started the climb up the hill after a couple of elegant water crossings ducking, weaving and climbing around over and under branches and full trees blocking our path, then the fun started. The track was a bog in many places and the going was slow as we made our way to Coal Bluff. We found the cache under a thick pile of mulch and drained the water out and signed the logbook (log still dry enough). We were all amazed at the view west and so, so wanted to continue on, but knew we would not have enough daylight as the last 900m had taken a serous amount of time.
Now we have logged the southern most GC in Australia and were all very happy with ourselves.
We slogged back through the mud and as we neared the drop down to the little creek SSR and the egg collected a log to make as a bridge or we would have had to jump uphill to get back across. After the couple of showers the main creek was also flowing faster and we needed more rock steps to cross back over.
We started the trek back to the cars from the beach at 1505, we were notably slower on the way back with a couple of extra stops for these weary walkers, and read a few emails that somehow found a signal (twice) in the most remotest places. We were very thankful when we arrived back at the start at 1745. It had been an amazing 8 hours and 23km but we were all a bit sore and tired. We sat around and had a drink and a bit to eat before the long journey home, meeting up again on the way in Dover at 'Post Office 6985' for a fantastic pizza.
We had 2 more quick stops for some history caches before dropping SSR off at around 2130. It had been a long but enjoyable day. I'm so glad the egg was able to join us. Thanks to OldSaint for being great company as always, and a big thanks to SSR for concocting another epic journey. TFTC
). Arriving at the start of the walking track we got ourselves ready and trotted off not long before 1000 (a bit behind schedule). We made good progress on the rocky path at the start and then got quicker on the duckboards (no we didn't see any ducks but heard some). With one or two short stops on the way and a slight backtrack we arrived at GZ two hours later at 1150. We soon had the cache in hand and log signed -mission complete. Now we have logged the southern most GC cache in Australia and were all very happy with ourselves.
Now onward to the coast and along the track a bit further for the southern most GCA at Coal Bluff, but not before a bit of lunch and some (lots) of photos. We had lunch under a tree at the top of the steps near the creek as we sheltered from a shower.
We started the climb up the hill after a couple of elegant water crossings ducking, weaving and climbing around over and under branches and full trees blocking our path, then the fun started. The track was a bog in many places and the going was slow as we made our way to Coal Bluff. We found the cache under a thick pile of mulch and drained the water out and signed the logbook (log still dry enough). We were all amazed at the view west and so, so wanted to continue on, but knew we would not have enough daylight as the last 900m had taken a serous amount of time.
Now we have logged the southern most GC in Australia and were all very happy with ourselves.
We slogged back through the mud and as we neared the drop down to the little creek SSR and the egg collected a log to make as a bridge or we would have had to jump uphill to get back across. After the couple of showers the main creek was also flowing faster and we needed more rock steps to cross back over.
We started the trek back to the cars from the beach at 1505, we were notably slower on the way back with a couple of extra stops for these weary walkers, and read a few emails that somehow found a signal (twice) in the most remotest places. We were very thankful when we arrived back at the start at 1745. It had been an amazing 8 hours and 23km but we were all a bit sore and tired. We sat around and had a drink and a bit to eat before the long journey home, meeting up again on the way in Dover at 'Post Office 6985' for a fantastic pizza.
We had 2 more quick stops for some history caches before dropping SSR off at around 2130. It had been a long but enjoyable day. I'm so glad the egg was able to join us. Thanks to OldSaint for being great company as always, and a big thanks to SSR for concocting another epic journey. TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
I had posted in the Tassie FB group of my plans to try and get numbers up since walking this far from assistance alone is never a good idea, although interest was a little muted we ended up with a group of four seasoned geocaches willing to put in the hard work needed to search for GCA's most Southern cache.
So on Friday night we had a plan for myself, GooseandEgg and Old Saint to meet up and go for this most out of the geocache, I was picked up at 6.45 and after the logistics of normal family life were sorted we headed South meeting up with Old Saint at Huonville, grabbing a coffee and some food before continuing to Cockle Creek, arriving at 9.30 by the time we had changed feet and what not we set off at 9.45.
We had made good time getting to the GC cache in 2 hours and then spent sometime taking pictures along the coast and having lunch, then we retraced our steps a bit and crossed the brown creek on the beach with a bit of a faff doing our best to keep dry but on the whole getting wet, the next water crossing we all jumped over but was just as much fun and games.
Now is where the hard work started with us being treated to good clear paths from Cockle Creek well that all changed from here one, it looks like Parks and wildlife were here in summer (which summer I'm not sure) so we walk thru mud and climbed under and over trees making very slow progress so when we got to the cache it had taken us almost 90 minutes to cover what as the crow flies is only 500 metres. The cache was a little wet with a little water in the container but we dried it out as best we could and the logbook is a little damp but nothing too bad.
This is where we had to make up our minds on whether to carry on or not and we all saddly agreed we needed to start heading back or we would lose the light. We made a bridge over one creek using a tree Egg and I carried a 100 meters, we did get some odd looks from only the second group of the day as we passed them.
As we walked back we talked about making a return visit in summer with weather and daylight on our sides to find the next one.
At the car we sat and had a cup of coffee (provided by the ever resourceful GooseandEgg) we all changed out of dirty and muddy boots and gaiters before setting off for home.
All in all we walked for 8 hours covering 23Km collecting 36,000 steps, with our day being a long but very worthwhile 15 hours, I think we all slept well that night.
Thanks for a very challenging cache Nutwood, all I can say is 'I'll be back'
Thanks very much for the cache.
Found on 27.08.2016 at 13:46
So on Friday night we had a plan for myself, GooseandEgg and Old Saint to meet up and go for this most out of the geocache, I was picked up at 6.45 and after the logistics of normal family life were sorted we headed South meeting up with Old Saint at Huonville, grabbing a coffee and some food before continuing to Cockle Creek, arriving at 9.30 by the time we had changed feet and what not we set off at 9.45.
We had made good time getting to the GC cache in 2 hours and then spent sometime taking pictures along the coast and having lunch, then we retraced our steps a bit and crossed the brown creek on the beach with a bit of a faff doing our best to keep dry but on the whole getting wet, the next water crossing we all jumped over but was just as much fun and games.
Now is where the hard work started with us being treated to good clear paths from Cockle Creek well that all changed from here one, it looks like Parks and wildlife were here in summer (which summer I'm not sure) so we walk thru mud and climbed under and over trees making very slow progress so when we got to the cache it had taken us almost 90 minutes to cover what as the crow flies is only 500 metres. The cache was a little wet with a little water in the container but we dried it out as best we could and the logbook is a little damp but nothing too bad.
This is where we had to make up our minds on whether to carry on or not and we all saddly agreed we needed to start heading back or we would lose the light. We made a bridge over one creek using a tree Egg and I carried a 100 meters, we did get some odd looks from only the second group of the day as we passed them.
As we walked back we talked about making a return visit in summer with weather and daylight on our sides to find the next one.
At the car we sat and had a cup of coffee (provided by the ever resourceful GooseandEgg) we all changed out of dirty and muddy boots and gaiters before setting off for home.
All in all we walked for 8 hours covering 23Km collecting 36,000 steps, with our day being a long but very worthwhile 15 hours, I think we all slept well that night.
Thanks for a very challenging cache Nutwood, all I can say is 'I'll be back'
Thanks very much for the cache.
Found on 27.08.2016 at 13:46
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found today on a return trip from New River Lagoon, decided to walk this track back after walking along the shore a few days before. Was a sunny day and and excellent view from GZ, will post my vertical panorama shot from lookout when I stitch it together, good hide and easy find, cache was in good condition. Log was slightly damp but still ok. A very pleasant walk and a lot safer than going along the shore. TFTC Nutwood.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Hi Nutty
You are right, I was wrong. Thought you were claiming the most southerly, so will delete my log.
Cheers Oldsaint.
You are right, I was wrong. Thought you were claiming the most southerly, so will delete my log.
Cheers Oldsaint.
Thanks for the advice Old Saint however our description does read "we think this is the most southern GCA cache.". We may be wrong, but that's what we think.
Which GCA cache is further South?
Next Stop Antarctica is not a GCA cache, neither is the new cache placed near it.
Which GCA cache is further South?
Next Stop Antarctica is not a GCA cache, neither is the new cache placed near it.
What an epic! I'd be really sympathetic about the leeches if you weren't rubbing it in about a certain nearby cache! 
As it is, you'd be interested to know that we camped in the area for two nights and only saw one leech and that was wandering up my arm after I installed ICEM Cockle Creek. I commented as I flicked it off, that it looked really hungry, one of the skinniest leeches I've seen.
Obviously you tasted better!
As it is, you'd be interested to know that we camped in the area for two nights and only saw one leech and that was wandering up my arm after I installed ICEM Cockle Creek. I commented as I flicked it off, that it looked really hungry, one of the skinniest leeches I've seen.
Obviously you tasted better!
Hi Nutwood
After getting the FTF on "ICEM Verse 6 - Cockle Creek", like an idiot I continued on to this cache knowing it was going to let go.
Trying to keep my feet dry along the track dodging puddles, mud and other forms of wet areas and listening to the frogs as I progressed, 'cos I only wore light footwear; the gods let it pour about the first bridge that crosses the creek before you get to the coast. It p---ed ... that is, it poured down!!! Continued to rain, no teem until I got back to almost the same spot. Hughie really let it rip down! I was wet, so didn't put on my wet weather gear.
Arrived at ground zero for "Next Steps Antarctica" and found the cache still hiding in its designated hiding spot.
Negotiated the stairs and used the rope at that section where they have been washed away. Got a wet, muddy arse as a result.
Walked the beach or should I say rocks!
Cleaned the mud off my footwear as I forded the creek.
The area near where you take to the bush was aslo very interesting to negotiate.
From here to the cache; the track was wet, puddly, muddy and infested with leeches. It's still pouring down from a great height. Covered in mud to the knees, I continued on and eventually arrived at ground zero.
Another quick find was had for my second FTF of the day.
Without the bother of "ICEM Cockle Creek", the cache was extracted, the log signed and cache replaced at 1351hrs.
Another 1.6km (as the crow flies) to get to the Rivulet which means three to six km walking. Not today Josephine!
By the time I got back to the car, I was soaked to the skin, freezing cold and very heavy in the legs. Incidently, I had many free loaders hitching a ride and sucking blood! Showered as soon as I got home, without taking my clothes off at first and had ten ot twelve of those flip flops (leeches) drop on the shower bay floor.
Thanks for an interesting day
TFTC and the FTFs
Cheers OldSaint.
After getting the FTF on "ICEM Verse 6 - Cockle Creek", like an idiot I continued on to this cache knowing it was going to let go.
Trying to keep my feet dry along the track dodging puddles, mud and other forms of wet areas and listening to the frogs as I progressed, 'cos I only wore light footwear; the gods let it pour about the first bridge that crosses the creek before you get to the coast. It p---ed ... that is, it poured down!!! Continued to rain, no teem until I got back to almost the same spot. Hughie really let it rip down! I was wet, so didn't put on my wet weather gear.
Arrived at ground zero for "Next Steps Antarctica" and found the cache still hiding in its designated hiding spot.
Negotiated the stairs and used the rope at that section where they have been washed away. Got a wet, muddy arse as a result.
Walked the beach or should I say rocks!
Cleaned the mud off my footwear as I forded the creek.
The area near where you take to the bush was aslo very interesting to negotiate.
From here to the cache; the track was wet, puddly, muddy and infested with leeches. It's still pouring down from a great height. Covered in mud to the knees, I continued on and eventually arrived at ground zero.
Another quick find was had for my second FTF of the day.
Without the bother of "ICEM Cockle Creek", the cache was extracted, the log signed and cache replaced at 1351hrs.
Another 1.6km (as the crow flies) to get to the Rivulet which means three to six km walking. Not today Josephine!
By the time I got back to the car, I was soaked to the skin, freezing cold and very heavy in the legs. Incidently, I had many free loaders hitching a ride and sucking blood! Showered as soon as I got home, without taking my clothes off at first and had ten ot twelve of those flip flops (leeches) drop on the shower bay floor.
Thanks for an interesting day
TFTC and the FTFs
Cheers OldSaint.
Rated: for Overall Experience
