T-2 (Manawatu) Dalefield, North Island, New Zealand
By lobo on 06-Jan-01. Waypoint GC137

This cache kind of snuck up on me. I was just using the "find next closest" on my GPS after finding each cache without paying a lot of attention to what the actual cache was until I got there. Walking across a kind of meadow was weird enough for this area but after I crossed the creek and the GPS was pointing some distance off the track seemingly nowhere I got a little concerned. But I followed the GPS and as I got closer a candidate hiding location was apparent. And there was the only regular sized cache of the day in a well-maintained state. Despite this being an obvious objective find for the day, the fact that I kind of arrived at it without realizing and the excellent condition meant the significance of finding such an old cache was lost on me at the time. But now I feel I got some payback for the significant hike to get to it. TFTC.

Found on the walk in to Totara Flats Hut from the Waiohine Campsite. A rainy weekend but not too cold. Very few people about because of the weather. We were tired and very wet by the time we got here, so I was very pleased by how obvious the cache was as I approached. Nice to find another old one. TFTC

A call was put out in our puzzling group that there was going to be a hike into Totara Flats to hunt down T-2, as it is one of the oldest caches in the North Island, therefore required for the challenge cache GC325CX Old School Challenge. The group of willing participants are myself, Itchyfeet2020, Matagouri, TwigNZ, and The Seagnoid, so we are signing logs as LIMiTS.

Finally... We arrived at T-2!! So stoked to have this cache ticked off!
Little did we know what we had waiting for us to get back out of Waiohine Gorge!!

A great time had by all, and some great caching along the way.
Thanks for the cache.

Yay! At last! You know how many years I have wanted to get this? Yeah, me neither. Really enjoyed the walk here, loved finding a decent sized cache. Maybe I should have dropped in a trackable. Dropping in a favourite though. Not just because it is a very old cache, although that is a bonus, but it pushes nearly all my other buttons. Decent size, dry inside, out tramping. Just not far off the track. Okay, it is off the track, but crossing grassland doesn't seem to require much effort.

Fantastic cache, fantastic place. Well done.

At last - I have been wanting to do this trip since... since... well, since I was in nappies, probably. I have been up Holdsworth a number of times, and down to Totara Flats once, but never out the Waiohine gorge. So armed with the intent of finding T2, one of New Zealand's oldest caches, I set of with a bunch of geocaching friends after having dropped a car off at the Waiohine road end. It was grey and overcast, perfect tramping weather apart from a little drizzle, but we only really needed the raincoats once. Everything looks all fresh and new. Shiny and clean.

Log signed as Limits for LL113, Itchyfeet2020, Matagouri, TwigNZ and the Seagnoid. And yes, there were limits to our caching today. Today we decided to limit it to New Zealand!
Fourteen caches between Holdsworth road end to Totara Flats hut, and another fifteen tomorrow, between Totara Flats and the Waiohine road end.

A group weekend in the eastern Tararuas, going from Holdsworth Lodge to the Waiohine campground via Gentle Annie Saddle and Totara Flats hut, with T-2 as our major target. The group includes LL113, Itchyfeet2020, myself, TwigNZ, and The Seagnoid, so we are signing logs as LIMiTS.
The main target for this weekend. A quick find at GZ. TwigNZ did the honours, as this cache qualified him for the NI Old School Challenge. The rest of us still have more to find. Container in perfect condition. FP for lots of reasons, but primarily because it's our reason for being here this weekend. Tftc!

T2 (GC137) is currently the second oldest extant cache in the North Island, and as such is on the list of 10 oldest NI caches required to be found in order to qualify for GC325CX Old School Challenge - North Island. This means that I've wanted to do a tramp to find T2 for yonks, and this weekend it finally happened.

A group of 5 of us set off early on Saturday, leaving one car at the end of Waiohine Gorge Campsite and then driving to Holdsworth Campsite in the other car, to make our way from there to Totara Flats Hut for 1 night and then back out via the Waiohine Gorge. Those 5 are LL113, Itchyfeet2020, Matagouri, TwigNZ and the Seagnoid, and so we have signed all logs as LIMiTS.

After the heavy going of yesterday, I must admit that I was expecting a far gentler descent back to the Waiohine Campsite carpark. Little did I know that it would still be a decent amount of effort required to do it, but at the end we would all feel that we richly deserved to eat dinner in a pub to celebrate our efforts.

Here was the main moment for our weekend, the reason we had come. It was with a bit of trepidation that I made my way to GZ. I don't know how the others would have felt it we couldn't have found this cache, but I would have been gutted. I needn't have worried, as the sturdy container was spotted almost immediately. I asked for the 'honour' of logging us in the book as this was the one I really wanted to find. Then it was time for a photo (which I am sure will get added to one of our logs) before setting off again.

This cache meant a lot to me today, and for that reason alone it gets a FP. Thanks for placing it all those years ago. I am sorry for your loss, but I hope this cache will continue to serve as a happy memory of Jay. Kia Kaha.

The time has finally come for our much talked about T2 adventure - a very worthy objective and perhaps some of us could be heard muttering T2 sometimes when the going got tough. The plan was in from Holdsworth and out at Waiohine and all the great caches inbetween. Last night we stayed at Totara Flats and today the mission was to find this cache. A very enjoyable find for the five of us. I appreciate the person who bought the good sized container in, as its always a joy to find these and particulary here in this lovely spot that you have to work to get to. So a big thanks to all those involved in keeping this going. This cache might have been the incentive for Old School or other challenges, but it also creates memories of a weekend planned and spent with friends who I have met thru caching. Truth be told my leg muscles are also still reminding me of the weekend fondly as I sit and write this log a day later! All logs signed as LIMITS for LL113, Itchyfeet2020, matagouri, TwigNZ and the Seagnoid. A FAV for sure, thank you.

Found yesterday on route to Totara Flats Hut for the night. TFTC!

Here are all pages of the logbook. FMB243 cannot be found. For 2021 there is only one valid log entry.

I thought the previous cachers were exaggerating a bit. What can be so challenging about a path that runs parallel to the river? I was quickly taught better. On the first part up to GC4YHEZ (Onward or upward? - Waiohine) I would have signed "relentlessly" with my 18 kg trekking backpack. About 1 km before I reached the cache, I pitched my tent. The rest of the way the next morning was just a walk. Despite or because of the challenge, it was a great experience. Overnight stay strongly recommended!

Its been a few years to get to this point

I had read a little about the track, and knew from reading some of the logs that this was going to be a bit of a challenge!

The word I would add is "relentless"

It has been a walk that has been a bit of rock climbing, rock hopping, multiple stream crossings, changing landscapes and rough terrain. Its a walk that keeps on giving!

So for various reasons could not attempt the walk until now, with a self imposed weather/season window, I really wanted to get in this cache within the next 6 weeks, or I would have left it till next year.

This is not a cache you can just fall into, it takes a bit of planning and preparation. So here I am with gorby, who has just celebrated his 10,000 find. I made the suggestion that he consider driving another 41/2 hours to this cache (ok plus 6 hours to walk to it too!).

My goal was to come and find this cache, and he could come along too?

Maybe we both did not realise what an adventure it would turn out to be.

A plan was made, and so here we are on our way to the Totora Flats hut for the night, carrying on our backs all we need for our stay.

Its been a long hard walk, and we are at last at the T-2 cache

6 hours, and we are still not at the hut. But we are not known for our speed, and we have been slowly making our way, avoiding injury or falls, but we are just a little tired.

I have always liked finding old caches, but this must be the most challenging one so far. With the cache found, and the log book signed, it was time to get a move on, our journey was not finished yet. We are not even half way (we have the return journey tomorrow, LOL, but that is a different story!)

Thanks lobo for hiding this cache all those years ago, when I was at Ruapehu yesterday I felt I was in my "happy place", so thanks for bringing us here, we will accomplish something special when we get back to our cars tomorrow

The cache we have been waiting for! Took of our packs and rested on the track, I lay down and could have easily stayed there in the warm sun and on the grass and slept. But rusty wasn’t having a bar of that, so after an initial discussion as to which tree would have the cache, we just decided to follow our phone compass, how easy was that!

This cache is an obvious one, finding it, I opened it up and handed the log to rusty who was sitting down and then signed us in. I thought I would never ever get this cache, so far from home and a real mission to plan, now I have it I only need one more cache: 101. Rusty has them all for the North Island old cache challenge. So a trip away from Auckland is coming up. Now 2 more caches today and I can really relax in the hut.

It was 2003 when I last stayed at Totara Flats (in the current hut, a few days before it's official opening) and I have been meaning to return for a while. Today all the planets aligned and my day trip was a go. The plan was to grab a cache on the way in from the Holdsworth Lodge before continuing to this cache. Why? Because it meant that T2 was my number 2 cache 2day on 22/2/22 and it was a 2sday.

Thanks so much lobo for keeping this cache active. Like Jay, I have had to fight my own demons and followed a similar path as he. Luckily, for me, my journey continues. Walking/hiking/outdoors is a big part of keeping me well and geocaching greatly helps with that at times. Even though Jay lost his battle, don't underestimate the positive effect he still has on others, like me, by keeping this cache active in his memory to encourage us to get outside and explore and stay healthy.
Thanks too to CartertoniC for the current container. It is holding up perfectly.

Today was tough. The trip took me about 7.5 hours return from Holdsworth Lodge and around 95% of it was climbing or descending over rough, slippery, steep terrain. In total today I clocked almost 33km (with some jobs in town) and I don't think my legs will be talking to me tomorrow. But what a great sense of satisfaction to grab this one and to do it on such an auspicious day. Fav point from me.

"Mama always told me, start as you mean to go on". As we roll into a new year, what better way to start than a wee trek into the Tararua Ranges. Todays goal was all about the T2 cache, although I went a little further for another couple. The walk (in and out) was just over 25km and took me 8 hours and 16 minutes. 13 caches found, about half on the way in and the rest on the return, and now my legs don't work.

And there it is, number 8 for me in the Old School Challenge. What an epic day it has been, thanks to all those who work to keep this one alive.

[FMB243](https://www.geocaching.com/p/default.aspx?guid=404c8259-4c0a-43e2-b200-5ac5ce02787b&tab=geocaches#profilepanel) is a couch logger. Despite the NZ borders being closed to tourists at the time of FMB243's claimed visit, the Groundspeak listing company has refused to do anything about their fake logging activities.

This is the 5 Trip to New Zealand. Is a great Country with a wonderfull People. TFTC

Found during a three day tramp with a school group. We were camping nearby on these golden flats. I took a short walk to find it, all is well. I did not realise how significant this early cache was, thrilled to claim it and another favourite is added.

On a road trip with NZ Bozzy , Heading back down to Wellington with a couple more stops to make.

Main reason was to grab the North Island TMTG caches and some oldies. And also to celebrate a birthday with a 0

Main reason for a walk here today is the T2 cache but always enjoy a walk in the NZ bush. I was unaware of how pretty this area is
thanks for the cache and bringing us here today.
Just love finding these old caches. thanks for maintaining so people can keep coming to enjoy

Thanks the reason for coming. Saved the list of old cache in the north island for this two week trip around the north island with Kiscardi. She wanted to sign all the TMGT cache. So that was the start of the plan.
We managed to sign 7 of the 10 oldest north island cache so need to plan on another trip. We just run out of days.
Thanks for placing this cache so long ago and maintaining it for all this time.

Was going to leave this until the return trip but when I looked at my phone, I was just 21m away. I've been eyeing this cache up for years for the Old School Challenge. Stoked to have ticked it off today while in the area. TFTC - a real granddaddy cache.

Found while out for a day walk to Totara Flat and back with -gonefishing-. This was a very enjoyable trip that I have had on my to do list for more than a few years. After an early morning departure from home and a second breakfast at Greytown we left the carpark at 0815hrs. We made good time and picking up caches along the way got as far as T2000 before heading back to Sayers hut for a lunch break. From there it was back to the carpark where we arrived at 1615hrs. A longish and tiring day in the heat but well worth the effort.

With only this cache and Ruahine remaining on my list for the Old School Challenge this was my primary objective for the day (well probably my secondary objective given that a safe return would have been more important) so it was very satisfying to finally get my name in the log

A nice quick find in the obvious spot. Thanks to all who have a part in placement and maintenance of this cache. TFTC

Found on an early morning walk from Totara Flats hut while the rest of the group were still in bed (too many snorers keeping me awake!) A group of 13 of us had a fun time on a family tramp and I had to come and find this old cache. It's easily spotted when at GZ. Adding a favourite point. TFTC

Really impressed with this old cache and various back stories associated with it.
COs inspiring commitment. ..
The memorial aspect to the cache....
Old hut has moved on..
Non descript yet amazing location ...

All in all worth a fav point and more!

Nice easy find while walking along the flats on a beautiful sunny afternoon. Tftc

After a few quick showers at the campsite we're lucky enough to walk in beautiful sunshine again. Straightforward find. TFTC

We leave Castle point in the morning for Featherston. Objective of the day: Hiking in Waiohine valleya with the old geocache GC137 as the final.
What an adventure, what a weather and what a happiness!

Thank you for maintaining this old geocache in good condition.

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Thanks lobo for the geocache [^]
Greetings from Belgium,
Frank et Muriel travelling in New Zealand

Happy geocaching

Huge! Quickly found while heading for Totara flats hut.

The prize and probably the reason so many people cache this way (and place more caches). Love old caches... IMHO they tend to be the best. Glad to see this one still in play. Gets a FP for location and age. Shame the hut (Totara Flats Hut) moved though.... this is a great spot for a hut. Can't help but think where is T-1?? Thanks heaps for keeping this golden oldie alive!

Sveppi and I are on an overnight mission to Totara Flats Hut, as well as finally taking the time to grab this venerable old cache that will help us fill a gap in our "months placed" matrix. We love old caches, even if our month box is already ticked by the way!
The cache was found easily and I was very surprised to find a very modern and clean container. So unfortunately it's lost a bit of its charm I'm sure, but then again if it was leaking and rotten maybe it's for the best. A bit like the Totara Flats Hut. The modern version is tidy and spacious, but the new location certainly lacks the charm of the old one. We would have preferred to stay on a flat near the Totaras for a hut called Totara Flats Hut!
Anyways, cool cache in an excellent location, the original idea (we found 7 other caches today hidden by 6 different people -copycats!). So a favourite point from me. Thanks!

My 'snugglemuggle' found this one way back in 2013, but I'd never made it out this way. Last Christmas, he promised me a 'sherpa'd' trip to a cache of my choosing and this was it! Then 'life got in the way, and we didn't find ourselves with a free weekend this year....until now. A beautiful day's walk up the valley, with just enough scrambling over tree roots and bogs to remind you that you are in the Tararuas... and finally, this venerable cache. Thank you for placing this cache all those years ago, and thank you to all who have maintained it since.

On a nice day after tramping from Holdsworth Rd end with a group of 10 on an overnight trip to Totara Flats hut However the trip out was wet and cold so we did not hang around too long during the odd brief stop for a drink and snacks A privilege to get this old one and defintely gets a favourite because it is a real old timer and took so long to get here Thanks Lobo and those guys who recently placed the ammo can and contents All in good nick here TFTC

Going to the Labour weekend Wellington MEGA had an ulterior motive - to finally get to Totara Flat to visit the venerable T-2. Mrs D was here as a child and teenager, tramping in the Tararuas, but Mr D had never been to the southern Tararuas. So we drove over Rimutaka Hill, set off at 10 am, lunch at the Cone Hut track turnoff. Then the easier half of the track, views of the flats and ... that's the tree! and there's the ammo can!

Then off to Totara Flats hut for a "second lunch" and on the way back we detoured to see the historic Sayers Hut. On the return walk we stopped to find the caches we'd bypassed on the way up-river, apart from one on the old track which would have taken too long a detour. We particularly enjoyed admiring the different Rattl rocks! Afternoon tea at the Cone track junction again, and then the last few km to go. Come 6 o'clock, Mr D pointed out that it was now time-and-a-half and a meal break entitlement... but it wasn't until 6.30pm that we got back to the carpark.

Many thanks to lobo for the placement and for keeping the listing active with the help of that fantastic "maintenance crew". A wonderful day out.

Hmmm. One more to go for the North Island Old School challenge... [Waikaraka walkway](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC366_waikaraka-walkway-northland2001?Submit6=Go) in Northland... and there's going to be a MEGA in Auckland on Labour Weekend 2010... start planning now!

And an explanation of why Totara Flats are here: [Totara Flats 101](https://wtmc.org.nz/newsletter/totara-flats-101/)

Doing a walk to Totara Flats hut for the night and pick up GC137 T - 2 the 7th oldest active cache in New Zealand on the way. Yeah I have made it. Cache all good. Will down load a photo of me taken at GZ. Thank you for the cache and filling a month in my missing calendar. So pleased to get this one.

Mrs Rattll and Mrs Watcache decided on a weekend away without the boys, so a plan was hatched to do this track since Mrs Rattll had had the T-2 cache on her list of must get geocaches for quite some time.
However the predicted weather forecast wasn't very good so it had seemed unlikely that the trip would go ahead. But, as the week progressed, the forecast got better and better and a last minute decision was made on Friday to go for it, so a mad scramble to get everything together followed.
Mr Rattll drove us to the Waiohine Gorge entrance Saturday morning, and we set off about 10 a.m, with the weather proving to be only a little over cast all day, which was perfect for walking.
At last we'd made it! The reason I'd wanted to come here for so long, as I love picking up the older caches. Although it looked shiny and new with the replacement container, it was great to find a cache that had lasted so long.
So sad to read about your son, but this is a lovely reminder of the time you spent together. Thanks to the both of you for taking the time to set this up.
I left a pet rock -a grey fox.

When Mrs Rattll asked if I wanted to do the walk to T2 cache I didn't know where she meant but once I investated it it was an area I had tramped before so I was keen to go as I wasn't caching back then so of course ya have to again with caches to get especially when a FTF could be up for grabbed further down the track. Mr Rattll drove us to the start. The weather was not looking good for us at the beginning of the week but as the week progressed it was improving, I rang Doc and he said to go for it its going to be fine weather for tramping the rivers are low so no worries about the slip you'll be able to walk the river. We headed off for the first cache at about 10am crossed our first swing bridge got the first cache of the day then headed onto cache number 2 it was a bit of a walk down the track, then cache number 3 was in our sites wondering what we were looking for due to the name, but once we got closer it was obvious we had reached ground zero. then it was onto cache number 4. this was cache number 5 for us I dont know why but I thought this one was on the slip but no we were lucky enough to get it, now onto cache number 6 for the day another good find. then a pleasant walk further along to find this cache number 7 it was a very quick find yay some havnt been so fast. Did cache number 8 now cache number 9, yes it is the Lovely Waiohine so enjoying he whole adventure. Yay we finally made it to the cache that brought us here today cache number 10 but one of the oldest caches it is still in good order to. Mrs Rattlll made the find and dropped off a pet rock and can now tick this one off her bucket list well done Mrs Rattll congratulations. gets a favorite from us for so many reasons an old cache, the area it lives in and the container for it to last for years and years .

Decided to go somewhere special for the weekend (as it was my birthday on the Saturday) so a trip to Totara Flats to get T-2 was planned. After camping for the night by Lovely Waiohine - Tararuas, the GPS took me straight to the main goal. A moment to enjoy and now onto Totara Flats Hut as it is our first visit to this valley. TFTC

I didn't see the photo until I opened the site to log this find. Didn't need it anyway as my GPS took me right to it. My last find on my 3-night/4-day in and out from Kaitoke to Totara Flats. TFTC

Passed on by again today on the way to the hut for lunch. Last time, on 20 January, the main task for the trip was to make this cache a bit more permanent/secure.
The photo may be a bit of a 'spoiler' but hey, who wants to hike 10km from either road-end and NOT find the treasure when it's another 10km back.
Long may this historic old cache, dating back to January 2001, last.

I knew I had to revisit the area, and cheap flights came up - so I was off for the weekend! The timing meant that I would need to stay at the hut rather than do it as a day trip at the last occasion, so even better. Thank you for replacing, it's so good to turn this one into a smiley!! TFTC!!

#9876. A great day tramping in the Tararua Forest Park with barefootguru, CartertoniC, GSEL and wb1116. It was a there and back trip from the Waiohine Campsite at the end of Waiohine Gorge Road, taking on the full length of the Lower Waiohine Track to Totara Flats and then a short venture across and up the Totara Creek Track. Not counting the crossing over the Waiohine River to Sayer Hut, the return distance was 20.3 kilometres. Including the detours and numerous stops along the way, it took us just under 12 hours for the long day trip.

We met a good number of tramping parties along the way. Just as well that we were not staying, as the Totara Flats Hut looked like to be fully occupied for at least the Saturday night of the Wellington Anniversary weekend.

After Leprechaun's Waiohine Wander, we soon arrived right at the heart of Totara Flats and one of the main target caches of today’s trip – T-2. GZ was all quiet when we visited. The cache was a quick find. Although the GPS was pointing about 10 metres away, it was at the prominent spot around here. Opened the cache and found that it was a freshly replaced container and logbook by Bobby2911. We searched all around within a 20 metre radius, but we did not find the old cache. So disappointingly, At Last! was not in the cache. Took nothing, left nothing, signed log.

Prior to the trip, CartertoniC had received permission by the cache owner (via a chain of other geocaching contacts) to replace the cache with a more sturdy and secure container. So he lugged in an ammo can and chain, and we put Bobby2911’s cache container inside the ammo can and chained it at the prominent spot. Hopefully it will help protect the cache from the elements and wildlife in the area for a long time. The cache is now fully maintained and in excellent condition.

Thanks, lobo, for the original placement (and to CartertoniC bringing in the ammo can and chain) and for bringing us to the site, and …

.T h a n k s. .f o r. .t h e. .c a c h e.
.M a u r u u r u. .k o e. .n u i. .a t u. .h o k i. .t e. .k e t e r o k i.

*****
Did you know that planning is well under way for a major Event in Wellington during Labour Day weekend in October 2018? Check out the details on the [GC78NMQ WENZ Event 2018 (Wellington)](https://coord.info/GNMQ) cache listing, [WENZ2018 website](https://sites.google.com/site/wenzgeo2018/home) or visit the event's page on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/590545297801072/). If you plan to come, please remember to log a “Will Attend” on the [Event Log](https://www.geocaching.com/play/geocache/gc78nmq/log).
*****

A posse was formed to claim this old cache. I met GSEL + huhugrub (transport) at oh-dark-5-thirty in Ngaio. We set off as the sky was lightning to collect wb1116 (organiser) from the Hutt, then headed over the hill to pick up CartertoniC and on to the Waiohine Gorge. We crossed the swing bridge at 0745 and carried on along the Lower Waiohine track, each collecting/maintaining different caches. Weather was warm & mostly overcast. Disappointingly we found a throwdown at GZ and nothing in the wider area. After the DNF logs, permission to replace had been obtained from inactive CO through a chain of people — thanks lobo. We signed the log & upgraded the container to an ammo can CartertoniC had lugged in, chaining it to the tree to prevent further displacement. After a few more finds we trudged the return leg, placing 5 new caches. A 12 hour walk covering 20 km (iPhone step counter)!

#5309. Well today was the day to finally wrap up the North Island old school challenge by picking up T2, the last of the 10 oldest North Island caches. Getting there is the problem as it a long walk into Totara Flats. A plan was hatched recently for team of geocachers to come in and find the cache and put in a more secure holding box (ammo can). So the day started for me at 4.50am and a pick up at 5.30am at Ngaio train station. Huhugrub brought his car and picked up myself, barefootguru and then wb1116 in Upper Hutt and over to Carterton we went. We then picked up Gary (cartertonic) from his home and off to the Waiohine Gorge carpark. We hit the trail at 7.45am and what an epic day of walking it was. Returned to the carpark over 12 hours later after a full on walk up and beyond Totara Flats Hut, various swing bridges and one river crossing to a side cache and of course the big one, finding and signing T2. In all I found 13 caches today (several needed replacing) and the team placed 5 new caches on the walk. My fitbit recorded just over 50,000 steps (my biggest walking day in over 2 and half years) and other devices suggested it was 25 km of walking. Some stiff tired legs were recorded by day end. After dropping off cartertonic at home, the rest of us headed off for a meal in Carterton. Then back home over the hills to Wellington. Thanks Henry for driving us there and back. All up an excellent day with great scenery. Probably recommend it as an overnight trip rather than a day walk but it can be done.

Finally at T2. Great to be here at last. Arrived at midday after a 4 hour tramp. The cache container is not the original but was replaced by the previous cache visitor as the original one has disappeared. We did spend some time trying to find it in the long grass but it looks like it has gone walkabout. Cartertonic carried in an ammo can and chained it to the tree. So the cache is more secure and will hopefully last another 15-20 years. Signed the logbook and left the container covered with some rocks. Thanks lobo for keeping this old relic going.

Here I am - the final goal of these "expedition" - one of the oldest caches of New Zealand - GC137!
Four hours way to this cache (and an other four hours way back), I could enjoy the fantastic nature of New Zealand along the path.
17 km through the unique wilderness - but mostly it rains...
The awesome GZ repay my endurance with sunny weather - happiness!
I think the container is now on the right place, under stones under a single tree (see pictures).
Thanks for the cache and many greetings from Germany.
FP in

Recently, my boss suggested that I have a look at grabaseat sales, so I ended up with flights to wellington again! I decided to make a very focused approach to the two oldest caches in the North Island I have not found yet, Waiohine Gorge to get to T-2 on Saturday, and then Ruahine on Sunday. The Saturday ended up much more adventurous than expected!! Great fun along the track! TFTC!!
Unfortunately I could not locate the cache. I saw the previous dnf, but they said they only searched for 10 minutes, so I thought I am not in a rush, I have food and a head torch, I'll search until I find it. Well, I was searching for about an hour, when my brain stepped in. If it is there and I missed it, I must be completely cache blind. And I'll just have to return at some point I guess, although the perfect constellation of a stay during a dry weekend after a dry period is very hard to achieve. Very disappointed about this one, although the hike over non-trivial terrain was great!

Well, there were five of us looking for this one but nobody was able to locate it. We searched for about ten minutes. GZ is a very open area, so it was disappointing not to find the cache around one of the small number of features. Perhaps we had cache blindness? I will return one day I am sure, as we skipped about half of the caches along the trail between Holdsworth and Waiohine Gorge.

After spending a night camped right outside the Totora Flats hut (hut was at capacity by the time we arrived), and having rested our feet, had a feed and stretched sore muscles, we started out on the second day of our tramp putting us on the track towards the Waiohine carpark and past this historic cache. A quick detour from the track didn't lose much distance behind the rest of the group and I discovered the caching identity of the group leader, which I'd been meaning to enquire about for ages.

Beautiful sunny day, well hidden but convienently placed cache. TFTC

on our way out to Totara Flats Hutt for the night with Yeetrees and WB1116. The weather looks so good was hard to resist . This was the cache that enticed me in here thanks for placing so long ago.
48 people in a Hutt for 26 made it a cosy if an uncomfortable night for some people luckily we were first in so we had the pick of the beds before the multitudes arrived. But a fun night. Note there is no gas in the Hutt or firewood so if your coming in over winter I suggest you bring a small saw of some kind or you may be cold.

Stopped in with jojo&dobby and Yeetrees on the way to Totara Flats Hut. Dropped off a TB.

Yes, I got it! This very old cache (one of the oldest in NZ) was one of my main targets while traveling around four weeks on beautyfull North Island. And it wasn't easy to get it. Because I had to drove the way from Palmerston North to the parking range, it was already 12 o'clock when I started at the swingbridge. So I had only seven hours for a two way tour (I had no camping gear with me) because it's really not a good idea to be outside in the bush when it's getting dark. So I moved foward as fast as possible and... was back at my car after only 5:30 hours! Including the five caches along the track. But I was really exhausted at the end because the track isn't easy to walk. And the cache? Situated in a very, very beautyfull valley it was an amazing experience to be here. The day was fantastic!!!!

Thank you so much for this great cache and of cource I give a blue loop.
dG

#1603 found in open but replaced in the obvious spot. Interesting that the cacher that found it on 13 Jan still hasn't logged online - and it appears they dropped it about 10m from the obvious spot in the open.

Lovely walk in for a couple nights camping at the Flats. Also headed further upstream to check out the namesake hut - great hut that sleeps many.

While in area also checked out Sayer Hut - nice wee hut that had been recently used based on the smell of recent cooking.

Lots of swimming opportunities at the flats and several other parties went though this weekend.

One of the highlights of the trip was seeing Sayer Hut, another was finding this historic cache.

All now good at GZ.

*** Winter Holidays "on the other side of the world" ***
DAY 17 -The day of hiking to T-2

My second day in NZ - started the tour from Auckland over the East Cape to the most southern point of the Northern Island.
NZ is very beautiful, I really enjoyed to be there.
Took the change to grab some challenges and other caches along the route!

TFTC and best regards from Germany
blazek

Ballade entre équipe. Loggé sous WN49.
Chouette balade

TFTC. Great location, and decent weather!

Did not realized that there was such an old cache nearby so I went on and quickly retrieved this one. Great area, unfortunately no hut here anymore. TFTC,. Sherlock Hood.

This cache was the main reason for coming here today, as it fills in one of my gaps on my Jasmar grid. Set off from Wellington around 7 this morning and arrived at the carpark about 8.30am. Double checked the gear and off we set.

The plan was to head straight to this cache via the Waiohine gorge and return the same way finding caches on the way home. CB wasn't up for the big walk today, so she took her time and enjoyed the forest while I went ahead. The crossing of the swing bridge this morning was a great highlight and a fantastic way to start the hike. The sign told me 9.5km to the hut with about a 4.5hr walking time. I thought this might be a bit generous, but I had read a few of the logs and the did say the track was a bit rough.

Set of at a fair pace and didn't really come across anything to bad, a little bit of mud, tree roots, and rocks. Not a flat track by any standards but nothing too horrible. Managed to keep up a cracking pace all the way to GZ, and checked the GPS times once I had spotted the cache. Turn's out it took me only 2hr 10mins from the car, and exactly to the second 2 hours moving time, that must be why it's called T-2!!

Took a bit longer to return, about 3.5hrs, but that's with finding the other caches and stopping for lunch. Also pace dropped a fair bit when I caught back up with CB. All in all I had a fantastic day here and such a great place too! Thanks for keeping this old cache alive, and bringing me to this place.

I set off early today from Holdsworth to head out to Totara Flats and return again the same way - with the main purpose of my hike being to find this old cache! It was a very long day hiking in the Tararuas, but was a fantastic day out, with great scenery and bird life. No problems finding the cache at GZ and it is in good condition. After finding the cache I stopped here for my lunch break and to contemplate the return hike back to the car!

Great to knock off this old cache! Thanks for placing it in such a amazing place - it was my first visit to the Tararuas and was one of the longest day hikes I have done, but I thoroughly enjoyed my day out! Favourite point added!

Dropped off a TB that wants to visit remote caches.

Phew - done! Made it way harder than it should have been by going over the slip trail after a mix up with the muggles I was travelling with. Did in the one day which made me suffer the next day and the track is the toughest one I've ever attempted. The cache is fine condition but a dog had visited recently and left a couple of depoisits quite close to the container.

This was my last of the Old School Caches, and the toughest so really pleased to have it done now. TFTC

Found on a tramping trip from Holdsworth to Walls Whare with four St Orans doing a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze expedition. Light rain and very low temperatures around - 5C. TFTC

#7206. Troodles and I were keen to find T-2, having found the 9th of the North Island old school challenge caches on Waitangi Day. We teamed up with 1Grunta and Broadbridges, and had an enjoyable day out with them. On the face of it, T-2 didn't look too daunting. A round trip of 18km or so, with very little height gain. The reality proved rather different, particularly for the first half of the track, which had tree roots everywhere, a good deal of mud, and a surprising number of nasty little descents into gullies followed by climbs up the other sides. After 2 and a half hours we had a well earned break and discussed progress. Troodles decided to turn back as our progress had been steady but too slow (a shame as she had got through the worst of the track, though we still had a fair distances to cover). Broadbridges then set a pretty stiff pace, and before too long we had to decide whether to take the dry flood track that went up and around a slip, or drop into the river. After a bit if dithering we opted for the river and soon met a large party coming the other, which turned out to be a bunch of scouts along with orsome4some and CaligulaNZ. We stopped for a chin-wag, and as a bonus came away with the coords of a newly placed cache. After we got out of the river bed, travel was mostly on river flats (apart from a spur we had to go over). It was great to finally reach the cache, and to sit down in the shade for a well earned lunch. TFTC.

Cool to get one of the oldest caches. Now I have two of the ten (bit of work to do!). Second day of our two day tramp Holdsworth to Walls Whare/Waiohine with a group of Scouts.

Bumped into 1 Grunta, Streetwalker and BroadBridges on their way to T-2. Caught up with Troodles at the end of the day.

TFTC!
with CaligulaNZ & Comandercon2

Had an email from Troodles requesting information on the track to Ruahine, where she mentioned there was only one other 'Old School' cache for her and StreetwalkerNZ to complete.
I guessed it was T-2, so organised a group visit along with Broadbridges.
Had stopped to collect a few caches along the road, then set off on the track.
Unfortunately it wasn't Troodles day, and she graciously decided she wasn't going to make it all the way there, and that we should go on while she headed back to the car.
On the river section, we bumped into a few Scouts heading out from Totara Flats Hut, and of course it was CaligulaNZ & Oarsom4some, so stopped to chat with them for a while.
Managed to wheedle some coords out of CaligulaNZ for his just placed cache, on the promise that we wouldn't log an FTF for it. He also requested we keep an eye out for his missing gaiter.
The cache find itself was very straight forward, and as it was a beautiful day with little wind, we sat in the shade of the tree for lunch.
6 visitors on one day (or was that 3 this year, and 3 last year? - you would think that by the middle of February, some people would be able to remember what year it was, right Caligula??), makes for a very busy day for this cache.
Had a refreshing stroll across the river to Sayers Hut (and cache, of course), and back again.
The walk out was a bit more of a struggle than the walk in.
All in all, a great day with some excellent company.
TFTC

Got to about 3k away (in a straight line) and realised there wasn't enough hours in the day for me to walk there and back over this sort of terrain. Bugger, it was the last cache I needed for the Old School challenge.

A nice find on our second day walking Holdsworth to Walls Whare/Waiohine with a group of Scouts.
Have been keeping an eye on opportunities to have a crack at this "old" cache for some time ... and this proved to be the perfect weekend, with lovely weather and a great tramping party.

Feeling pretty fresh at this stage of the day, as it was only twenty or so minutes from Totara Flats Hut. Flagegd a bit later on as the heat and humidity got to us. Just the best weekend to be in the Waiohine Valley though, and the cache brings you to a pretty magical place in the bush. Really pleased to come here, and pleased to find one of the ten oldest remaining caches in the North Island.

TFTC!
with a couple of the Orsom4some & Comandercon2

A little further down the track bumped into some fellow Wellingtonian cachers, heading in from Waiohine. T-2 was in for a busy day of visitation today!

Found on a Scout Tramp from Holdsworth to Walls Whare via Totara Flats.
We had camped on the flats 15 minutes away from the Totara Flats Hut and had a great time.
Great to find such and old cache!

TFTC!
with CaligulaNZ & Orsom4some

The objective of today's walk - one of the Old School caches for the North Island.

Took some time to get here due to the terrain on the way, and enjoyed getting to the cache in time to eat lunch with 1Grunta and Streetwalker.

TFTC !

Last find for the year, and a lovely spot!

The distance of today was not that far, so we could enjoy the time visiting 'Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre', where we had some very special encounters with different birds, that was just amazing. We did a short stop at the 'Birchville' hanging bridge, but had to move on soon, because it was raining. The weather was quite good, so we did the find well and had a good trip further on to Wellington.

(3 stars at [url=http://www.gcvote.com]GCVote[/url])

additional information: I will change my geocaching alias name from 'Schlitz13' to 'Megalodon'

Easy find in great weather

WOW, only 32nd to find after 12 years!
Strolled down from Totara Flats Hut before heading back to Holdsworth over the new track
TFTC, TNLN

On trip from Wall Whare to Mt Holdsworth. Luv this place. Great cache location. tftc

wet weather today. easy find TFTC. had a nice swim at the river on our way out.

up and down,up and down...

Puh, what a strenuous hike just for one single cache. We went in and out in just one day on a terribly hot day, but it was worth the effort. The forest is beautiful and the scenery is stunning. It was one of the highlights of our holiday.

Sabine from Germany

Yes, this was one of our highlights of our trip to NZ! 27th finder sind January 2001.
Actually nine years ago I created my GC account. A good cache for such an anniversary.

TFTC
Roland aka tasdevil13

Headed out from Totara Flats hut for an early morning walk up to Sawyers hut for a look before heading back to Mt Holdsworth. The flats were well covered in grass and the sun was blazing by the time i got back. No probs finding this - thanks
Walked back to the turn off up on Holdsworth along the new track that has been cut on other side of river - not open yet (minus a few bridges) but was talking to some workers who said it was cut right thru - much easier

I was quite excited to tick this cache off, it is one of the flagship caches in the Wairarapa, and what a fantastic location! However I think I deserved more than 3 terrain stars for the route I took from Maungatarere Valley!

After finding Sayers Secret I crossed the river (initially trying to avoid getting my feet wet which I found to be an impossible mission) marched up to the cache and settled down to dry my boots, have lunch and of course sign the cache log.

I put my wet boots back on and waded back through the river to link up with the track to Maungatarere Valley. I had a couple of heart in mouth moments when I lost the track, but eventually made it back.

It took 5 hours all up and I didn't see a single person all day! Even on the road!

Thanks for the cache and the motivation to experience our beautiful wilderness.

24th to find in almost 12 years, and cache find #301 on 12/12/12 [^]
After the recky 11 days ago with Beth, up to almost the highest point on the ridge between Mangatarere Valley and the Waiohine river, this was an earlier start, full-on assault for this slightly younger party of 2 (combined ages 108 years) with Keith.
The original aim was to go up from the Mangatarere Valley road end and branch right near the summit and go down to the top end of Totara Flats on what we later were told is the search-and-rescue track. We lost this unmarkered track after only about 200m but even backtracking with the aid of the GPS, we lost the best part of 30 mins.
So, instead of doing the anti-clockwise loop down and over the footbridge across the Waiohine for this cache to become a memorable find #300, back through the river and up past Sayer's Secret (GC3C5PK) on the start of the return leg of the tramp, we did Sayer first, had lunch and then I crossed the river for this cache at #301 while Keith caught a few ZZZs at the lunch stop.
Thanks Lobo for placing this cache. Without it, I probably wouldn't have ventured up here. Even though the Totara Flats hut wasn't more than a few hundred metres away, I didn't want to push my luck timewise today, 4 hours having already elapsed just before I reached the cache, including stops and deviations since we left the car. Probably not a bad decision because the return trip from here to the car took only 15 mins short of 4 more hours and anyway the hut will still be here to explore another day!
We really enjoy the Holdsworth tracks, but I think this one in from Mangatarere Valley surpasses them. For one thing, the track surface is not metalled and is therefore much kinder to older knee, ankle and hip joints, and for a second, you don't encounter the population of a small town along the way. Next time, we might come in the usual way from the Waiohine Gorge end or see if we can get a willing driver to drop us at Mangatarere Valley and pick us up 7 hours or so later at Waiohine Gorge.
Simply a superb day out.
Incidentally, the cache is safe and sound in its little hide, dry as a bone.

Well yay, after a failed attempt last time, this time good co-ords led us straight to it. On our way to Totara Hut for a look, then back down to camp on the flats. Just love this area. TFTC

Cache find number #3,000. This one has been on our to-do list almost since we started caching, so we celebrated our 3,000th find today in style with Waiiti20. A really enjoyable walk, and some even braved a swim. No problems with the find, and cache all good. We hope it lasts for many years as it provides yet another fantastic excuse to check out NZ's great outdoors. Took GC. TFTC

Accompanied Emvy_us in recognition of him finding his 3000th cache, and what a good one to do it on. We've both had our eye on this one for nearly three years so it was great to get it completed.

Took Master waiiti20 (aged 12) and made good time, arriving at GZ in just under three hours, which included a few wee food breaks. Great conditions with virtually no wind, clear skies and quite warm. Got to GZ, gave Emvy_us the GPS so he could do the honours while I filmed the event and had a well deserved lunch break. It was good to get such an old cache, and thanks to those who have maintained it in recent times.

Headed back down the river and some of us decided for a swim on the return leg including yours truly - the water was a lot colder than I would have expected but at least I can say I had a dip which is more than some others in the group can say. Then made good time back to the carpark, after quickly completing 'Clem Creek' on the way back. Return trip took around three hours, so all in all around six hours walking time.

Very satisfying to have this one smiling back at me and worthy of a favourite.

Found the old cache site before reading you had moved the cache. Nice spot tftc

Easy find in nice weather (on 6/1). Great location!

Number 4 on this trip. Lovely spot and a beautiful day, bliss after all the rain and wind we had been in. tftc

#782 Have been meaning to do this one for a while now and was great to come and pick up another of the oldies. A really great walk up the valley, starting from Waiohine Gorge on a nice hot day. With the river nice and low the various creek crossing didn't cause any issues and we could utilise the river bed below the slip. Cache was spotted straight away in the obvious spot and is in good condition. A really great cache which deserves more visitors! TFTC!

Second chance proved successful. Spent the weekend here, one night at totara flats and the other at sayers. Was much easier to find with the (new) co-ordinates, zeroed in on nothing, but 15m away was a likely tree.
Found with eat dirt.

Found on an overnight trip to Sayers Hut, coming in from Holdsworth via Totara Creek, and going out to Mangatarere. I wasn't really sure what to expect from this one, but the co-ordinates took me straight to it, there was no doubt about where to look, and bang! there it was. The cache is in great shape, too, nice and dry inside. It deserves more visits! Just make sure you have the up-to-date co-ordinates, and you'll have no trouble finding it.

In keeping with the historic nature of Sayers Hut we cooked our dinner on the fire. Try my "veggie packets": wrap some diced beetroot, sliced red capsicum, sliced mushrooms and crumbled feta up in some foil, and cook in the fire. Yum!

Thanks for the cache.

Coordinates changed from:
S 40° 56.637 E 175° 23.654

Coordinates changed to:
S 40° 56.537 E 175° 23.654

Distance from original: 608.1 feet or 185.4 meters.

Oops - aparently I mis-keyed the correction.

Coordinates changed from:
S 40° 56.647 E 175° 23.637

Coordinates changed to:
S 40° 56.637 E 175° 23.654

Distance from original: 99 feet or 30.2 meters.

Co-ords corrected.

Just a note with co-ords so others using pocket PC's and better GPSr's can see them in there PQ's.
As the owner doesn't seem to be interested in doing it on the cache page.
I try and do this every 5th finder so the info is up to date.

Spent about 25 minutes looking, would have liked to spend longer but the rest of our party had pushed on to Totara Flats Hut. Now I re-read the cache page slowly, I find the co-ordinates are not updated properly and I went out with the incorrect ones. Suggest future seekers program in the co-ordinates from uppie's log report of may 2003.

lost on the Waiohine gorge track- an orange 'SPOT' location beacon. lost around the landslide area just before Totara Flats.
If found-
can be dropped into any police station, or contact me or: push the OK button on the beacon when at nearest police stn and then give to police.

this is rather an off chance but it is worth a try..

Thanks

Did a hike in today specifically to find this cache. Was armed with the corrected coordinates from previous logs and an instant find in the only possible place - walked straight to it. A great walk in and out although the track was very muddy and slippery for a lot of the way, and after the recent rain there was plenty of water in a couple of the bigger side creeks which made crossing them a slightly interesting exercise. Had just about every type of weather on the track - mostly cloudy, quite a bit of sun, some light rain, and the occasional brief burst of hail. Got some great exercise - this is just the sort of cache I enjoy most. Cache is dry and in good condition. Signed log, TFTC!

** Coordinates Changed From **
S 40° 56.647 E 175° 23.637
Distance From Old: 0 feet or 0 meters
Seems we have a new location for you :::::

S 40° 56.537 E 175° 23.654

Pleeease update the co-ordinates so we can have a reasonable chance of finding this cache.

This is really frustrating. Had loaded the co-ordinates but did not have the cache page or logs with us. Out for a 5 day tramp and decided to stay at Sawyer Hut. Looked for half an hour then gave up. Had an excellent stay at the hut, then back for a second look the next morning - nil, zilch, zip. On up the valley cause our destination was Powell Hut. Why doesn't the cache owner update the darned co-ordinates so we can at least look in the right place. Grrrrrr

I have had my eye on this cache for a while now. When I mentioned it to gonefishing and Yeetrees, both were keen to make the journey as well. Finally a day arrived when we were all available and the weather was right. Headed off early in the chilly morning air but the terrain soon had us warming up.

Got to the flats and closed in on GZ using ADV’s co-ords. I suggested to gonefishing that the ?????? under the ???? looked interesting, and sure enough the cache was soon found. It certainly was in need of some TLC. We spread the contents out to dry while we had lunch. The old log book dried out enough to sign, so signed this and the new logbook left in the new container.

Headed off back down river and took the riverbed route instead of the bush track for a bit of variety and some interesting river crossings. I’m sure the local hunter who became our unofficial guide hoodwinked us a little at one spot into taking a deeper crossing than required. Back at the trailhead just on 8hrs from start to finish , and walking about 20km.

A most enjoyable days outing and a pleasure to share the experience in such convivial company. TNLN (only foot prints) Signed Logs TFTC

Wow what a nice spot for a cache, a great spot and a nice walking with boxhill and -gonefishing-, really enjoyed the company, the bush and the walk. Found cache without too much hassles - exchanged cache with a new 1 litre sistema, logbook and a few new swap. It would have being a total shame if this cache was archived and I really dint want this to happen. Thanks very much for bringing us into this lovely location as well as the opportunity to me some trampers who were passing though. TFTC TNLNSL (1821

A most enjoyable wander today with Yeetrees and Boxhill to visit this cache and some others on the way. We chose to come in from the Waiohine end - an approx 20km round trip taking about 8hrs. A very easy find with ADV's coords, although these were still about 7m out for me, but the GZ is obvious when you are that close. As others have mentioned the container is well past it. Yeetrees arranged with the owner to drop off a replacement container, so we signed both new and old logs and left the new container at the same spot. While we were having lunch, a hunter appeared on the flats and came over for a chat. We met him again a bit later as we were on our way back to Waiohine and ended up walking down the river with him.

All in all, a most enjoyable day, and great to revisit Totara Flats. It must be 25yrs since I last came this way, so nice to see how the area has changed in some ways, but is still the same in others.
TFTC.

Alas This one I could not find only after searching high and low at the registered coords did i sit down and read the logs on my printout paper ,the last 5 found nice and easy and made mention to ADVs coords but unfortunately these were not in the last 5 logs so didnt have them and after almost an hour of searching had to give it up and try again another time .