Passage to Pearl (Auckland) Orapiu, North Island, New Zealand
By Tramper Ted on 22-Sep-07. Waypoint GC164XJ

What a bush wacking walk this was for us. Kids loved it! Rain showers kept us company on the easter weekend adventure but we once thete found what we were after quickly.Log is very dry and lots of space.Lovely to find such an old cache and to think where we were and what this place looked like then. We set ourselves a wee target to get to 300 caches in our first year. We still have most of April and this is #301. Woop woop. Wonder where we will actually get to?TFTC

Well, that was a bush bash and a half. Found with the help of Vistra's eagle eyes who was here in 2018 and helped me find this cache today.

Little mission, but nice lookout!

Of all the enabled caches on Waiheke Island, I thought this was the one I was least likely to find. That wasn't the reason it was left until last - it just worked out that way. I had to search around for a viable entry point and I think I found the one that would have been easier to locate in earlier years. Bush bashing could not be avoided but I have had more challenging situations of this type. Nearing ground zero, the ground did open up a little and I was able to access the cache with ease. All is good with the container and its contents. It's always satisfying to find a cache where my GPSr has had to work a bit harder.

This was a great way to conclude my Waiheke Island caching. I left with just one cache unfound.

Couldn't find a way thru the bush - think the path has fallen into disrepair

Tricky one to get to. After a couple of false starts I found the right track. Quick find once at GZ. Cooling spray was a great idea but I decided to give it a miss seeing noone had found this cache for over 2 years! All good at GZ and TFTC.

I agree with previous could not get near

Couldn’t find any way to get close to the cache with out bush bashing. Maybe we overlooked something...

Out with tikitour today collecting some caches at the south end of the island. This one took some getting too. Eventually reached GZ to collect our prize. Lovely area. TFTC

Enjoying touring around Waiheke with DaffyNZ finding caches and seeing the lovely views and a gorgeous bay, quiet and calm here today. This was a wee challenge but worth it for the view and cache. Thanks for the cache.

Great Geocache. Follow the little goat track off along the peninsula from the main track.

Found it just as the phone battery is about to die! Quite a bush bash but recent pest traps seem to have had people going through here lately. TFTC!

Great little spot in a nice grassy clearing. Some kind soul had cleared a lot of the gorse so it wasn't too bad. Could still be difficult if you are not used to bush bashing!

If you hit the dense bracken you've gone too far.

I spent today on Waiheke Island, doing a few activities and looking for caches that I hadn't found on my previous visits. After parking at Otakawhe Bay, I followed the path towards this cache, made my way up to the high point of the path, then followed a trail in to GZ. Quickly finding the cache once I got there. Nice views where there are gaps in the trees/scrub. TFTC - favourite point added!

Hard to get to, the track is still really scrubby, worth the walk

Ha ha ha. I think I took the wrong way to find it. Covered with scratches that stings... Beautiful clearing. Lovely spot. And the sea down below to cool off

Wow! That was difficult. I wanted to give up many times but hayleyfcy kept pushing on. She was like a machine. Very difficult busy bashing but the sense of accomplishment is so high right now. Our goal is to get all the Waiheke caches in two days and if we can get this one we can get all of them. Thanks for pushing us (and bringing us to this astonishing beach)!

This was one hell of a bush bash. Most bush bashing we've done to get a cache. This could probably be more like 4 or 4.5 for terrain. Gorse and shrubs and what not poking you everywhere. We came away with scratches and that wasn't fun but we did it! Good thing we didn't give up. Cache is still in good condition though could do with new logbook. Tftc

I searched for this cache together with my partner, Pityulino, during our holiday in New Zealand. Today we visited Orapiu Bay and also looked for caches on the way and in the area. In this particular place, we could not find the passage unfortunately. After searching for half an hour from up and down, we gave up and returned to our car. The beach area was great though. We enjoyed the tranquility there and also the view. Thanks for showing!

Awesome spot with a nice clearing for a picnic. You may have to do a little bush bashing to get there but that's half the fun chur!

Great little spot for marijuana cigarette and a bite to eat. 'Twas a treacherous journey on the way up and easy to get a wee lost on the way back but all well worth the trouble. Found the cutest little cache token hete and got plenty of exercise too so tftcs

#3245 - The hunt for this cache gave me some wounds, scratches after climbing though the bushes, ouch! But find it we did and happy we were!

Traveling in Aus and NZ, this was one of the caches we logged on our journey, TFTC

YES, FOUND IT!!!
At third attempt in as many annual visits to Waiheke, maybe the new GPS helped as the old yellow Garmin was poor under tree cover. Saying that we still had to bush bash through the gorse and at one time we were on our hands and knees! Not for the faint hearted and we still had to find our way out again! Once the tree was identified the cache find was easy (well it didn't have to be well hidden way in there!)
We think now the terrain difficulty should be up rated to a 5.
Ah well, that's the biggie done and dusted, what next?

Quite a difficult walk to find the clearing. Not great for kids. But great views.

What an awesome cache! That's for the adventure and cool location xD will get a favourite point for me

This spot was AMAZING! Definitely a new favourite on Waiheke. TFTC!

OMG what a trek! Bird spotted the old "trail" and once the compass distance was decreasing we just had to keep going to the GZ and just hope that we were going to get there - and we did!!! Sent biggest geokid in to retrieve the cache and we just crossed our fingers. We were so happy when he was triumphant!! SL TNLN TFTC. Now to find our way out again!!!!!

On Waiheke Island for the Easter weekend and decided to collect a few caches.

Despite over 25mins of trying, we could not find the entrance to GZ - though did find ourselves on several private properties as we tried various offshoots.

Will have to come back for this another day after studying more detailed maps!

This entry was edited by KiwifruitsNZ on Friday, 03 April 2015 at 06:11:40 UTC.

Looked for this one a year ago, with the same results. We came better prepared this time too, ball of string and a big stick but no joy again. We got to the big tree this time near the edge but the GPS was all over the place and was telling us that we had a further 100 feet to go, into the ocean!
Spent a bit of time looking in and around this tree and others but to no avail.
Ah well we needed an excuse to return to Waiheke next year!

Sorry, didn't mean to say needs archived.

Had a massive trek through the gorse and dead trees. Make sure you bring bug spray and some small goodies. From the greatest challenges comes the greatest satisfaction. TFTC

After a very prickly and long trek through the bushes and long grasses, we finally made it to the clearing. Mum was quick to swoop and find this one, TFC

After a very prickly and long trek through the bushes and long grasses, we finally made it to the clearing. Mum was quick to swoop and find this one, TFC

Wow that was quite a hike. Maybe we didn't choose the correct path but the one we took was very overgrown and prickly. I'd definitely add another star for terrain. Nice spot! Tftc

Wow, a real basher this one. Harder to get to, easy to find.

An epic bush bash!! So many options for the path. Very prickly find Log book pretty wet. TFTC

spending the Day with Team Welsh and Chosen1978 exploring this beautiful Island. after we pressed on up hill and along an old trail of which just was bush bash/gorse. we finally located GZ and made a neat wee find. some lovely views from here thanks. so pleased to have a smilie here ,

Out on Waiheke Island for the day with chosen1978, Butchie Bum and us. Once we had the rental car it was off to conquer an island. This was the most memorable cache on the island for us. So proud that us 3 ladies managed to locate the path and make our way to GZ. It wasn't too bad apart from a few bits of gorse and once that was overcome the tree was a welcome sight. Many thanks for this adventure and a fav point from us.

Best of the day, Discovered this one as Mrs Team Welsh, Butchie Bum and I made our way around the Island. We found the trail and ended up bush bashing through the gorse to log the find. Top marks to the ladies for achieving this find, got the battle wounds to show for this one, TFTC!!

This was hard and the gorse bush did not help matters, got close but the whole family had enough

Not to be attempted after heavy rain. Bush bashed and got to within 20 meters of this one when the going too slippery and difficult so will just have to come back another day.

Couldn't find track on the way up. So plowed up through many trees and horse bushes. Nice cache and found track on the way down. Left cute trackable. :~}

Dead end road. Time for lunch so we (the kids, the parents "guarded" the car) found this very one by skipped the one 350 m down the coast.

Gave up due to lack of time, threatening weather, and inappropriate clothing for bush bashing. Needed to find a reason to revisit Waiheke anyway...

No joy today. Was running out of daylight. So will try another day

Decided very spontaneous on Saturday evening to head out on Sunday to Waiheke Island. Turned out I selected a perfect sunny day to explore the Island. This one was more of a challenge to get to. But thanks to Jag50 there was a good path visible but still a lot of Gorse to fight off. Thanks for the scratches and showing this awesome spot. TFTC

Yay. After over a year of this cache not being logged, we found it. Perseverance and determination not to be beaten by the overgrown track and nasty gorse finally got us there. It was a pity that we had not read the previous log as we would otherwise have taken a machete with us. We were grateful for the breadcrumb on my husbands GPS to track our way back out again as I very nearly got lost. The cache is a little damp but still ok. Fascinating historical old Maori Pa spot. We did find some spectacles so will contact the last loggers who apparently lost theirs.

Had the same problem as previous cachers and missed the very overgrown path onto the pa. Went on about another klick hoping the main track would double back on itself but it didn't so we turned back and explored various false tracks till we found the correct one onto the pa. Overgrown is not the word to describe it, inpenatrable jungle more like with gorse and every imaginable jaggy plant known to nature. The next cacher is advised to take a Bushmaster and a ball of twine! We must have got within 7 mts. of the tree before deciding that for the sake of our poor bare legs and sanity, enough was enough. I now have great sympathy for the British Chindits.
We now note that the cache has not been logged for over a year prior to our visit!

A fair bit of bush wacking to get to this one. Encouraged when we found a pencil dropped on the track. Replaced it in the cache.

really cool place to put a cache

An appropriate named cache for Rich and I, as we were on Waiheke to celebrate our Pearl Wedding Anniversary. I had to persuade Mr P that there was path through the bush - it was overgrown and gorse lined but we managed to find our way to GZ. Only a 3, it felt like a 4 or higher t4tc

Carrying on from The Hound of The Huntervilles, we continued along the track abit further but obviously took a wrong turn as we ended up on the back lawn of a local residents house. A quick chat later, we were back on track and on our way to GZ.
Getting farther away from GZ and nearing Pearl Bay, we assumed we had missed the turnoff. A quick call was put through to a previous finder to inform us that we missed the turnoff to the cache. Abit of backtracking and we we spotted the well overgrown path. Left miss to hold the bag and valuables, i continued on and bashed my way through the gorse to GZ. Cache was quickly found and then made my way back with only a few scratches from the gorse prickles.
Loved this cache and our 1400'th cache find too! Thanks for the memorable one!!

This was our 2000th cache find so it was probably appropriate that it took significant effort to get to GZ.
+ a marble, - nothing.

Nice walk and nice deviation to cache site thanks. Very interesting site (old Maori Pa site). A little overgrown in parts (with gorse etc) on the way there. We had to walk through a couple of sheetweb spider webs but sheetweb spiders don't live in the sheetweb during the day; they have a tunnel retreat for daytime use. Rain was threatening so we didn't stay too long. Didn't bother extracting the "goodies" bag as it was so full with stuff. Filled in the log. TNLN. TFTC

TFTC

we love bush bashing type caches! missed the 'path' off the track at first. a few scratches later we had the cache in hand! TFTC

What a nice spot. Hard to get our car up the hill. It left skid marks! TFTC

Man, what an annoying cache! Just kidding... or am I... Those zigzags - heading towards the cache, now away, now towards, now away, seemed to go on forever. But truly, that was the fun part. What a bush bash and a lot of gorse up there. Good find though and great view of the bay. Armed myself with a big stick for the return bash, and the gorse bushes took some punishment. They did manage to get in a few nasty blows back, but that only served to cause my justice to be even more harsh. Great adventure. TFTC!!!

Weekend cache raid of the island on a warm summers day. After finding another cache nearby we continued up the track, on and on it went with so many s bends but none seemed to be getting us any closer . After a search of the area we spotted what we thought might be the secret passage to Pearl and sure enought it was. A bit rough going in places with the wild undergrowth but cache soon located TFTC.

I'll be in Scotland afore ye ........

Thanks for the cache. Container was completely and looked good.

This entry was edited by Butschis on Thursday, 03 November 2011 at 01:30:42 UTC.

Found togehther Lenka from SpeedyGT
TFTC!

Due to rugby championship we escaped from Auckland and we choosed for relax the Waiheke Island. It was a great choice, we really enjoyed our active stay in this wonderful nature. This cache prepared a very interesting adventure for us. TFTC!

What a cache! Found the path in and then had to semi bush-bash to GZ. Lots of tall gorse to fend off, so either wear long sleeves or find a sturdy stick. Arms and legs copped a few mighty pricks and small specks of blood were noticed... Track seemed faint in parts, but just kept plugging away at it. Very hard to tell where the steep downward slopes to the waters below were as area quite overgrown. Finally got to GZ and quick find once there. The return journey to the main path was quick as it always usually is. Quick walk back to Orapiu wharf. Nice track along this portion of coast. A well earned smilie. TFTC.

There is a hidden and almost forgotten track guiding to the cache.....
Very nice hide. Thanks!

Stopped by in 'Wild Orchid' sailing down to the bottom end ... nice bay for lunch an cache break. Charlie poped out to say hi but it was to hot for even him to walk the trail .... I was see why the previous visitor had problems, the trail does tease you on the climb, great spot once you reach the top an branch off .. thanks TT site is dry safe .... just need trim some of the gorse .....

Hmmm.Well ... I just couldn't find the passage to the cache. I never got closer then 90 Meters. After a while I just went back mahu who was still waiting at the beach.

Quick find TFTC!

Visited today and checked cache, everything in good condition.

1233 A quick run to the point from the wharf, no muggles out on this windy day. TFTC

[This entry was edited by Geckoh on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 1:38:19 AM.]

Had a business trip this morning, so took the extra early ferry to have some more caching time.
Nice views from and on the way to GZ.
Thanks for bringing me here.
TFTF

An expected walk. Not for the faint hearted on a wet day i shud think. But as the weather was stunning a most worthwhile cache venture. TFTC

10.50am. A bit of a huff and puff. S spotted the other track and Kamikaze soon had the cache in hand.
+ domino
- yellow toy thingy
Took 'SALLEY THE RUNAWAY MONKEY' TB.
TFTC
Cheers M+S [:O)] (1277)

Found while staying on the island.Took a bit of a wrong turn ,but got there in the end.TB drop off.Other TB's visited.

Cheers Tramper Ted

Over walked the turn off - then relised my mistake..... pushed through some gorse.

Nice wee walk - thank you.

It Was a hardwalk but we got there, huff puff puff, once we were on location the find was easy (as it sould be).

TFTC

Good thrash around with the Teds in tow, Charlie came 10% of the way and then backed out TFTC

Pinball Wizard anchored at Orapiu and walked with sailing friend Alistair to this lovely spot. Took a little searching, but mission achieved, we left a little bee. TFTC

t4tc cool cache
in camo jeep tb
out wire dinosaur

t4tc

Best walk on Waiheke! Thanks!

3rd time lucky here!

have never come this far out befor on other looks as seemed path just stopped but push through a single bush and hey presto theres another path!

Very cool spot Took a photo too. (may not be to good on computer as was taken by my phone)

In blue nic nac
out clicky skull
T4TC

had to come back because of the gorse.very hot day.t4tc

We had to go back a second time with secateurs because we couldn't get through the gorse. This track needs serious maintenance! Don't attempt without wearing long trousers and long sleeves and bring something to cut with! Having said that, this was a really cool location and somewhere we wouldn't have gone without looking for a cache. Thanks!

Took two trips - had to take secateurs the second time. A cool spot. Thanks

Who ya gonna call...Gorsebusters! Intrepid track with nephews. More picturesque scenery. Last of three Orapiu caches.
Took TB shoe & $1million note.
Left butterfly and golf tee.
TFTC

Did this as part of the Waiheke Cache Raid. One word is prominent in my memory of this cache- gorse! [B)] You definitely won't find many muggles here, but once the effort is made, worth it. Nil in or out. Cheers.

Got together with a few friends, Coldstream, psychrn, KiwiGary and Zork V for a raid on the Waiheke Island caches (it's definitely not about numbers).

We kept on the same track to finish of the third in this part of the Island. We certainly loved the gorse bushes up here and the stunning views.

Cheers for the cache.

12:53 Hardest bush bash of the day, track is overgrown with gorse. But an interesting spot to be sure. TNLN. Thanks for cache Ted (Do you want to borrow my scrub cutter

Last of our little walk that has so far got us three caches, Yahoo!!!

Took: Nothing
Left: The Happy Wandering Sole TB

Found with Coldstream,Kiwi Gary,Psychrn and Tufty.

One of the many caches we plundered today on this Island.

Maybe should be renamed : "Of Gorse you can do it" due to it growing like Topsy up there. Great views though.

Thanks for the hunt.

Nice specimens of Gorse up here. Just as well I was wearing long trousers today.
On a mission with the intrepid Zork,Coldstream,Tufty and Kiwigary.
Nice one thanks

I had reached the southern tip of Waiheke on my cycling trip. It was a welcome little walk to the cache - nice views, but nobody around Took geocoin.

A bit of a scramble to the cache, with gorse to contend with too... but made it!
Left Signal Kermit geocoin.

will post more with pics along with CHARLIE--who decided to come, in fact he led us to the cache!

Checked cache, cleaned out and have moved a few metres to a better position, plus updated co-ordinates. Lots of gorse on way to cache, so we had a go at bashing a bit of it down.

** Coordinates Changed From **
S 36° 50.839 E 175° 08.328
Distance From Old: 5.8 feet
Very minor change.

Shortly after finding another cache in the area, I took a tumble in the mud and was completely coated. I thought I'd taken a wrong turn when trying to find the cache, but on the way back I found the small path that took me to the final. Due to the wet weather and the overgrown path, I was completely soaked by the end of it. I had to but a new pair of pants when I got back to Auckland!

TNLNSL, TFTC!

Took a bit of beating and scrathing but once at the location found without any problem. Thanks for bringing us here.

Really cool beach.Liked geo cache.(TNLNSL.

liked but to much gorse for my liking most of the team didn't mind must have to toughen up

T4TC