Billy Goat Gruff (Wellington) Porirua, North Island, New Zealand
By Yeetrees on 17-Feb-09. Waypoint GC1MRF8

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Have to try again, bit of a wet day to tramp around GZ

My intention for this lovely sunny afternoon was to find some geocaches hidden around the walkways on these hills. I have never trekked in this area before, so I was excited to discover a series of tracks all new to me. I parked my vehicle just outside the entrance to the carpark on Raiha Street and began walking. But before I entered these tracks, I decided I was hungry, so I popped down a nearby walkway leading to Porirua to grab myself a bite to eat. Fueled up on food, it was time for me to return to the carpark entrance and finally began walking these trails.

This was the second cache I found on these trails today. While walking up here today, I learnt a very important lesson to myself- I am not anywhere near as fit as I thought I was. Or maybe all that food I ate beforehand was slowing me down?

I took a break at the rest area near GZ, huffing and puffing, unaware of the track that lay ahead. After catching my breath and drinking some water, it was time to get searching for the cache. I was struggling slightly so I tried looking at the hint for assistance. This was when I learnt another thing about myself- I don't know my trees very well. This is gonna be a tricky one, I thought to myself. I had been searching a few potential objects, but so far had been unable to locate the cache.

I stood at the rest area for a few moments, gazing around at my surroundings. 'Where would I hide this cache' I thought to myself. I soon spotted a potential hiding spot which seemed suitable to the terrain rating, and was possibly the item being referred to in the hint. I clambered my way to the object and, to my relief, the cache was sitting there. I signed the (slightly damp) logbook and replaced where I found it before continuing on my journey.

TFTC

This one took a while. Like everyone else seemed to be i was on the wrong side. Found it by reading some old logs

My first time along this pretty pathway. The hints were very useful indeed, although I spent far too much time on the wrong side of the track and intrigued several muggles as I did so. I also created a small rockfall, but I avoided injury by hanging on tightly to a tree. In conclusion, I should have googled what a kohekohe looks like before setting off! TFTC

Wow, I recorded a DNF here in July 2014 - well over 7 years ago! I am please to announce that today I managed to turn the blue sad face into a yellow smiley. But only just! Despite my best efforts to identify the correct hint object I failed miserably and spent ages wandering all over the show investigating the wrong trees. The track was reasonably quiet but still about four groups went past while I was stomping around off the track. I had basically given up and was back on the track when I looked up and knew straight away that's where I was supposed to be. And it was an immediate find once I got there. Thanks Yeetrees for the hide that has challenged me for so long!

Satisfying find... had to abandon our search on the way up. Looked at a few previous logs and soon spotted the kohekohe tree. Kids enjoyed the hunt but a bit too loose underfoot for them to make the find so this one goes to mum. Thanks for the hide

I found parts of the hint more confusing than helpful!
I have realised that I wrote 3/09 instead of 3/10 in the log!
It took a while to find this one despite basically standing next to it reading previous logs. Thanks for placing the cache

Thanks Yeetrees for another cache which as you said gets sofa-spuds out in the fresh air!

The hint was a bit hard to interpret but I found the cache in approx the 6th place I checked...
Not far from the curviest section I spotted a geotrail and Mrs Seabreeze log was also helpful

After this cache I continued up hundreds of steeper steps before jogging back down via the lovely Te Ara Utiwai.
TNLNSL TFTC

Started in the middle (down wrong side first) and then up the right to a fab specimen. This was far further than Jodanz recommended distance (really appreciating their accuracy!) So a sidetracked explore that was interesting but back to task at hand, (start of the 6th one crossed that I counted) and a quick a scramble up to find. Thanks Yeetrees.

Wow! How time flies when you are Geocaching - was it really 5 1/2 years ago that I was last up here, and was forced to slink away in shame with a DNF? Anyway, this was obviously such a traumatic event that I hadn't headed up here since then. Tonight the lad was at swimming, and I reckoned that I Just had enough time to head up here in the gloaming and give this another go. Not sure whether it was 4000+ more caches found, re reading past logs, or just sheer dumb luck, but this was found in almost the first place I looked tonight! Really good to get this one off my 'unfound' pile, and a much appreciated addition to my 2 1/2+ DGSC challenge tally (oh so close now...) TFTC.

What a great spot and perfect time of day. Nobody here! Went to the wrong side first then sat and had a think. Got it!!

Log is dry however it is disintegrating. Whoever comes up next it would be good to bring some paper. I signed after the last cacher but it is going to need help soon.

Chasing 1000 and am kidless for 1 more hour. It's been a good day. #991

Took the opportunity to get out on a nice dry day to grab a few caches. This one was an easy grab but the log sheet is damp but managed to sign it. Thanks CO for the cache.

The hint made sense after the find. Reading old logs helped. TFTC

Took a while but got there

Had reasonable look but too many people walking. Great day for it. Will try again

Found while thru-hiking the Te Araroa Trail. Beautiful morning for it. What an amazing section of bush!

TFTC ! There were 4 of us looking at different trees for this cache, Mama bear had the touch tho! Cache log is dry, despite being very wet in the 1st container, and sadly all the items listed are long gone. Great find & awesome location!

The Kohekohe is on your left when looking uphill. TFTC

For a relatively new cacher JNS is doing very well. He was on top of it when I phoned a friend. TFTC.

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Planning for the [NZ Mega 2020](http://nzmega.com) event is well underway. It will be held in Auckland over Labour Weekend, 23 to 26 October 2020. It's going to be a massive celebration of geocaching:

* 20 years of geocaching worldwide.
* 20 years since New Zealand had the very first geocache hidden outside of USA.
* And it's 2020 - all the 20s!

Talk to your geo-friends and start planning to be part of [this event](http://nzmega.com) - you won't want to miss it!

Got it this time The guidance from Jodanz is the way to go! I must apologise to the CO for my previous DNF log because the cache is very definitely at the base of a kohekohe tree But how the hint relates to the actual final location still eludes me Thanks Yeetrees for a bit of fun

This one took me quite a while as the phone wouldn't settle. Got there in the end. Lovely area for a walk. Tftc

Happy to find this today after my DNF last time, my phone GPS struggled a bit here got to about 13m and then froze but previous log helped to narrow down the search area, TFTC

Started off relying on the hint but had no luck. Then read some older logs which suggested the tree species may not be correct. By this time the GPS had finally settled down and pointed to a nice tree specimen about 6-7 up the bank away from the bridge. A quick find then followed.

Had a quick look on my way back down the hill but it was raining and I didn't want to spend too long searching here given the previous DNFs, thanks anyway

2nd try to find this one.... either we are a bit slow or it's well hidden or very lost!!

2 days later we are back with the Garmin this time. Still pointing where the phone was, but the hint still makes no sense to us. At 5 there are to curvatures, of which there are 3 anyways, the stream can be looked at from different angles, not a lot of ferns in sight and no tree where one would expect to be. 2 of us looking at 4-5 likely spots with no luck, again.

sveppi and I have recently moved here from Rotorua. After a few months to settle into new jobs and buying/setting up the house, it's time we get ourselves into a routine, and some exercise! So the goal is to go up Colonial Knob 3x/week (or twice if we do a bike ride one day instead) until we are fit enough to go overnight tramping again. Walk #3 up here today (skipped last Thursday because of weather, and went biking on weekend), trying to grab a cache each time. Very new at using phone (have had a Garmin for 7 years) and accuracy and interface are a bit shifty for my liking. Couldn't quite see what the hint was aiming at. Will study my botany and return with the tried and trusted in a few days.

Sorry about the delayed logging, we had a blast doing this walk very quite bar a few mountain bike riders.
thanks for the placement, will need to come down this way more often.
no log in cache so put in a replacement

Replaced the cache back in it hiding spot

10-15 minute search and we got it.

Unfortunately it’s been muggled as lid was off and items laying on the ground. Container was filled with water and log paper was out of the container we assume it should have been in (slugs have eaten into it also). We fixed it up as best we could and re-hid it in the location found (couldn’t sign the log). We didn’t have any paper to replace the log sorry and it will need some maintenance.

Disabling till I get back into town as I am away till the end of the week

There are so many people coming past here that the hint needs to allow a quick find and grab I could not work out the cryptic first bit of the hint and the kohekohe has either gone AWOL or the original botanist who identified it needs a refresher course!
Had a quick ferret around but too many people coming past so gave it away TFTC

Finally I am able to log a nemesis cache today. Lost count of the times I've searched for this one. Told EK.Spygirl I would buy her an ice-cream if she found it and she had her hands on the cache within a minute!! How did I not spot that!

TFTC - off to McD's for an ice cream now.

I found this one really quickly. Can't believe Just-Lookin struggled with it. Yum now off for an ice-cream.

TFTC Mr Yeetrees

This is the route to Colonial Knob that I have learnt to love and hate. Love the escalator kind of experience when it comes to achieving ascent, hate the slog and grind that I have to put into making the escalator work! But I've done it a a few times now so I know what to expect.
I've been here before and that occasion I came away with a DNF.
Not to be this time. I made a straightforward find after carefully considering all the available evidence.
Log signed, then cache then safely re-hidden, just as found.
There usual "how come I didn't find this....." followed. I got over that quickly as I set out to tackle the escalator.
TFTC
The Turtle strikes again!

Well hidden half way up the track. Keep looking and you will find that it's right in front of you

Team cheese sticks!

Tftc

Bit of a mission but got there in the end. TFTC

Cache.Mike did some reading while Mrs CM and I were talking about trees and games We soon has the cache in our hands.

** .... JoshThePirate**

Went barking up the wrong tree but got it in the end. Tftc!

B and I tag teamed the location, B did the final find. TFTC!

Took a few mins to work through hint, but no serious issues. Trip trap thanks for the cache!

I've had a look for this before but I don't seem to have logged the DNF. I did keep getting interrupted by muggles last time and couldn't search properly. Today the weather was a bit crap so very few people up here. I also now have a GPS that seems to work reasonaby well under forest cover so I used that to try and find it since the hint wasn't working for me. When the GPS offered a distance and direction from the bridge that looked promising I thought that totally looks like a good place to hide it. Headed over and there it was. The cache was 'wearing' a small stone like a hat which reminded me of a cartoon elephant trying to hide under a sombrero Love the triple protection to keep the log dry this time.

Yes!!! FTF (well almost) . Anyway FTF the new log. I don't get to write on a new log very often so will take my little wins (hehe). Took a while to find as GPS had me all over the place. Got there in the end. Thanks for the cache and thanks for the recent log replacement.

Replaced cache, all good to go again

Replace logbook, all good to go again

Sorry out of town for the week, will look at sorting it out once back home

#2599. After a very wet Saturday, cabin fever had set in and I needed to get out for a walk. Still had a few caches to pick up on Colonial Knob so headed off late morning for a nice strenuous uphill climb. The ground was fairly greasy underfoot after the rain. Lovely tall kohekohe and pukatea trees in this reserve. This was the first cache of the day. After a read of the hint I looked around at a few places but couldn't really find anything that matched the hint that well. After letting the GPS settle I followed the instructions again and this time saw an area that needed closer inspection. Was very pleased to see the cache in the place I was heading for. The log was saturated so pulled off a sheet of notepaper and signed that and put it in a sealed plastic bag. Replaced the cache as found. My coordinates were S41 08.370, E174 49.352 but the GPS does wander a lot under the very closed canopy. Thanks for the cache.

Spent ages a year ago looking for this to no avail. Found immediately this time! More experience in Geocaching made this an easy find. Found with EJinNZ. Note the log is soaking. Needs maintenance.

Log soaked.

Searched for over half an hour using the conflicting hint & feedbacks... didn't find it

Out for a day caching and cleaning up the beach! We took the boat over to Mana Island and went around the island to find some beautiful nature, birds and some caches The rain soon left and it was a wonderful day over all [^]
Thanks to GSEL and Yeetrees for putting on the CITO - visit to the island was great! Also a big thanks to the Ranger for telling all this amazing stories! I would like to stay once over night and meet/hear some kiwis [^]

Walking up I was searching for some minutes - but no luck .... the hint ???!?? Completly confusing. So we walked all the way up and on the way down I read some logs and one had the real hint! This time I ignored the hint and followed the small geo trail on the other side and had the cache in my hand after a few seconds Thanks for this one and if you want to find it - ignore the hint or do almost the oposite of the hint

----------
**+-++-++-++-++-++-++-+ TNLNBFP +-++-++-++-++-++-++-+**
Cache.Mike

Over here visiting my sister in a rehab hospital nearby - and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get out and about for a bit of caching.
Found this track - and the 700 odd steps - was a bit puffed when I got to this point. Read a few previous logs to hopefully make my hunt a bit quicker - and yes was found but not in the first place I looked.
TFTC Yeetrees

A tough one but I got there in the end. Personally I didn't find the hint to be all that accurate or helpful. Very happy to spot the box just as I was about to give up on it. Thanks very much for the cache.

Having read a previous message from the cache owner, I revisited this today, and if you stop and think before rushing off, the cache is a quick find. TFTC

4th and 5th sections? Check
Kohekohe? Check
Fern? Check
Great place to hide a cache? Check
Actual cache there? Hmmmm Not that I could find

Have the trolls got the Billy Goat?
Couldn't find him anywhere.
DNF

Taybee and I searched without success for about 10 mins on our way back down the hill after accomplishing our caching objective for the afternoon.

Lovely walk to the cache, thanks for bringing me here. A quick find thanks to the helpful hint. Picked up the TB. TFTC

#1197 Attempted this one on the way up to P8 Panorama but couldn't see it, although I thought I had identified everything in the hint correctly. Decided to carry on and try again on the way back down the hill. Was back here for another frustrating half hour looking in every likely spot. Eventually gave up and took a seat, having one more look at the hint and GPS. Well, what a right dick I was! Turns out I was facing the wrong way and had totally overlooked the REAL hint area. After that, I had the cache in hand in less than a minute. Silly me. Glad to have found it in the end! Thankfully, didn't have any muggle trouble while in the area. Beautiful spot. TFTC! +TB

I really enjoy spending time in New Zealand, I just love it here. Its nature, people and adventures I am passing through. Awesome place, thank you very much for introducing to myself and for the cache itself Sorry for late logging, I have some problems with internet access during travelling.

Found this morning after a bit of a search thanks

Took a bit of searching but a quick find after reading recent logs for clues. Found a bit of a geotrail, thanks!

Wasn't planning on going up to try this one today, but I had some time to spare and I probably won't go this route when I tackle the Colonial Knob loop. Pleasant walk up to GZ, followed by a little head scratching trying to decipher the clue. Eventually spotted somewhere that looked vaguely promising.. and there sat the cache! For those struggling, i'd say there is something of a geotrail to the cache now. TFTC, glad to get this one smileyed!

Used hint to track down this one. Only had gps on as a backup.

Running late after a quick trip up to the trig and back... I wasn't going to stop on the way down but I glanced at the GPSr and lo and behold there was a cache just 50m back up the track! Couldn't resist having a quick look. So I spent five or ten minutes hunting around, until a muggle came past and told me I was looking in the wrong place. But by that time I was overdue back at the carpark so I cut my losses and left it for next time. And it appears that reading the old logs will be useful for next time too!

Defeated again by this one. GPS had more bounce than a basketball, so trust wasn't an option (hint). Will mean another trek up at some stage.

Little walk in the park today. Took a while but found it. Nice reserve. TFTC. Sherlock Hood.

Completed this one after finding Nobby Stiles. Not quite where I thought it was but cache was soon in hand. TFTC

Had been here before without success.
This time I waited patiently for the hordes of people to run/walk/stagger past, and quietly observed the area.
I identified two possible hiding spots.
Once the track was clear, I took off and checked those spots.
The second one turned up the goods.
Quickly signed the log and replaced.
TFTC

Can't remember exactly what day we found this but it was mid January. Mum made us do some exercise & accompany her up colonial Knob.
TFTC

Can't remember what day in January we found this but find it we did whilst accompanying Mum on her weekly walk up Colonial Knob.

On a tramp with the Wednesday group from the Manawatu Tramping and Skiing Club but in spite of spending some time looking in the obvious places no cache was to be seen. Where is the fern? Will have to come back when we have more time. As it was we were way behind the rest of the group.

Great instructions. Easy to find.

Banian had found this previously, but today as we passed through the bush track I got it. Well hidden, TFTC

We had been for walks in the area before, but had never made it to this cache. The recentish publication of a new Colonial Knob cache added the extra incentive to have another walk.
Hadn't been on this route and wasn't at all what we were expecting. It was a lovely walk, with the dense bush and the stream gushing past. Unfortunately, it was pretty muddy in places after recent rain but despite that, was a very busy walkway today. And the steps!
Both GPSrs were very erratic in the dense bush, so we soon consulted the hint. Hmmmm. Many interpretations later, StreetWalker spotted a likely hiding spot that we hadn't yet investigated and soon was holding a cache. Phew, would have hated to go away empty handed! Definitely won't be in danger of flood there . TFTC.

#6078. Our previous walk in the area had been in pretty open terrain, and we were expecting more of the same on this track. However, it turned out to be a very pleasant track up a bush-filled gully. The cache took a bit of finding, with poor reception and a hint that could be interpreted in more than one way. At GZ the footing was pretty treacherous. I tried various locations while Troodles scoured past logs. She came up with a couple of interesting tidbits, and based on those I spotted a likely place, and was very pleased to find the cache there. On my way back to the track I gave a walker a bit of a start as he wasn't expecting anyone to be coming from that direction. TFTC.

Awesome walk TFTC

Took me a little bit off looking around but I found it dropped a TB TFTC

No luck with this one.
Mr Rattll was soaked & getting pretty cold, so moved on after a bit of a search. It's not to far from the end of the track, so we'll be back another day for this one.

I don't have a GPS device (its on my Xmas wish list) so rely heavily on the clues to find caches. I walk this track every week so this was an easy clue to decipher. A quick look on google images before I left confirmed the tree for me. Thankfully the track was quieter this morning as it is a bit hard to look innocent whilst signing the log. Junior cacher will be miffed that I found this whilst he was at school. Guess where he will head after sport in the weekend.
TFTC.

First cache-search of the day, planning to do the Colonial Knob loop. No luck here today ... thought I knew what the hint plant was, but will have to bone up before my next visit. Spent waaaaay longer than I should have on this one. I'll be back another day.

#700.
Finally found you after 3 attempts.
OMG what a quick find today,Im sure I searched this area last time.
Oh well,can tick you of the list now.

Our second attempt at this one. Fortunately there were no muggles passing by while we scoured the GZ. The cache was finally located after a lengthy hunt. TFTC

Our second visit to this cache but S found it in the end! No trolls today! TFTC.

Muggler came along just as I was writing in log, what can you pretend to do in a location like this that looks natural. Muggler most likely thought I was relieving myself, and looked away and departed quickly. TFTC.

Took a long time to find as I initially went in the wrong direction. After reading a number of logs I realised my mistake and refocused the search area. After more searching I eventually came up with the goods. I was not going to be beaten by this one ! TFTC.

Out caching with my brother for some in his back yard so we did the Colonial Knob circuit.
Hot day for a walk and a few muggles around.
This took a bit of searching for but eventually had it in hand.
TFTC

On an afternoon walk with pbslost to clear up some local caches. GPS wasn't much help so read and re-read the hint and pbslost soon came up with the prize. Several muggles came past while we were searching, TFTC.

At last! Found on about my 5th or 6th attempt! Approached this the long way from "Small Transport and Travel Bug Hub" A very hot christmas day so was glad of the shade from the trees. Sat quietly for a while looking at the surrounding trees and put faith in my GPS. Glad to finally knock this one off the list so deserves a favourite. TFTC!

Trusted the GPSR and arrived at the same location as last time looking for this one.
Stood quietly for a little while to let GPSR settle, and muggles jog/walk past.
Standing here I slowly surveyed the fauna looking for the desired native as well as in a location that would result in the requirement to build and ark !
Quick direction change and recovery, stamped the log, placed back and another one done.

TNLNSL TFTC

The cache is safe

It is NOT down below and if it floods where the cache is we are in big trouble

READ the hint!!!!!!

Trust your GPS!!!!!!

With gale force Northerlies it was a stunning and invigurating day to do the Colonial Knoll circuit.
Started at Elsdon camp for this one and possibly should have read up about the kohekohe before heading off.
Pretty sure I was in the right place and GPSR was fairly accurate, but no joy.
No fern seen that would seem correct, possibly the creek may have flooded and adjusted things.
Possibly a maint chack by owner could be required.

Couldn't find it. Wasn't sure which fern you meant

No joy today despite an extensive search. Also failed to find any ferns large enough to hide a cache of this size under. Nice spot though, will have a return visit sometime and complee some others in the area.

Wanted a bit of a leg stretch today after a long flight home, so popped out for this one. Collected just before the weather broke loose and the snow started! TFTC

While walking I felt the need for a cache, and with a good memory of the clues for this one I enjoyed the track in nice native bush complete with babbling brook , making for a relaxing walk. No wonder it's such a popular track. Found in 2nd place looked after recalling comment in logs. Lovely bush walk and easy find sans GPSr or Google Earth. #55 SL 0916.

Reasonably quick find on the way back from Colonial Knob. Luckily I found the right location (thanks to the hints) as the GPS had given up quite a while on the way down through the bush.