Diamond Stoddart (Canterbury) Purau, South Island, New Zealand
By john&gina on 26-Dec-08. Waypoint GC1K50V

Archived, no response from the cache owner.

Did a very thorough search with two set of eyes. Not sure it's still there.

Didn't consider there were any issues accessing the cache, and although the sign did say the gardens were closed there was also a muggle couple in the gardens doing some sort of photo shoot at the same time as my visit.

A lovely little cottage in a scenic setting. TFTC

We had a lovely hike along the Cliff Track out to Diamond Harbor on Saturday with almost perfect weather. The GC motivated us to go all the way, and back. Not until after we got back home did chocochunk tell me that this GC was disabled. Strange. I saw how the Cottage is closed for earthquake damage, but the cache is fine and access to it is no problem at all.

After seeing the 'Cliff Track' sign yesterday, we decided to follow it all the way to Diamond Harbour. Lovely walk!!! My GPS did not show this as disabled, and having approached from the cemetery we did not see a sign anywhere near the cache suggesting we should stay away, even tho there was a sign on the door of the cottage itself. Quick find. TFTC.

Got there in the end. Approaching from the playing fields gave safe and easy access.

Today I finally made the trip as far as Diamond Harbour, and it didn't really feel like as long as I was expecting. I'm glad I picked such an awesome day to come, clear sky and only a light breeze! We approached from the field so didn't see the sign on the gate (picture attached), but we had no trouble grabbing it. TFTC (764)

TFTC. This cache is absolutely safe - there is a functioning kindergarten right next door and the sports field in front is a perfect access path.

Nice hide and a great day, The cache is well away from any danger, TFTH

With the opportunity to get away for a day and a half, I decided on a caching expedition to Akaroa and the surounding hills. This was find 39 of 39. Accessed via the playing fields. TFTC.

Given the notice now on the front of this property I have to disable this cache until the area is open again, or the cache owner can confirm access is allowed.

Regards,
Zero Gravitas
Geocaching.com Volunteer reviewer
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Parked up out the front of the picket fence (field side) and had a lovely picnic (sheltered from the blustery NE). Hoisted wee dude (4) over the fence to have a sit on the white bench bench. He quickly found the cache. Quick and easy & in no way is it dangerous. Step over the front fence and there it is! Nice one. Thanks.

Area closed for earthquake repairs.

We came in through the little gate at the top of the garden, from the main road. There was a sign on that gate advising that the garden and cottage are still closed due to earthquake damage, but we went in and found cache easily. Maybe the sign had been forgotten, or maybe the place is still closed? TFTC!

Cottage was closed due to EQ damage, but found it easy.

Quick find, thanks for the cache

nice sunny day easy find TFTC

very pretty place, nice and warm in the sun, stopped for a bite and coffee

There is a notice attached to the wall of the cottage, asking visitors not to enter the grounds due to earthquake damage, trouble is the notice font is that tiny you would have to enter the grounds to be able to read the notice, cache intact, TFTC.

Nice find with the kids, TFTC.

Such a long time since we had been here so great to have a geo cache to get us out from in front of the computer. No problem locating this cache. TFTC

#345. Find 12 out of 16 for the day, our first back in Banks Peninsula on our second BP caching raid. A quick find once we worked out the correct access, we would never have seen that small side track off the road while driving! Very hidden. Oh well, gave the legs a stretch in the summer heat. Found after a few minutes of locating GZ. No problems here, seems perfectly fine. SL TFTC. - 2x TB's

#2099 A quaint little garden that I would never have known about. Quick find on way to Mount Herbert. No problem with access today. TNLN TFTC DS8300

Reactivating cache. Thanks for the note kalena67.

Just so you know, access to Stoddart's Cottage has now been re-established so you can probably re-open this one Shame about Godley House tho

Will have to put on hold due to the Sept 4th earthquake. The cottage has some damage, although is still standing and looks repairable thank goodness.
Site is currently closed to the public so cache access is prohibited for now.

I will monitor and enable again once it is clear. Thanks

Quaint. TFTC

Nice easy find. TFTC

quick find, thanks for bring us here.

We enjoyed our walk around the grounds and peeking in the windows. Great to see the house being looked after. TFTC

We really enjoyed looking through this historic cottage. Loved the "packed earth insulation. " Talked to the custodian for the day. I think he was a little surprised at the numbers of cachers who had logged visits. Thank you.

In Chch area for a few days on a course - always to sneak out for a cache or two!

(41) 8th cache for the day and I think this might need to be the last.. Alot of muggles about but managed to SL and get out undetected.. Awesome place and a great cottage of history.. TFTC.. TNLN.

What a delightful place. Thanks for bringing me here.

An easy find on a sunny afternoon visit to Diamond harbour. Lots of muggles enjoying a celebration at the nearby Rugby rooms but managed to go un-noticed! TFTC!

This is a lovely place, best to go on Sunday afternoons by the sound of it, when the tea and cakes are available.
Set off from close to here to walk part of the Mount Herbert Track, which we can recommend, even though we did it on a rainy day.
TFTC

Nice house and garden.
Excellent cake, tea and special service à l'ancienne. Thanks for showing.

Watched a bit of cricket from GZ on a nice Saturday afternoon. A peaceful place you would never find without geocaching. TFTC

Once we found the entrance.[no signs up]It was easy to find.A lovely serene garden.Apparently they have afternoon teas here from time to time We intend to bring Mother here for a treat.So thank-you for bringing us here.TFTC

TFTC
DrFragger & Katja
from Germany

OUT: Diane TB

Nice easy find on a beautiful New Year's day. Left a dinosaur and my TB Diane to start its travels.

[This entry was edited by Hotspud on Monday, January 04, 2010 at 4:00:26 PM.]

Felt a bit guilty hopping over the fence to find this one but did it any way! Looks a very interesting place and will return one Sunday when it is open.
TFTC

Found after a bit of a search. Loved this cottage and beautifully maintained gardens. Well worth the trip out to Diamond Harbour. TFTC.

Hmm - I though I'd already logged this... Anyway, we were here to pick up Oli, who was playing in a CSM orchestra performance in the nearby hall. I remembered that there was a cache in the vicinity, but didn't have either a PDA with details, or even a GPS - just the memory of the name. Nonetheless, a cacher's nose, combined with a good hide, eventually turned up a container. TNLN, I think. Thanks.

a nice spot and cache located easily, thanks very much

Despite parking very close to the coordinates, it took us some time to find our way to the cottage - we later found the official way in! Cache was easily found, then we had a look through the cottage as it was open. The lady who was looking after it for the day had some beautiful tapestries on display. TFTC

Easy find. Interesting cottage; thumped on the walls to see what they sounded like. TFTC.

Lovely bit of history. Would have liked to stay for tea and scones but had geocaching to do! TFTC TNLN

Thought I was approaching a private residence until I read the cache page and worked out that I was in the correct place.
TFTC

We had to laugh, the day we picked to come here they were having a victorian tea party. Luckily we were early before it opened so only muggles around were too busy to notice us.
Quick find.
TFTC TNLN

Boys those wooden steps are slippery in the wet! Took a little to find, GPS was dancing around the place. Cheers Gav [3830]

Found with KiwiPrincess on a cold, wet day. Nice area. Cheers for bringing us here.

Nice, well preserved cottage and grounds. A good seat on which to sit out of the freezing wind and watch a local rugby match whilst filling in the log book. + Czech geocoin that I have had for too long. T4TC.

2713. This is a beautifully kept area. We chatted to the custodians who were preparing the house for an open afternoon. It is a pity that it didn't start until after we were back in town as it would have been nice to have a look through.
We took the Duck TB with us.

Thanks
Iris & Rodney

We had a picnic lunch here before finding the cache, a really nice place for such adventures.

tb

Went to Diamond Harbour on the ferry, this cache was an added bonus. Beautiful views. Dropped in Butterfly's Fluttershy Pink Geocoin. TFTC

I lived at Diamond Harbour until 1962, but it is good to get back to visit sometimes. Your cache gives another reason to do so, thanks.

Nice hide & a lovely place.

Picked up the Gecko geocoin but it does not appear to have been logged into the cache yet.

also picked up a
gold bar keychain & left a picture frame keychain

TFTC

Found this morning after returning library books. Placed one geocoin in and took one out for relocation. TFTC

Took the Ferry over to Diamond Harbour with a Muggle for an icecream.( Best icecreams around over there.)
The cache was in a good spot to go while on a date.

Easily found with the clue. Ladies in period costumes were serving cakes and puddings on the lawn of the cottage, so we had to be sneaky. Grabbed coin that has yet to be logged into the cache. Cheers.

Nice cottage, just me and the cat here.

Dropped in Geo-Coins

Thanks Bitsprayer

First cache with iPhone app. Thank god for the hint as accuracy of iPhone GPS is a tad poor... Garmin a must-have companion. As always, Huskies hopeless at locating caches. TFTC.

** Coordinates Changed From **
S 43° 37.573 E 172° 44.449
Distance From Old: 151.2 feet
Coordinates updated after new readings taken & checked.
(apologies for previous ones being a little off-course).

My four year old found it. Lots of muggles around looking at the photography exhibition in the cottage. Thunder rumbling around overhead.

GPS was way off, but found easily with clue and reading hint about the seat in the garden. Spent a while there reading about the history, and taking some photos. A few muggles were coming and going across the rugby grounds, but mostly had the place to myself. A beautiful spot.
TN
+ brass ingot keyring

Great spot, cheap ice-creams at local, no cricket to watch, but hey, you can't have everything! TFTC

An interesting bit of history. The coords were way off, but it was still an easy find. Now for the walk around to PortView, and back to the ferry. Thanks and cheers from Grandalf(1488)

Note exactly sure of the date (that seems to happen while on holiday). TFTC, a nice spot, came back later on with Mrs Stegan and had another look around.

Quick find with the clues. A popular place over there today. TFTH. TNLN

Nice easy find before heading to lunch at Godley House. Very quiet with no muggles around today.

Yes a nice easy find in a very interesting place with some history. so thanks for showing us this wee place. cheers Bo

Our first cache found with fellow newbie Kalena67.

Finally found it with help of friends! TSLS. Took Scouts badge and left Easter badge and calling card. TFTC

Got to within 130m and realised the muggle factor was hopeless

DNF. Looked for 30 mins

Published