Family Fun at Crusoe Crusoe, Victoria, Australia
By Romax (adopted by claybol) on 14-Jul-09. Waypoint GC1VXBP

Nothing like finding a large cache with the kids. Quick and easy at both stages.

With no local knowledge the ride to WP1 was a bit daunting and at one stage we were heading through the scrub away from proper tracks. But we did finally get there and realised there was a much easier way to access it.The jigsaw was quickly put together [we're jigsaw experts now after doing so many GCA jigidi puzzles during COVID lockdown] and then it was off to GZ on civilised tracks. Well most of the way, the last few metres weren't.A quick find of a nice big container once there.Thanks and a favourite point from us for something different in a multi.

Thanks for the cache, and it's been a bit of an adventure to actually tick it off as found...Firstly, the field puzzle at the posted coordinates-not too bad, a lot easier once I looked at the entire contents of the container...but to get there I stuffed up and missed the easy access point to it, so had to jump a fence and go down/up across a (thankfully empty) waterway that feeds into the reservoir/dam.Secondly, the journey to GZ; would've been fine, except there were a mum and dad pair of kangaroos with a Joey, plus a wallaby and its juvenile, all on/adjacent to the obvious trail from initial field puzzle to GZ, and they started getting a bit restless and looking grumpy (particularly the big dadda 'roo), so I had to backtrack 100m to an alternate path, and then bush bash the last 100m to GZ.Then at GZ itself, after the successful detour, I came across a large murder of crows I had to allow to leave, and finally when I thought I was looking at the cache, oh bother, here comes a birdwatcher. So I sat on a seat nearby waiting for the birdwatcher to leave-and had a jogger pass too-and finally managed to sign the log without further issues, after a much longer-than-anticipated adventure through the park...and now to try for that mystery nearby I've solved...

Since we only had one full day to spend caching in Bendigo, we concentrated on large caches and a few solved puzzles. This cache was quickly added to our ToDoList, being a Romax multi, with the added bonus of the size.This is our first visit to Crusoe Reservoir and as we strolled to the posted coordinates, we knew we would be completing the loop. What a beautiful area and surprisingly, not too many people out and about here on this lovely day. GZ was quickly calculated, then the perfect spot for a cache was soon discovered. A fun Multi, beautiful location and a decent size cache, this one has the lot.Thanks Romax and thanks Claybol for keeping this little/big gem in the game. A favourite from us.

The snuggle muggle had to fly to Sydney today for work, so I decided to take the day off and drop her off at the airport. Little did I know that her flight was at 06:30 which meant we were at the airport super early.

So after I dropped her off I decided I would take an impromptu caching road trip up to [Bendigo](https://www.visitvictoria.com/regions/goldfields/destinations/bendigo) and cache along the way.

I was mainly focussed on trying to pick up some Large caches, Virtuals, [Jasmer](https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2018/10/the-jasmer-challenge/) fillers, and then any of the [12 Days of Cachemas caches](https://www.geocaching.com/plan/lists/BMCDCJE?sort=name&sortOrder=asc&skip=0&take=20) or [2022 Victorian COTYA Nominee caches](https://www.geocaching.com/plan/lists/BMC8QYR?sort=name&sortOrder=asc&skip=0&take=20) that I came near.

So while I was looking up possible caches to find today, I ended up spotting this large cache and quickly added it to the list.

I ended up parking the geomobile at the [recommended parking coordinates](https://www.geocaching.com/seek/wpt.aspx?WID=154c7f15-a041-4da2-9579-3a87921a106f&RefID=890dcad9-db37-4ab6-ae4d-861337f6e165&RefDS=1) and then started on my walk around [Crusoe Reservoir](https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Things-to-Do/Natural-Reserves/Crusoe-Reservoir-and-No-7-Park).

With perfect weather today, it made for an absolutely gorgeous walk. I then arrived at the posted coordinates and after a short search spotted the container that held the field puzzle.

After a few minutes working out the field puzzle, I had the coordinates for GZ. I then continued on along the path enjoying the sunshine as I went.

The cache page was not wrong as once I arrived at GZ and attempted to search for the cache an exercising muggle would run by. I had to wait for quite awhile in order for a break long enough between exercising muggles to finally search for the cache.

But lucky for me once the area was muggle free, it was a quick search before the cache was found and the logbook was signed!

What a great cache cache! A beautiful location a great hide and a fun field puzzle as well. What isn't to love. I am unfortunately all out of favourite points, but when I earn another one I will be sure to come back and give this cache a well deserved one!

A big thanks to Romax for originally hiding this cache and to [claybol](https://www.geocaching.com/p/?guid=be18b40c-2f3d-451e-88f5-f7d2539f2ee0&wid=890dcad9-db37-4ab6-ae4d-861337f6e165&ds=2) for keeping it alive. I had an absolute blast finding it today. Thanks for bringing me to this beautiful location. TFTC.

**Cache Maintenance Status**

Both the container at the posted coordinates and at GZ were in good shape. The field puzzle pieces at the posted coordinates were also in good shape and the logbook at GZ was clean and dry with plenty of room for future cache finders to sign.

I loved this multi. The field puzzle was more my level than the last one I tackled a few weeks ago near Diamond Hill I loved GZ too & only had to dodge 1 lad with a metal detector. Many thanks

Bang bang

Found by smartiecookies! What a fun geocache. Awesome containers. It felt like such a fun treasure hunt. Thank you for your effort.

As the sun was setting at Crusoe Res, Brian and I decided that we would give this family multi-cache a go. We quickly worked on the puzzle which gave us the information we needed for our next stop. Once at GZ we were impressed with the size of the hide, the cache and a log book that would last a 1000 years. I also see the cache has recently celebrated it's 13th anniversary too. Cache,hide,puzzle and contents all in excellent condition. Thanks Claybol for maintaining this and keeping it in the game.

A fun one to find

Found with dalerious on a day specially reserved for an early trip to Buffalo to do some extra adventurous caching which both he and I were so looking forward to . The weather had other ideas though and thwarted our original plans. We were up at 0330hrs and all we heard was the rain tumbling down. With our spirits crushed and no plan b, what were we to do? Head to Bendigo I suggest. So after a few more zzzzzz's we packed up the car and off we went with a revised list locked and loaded .

A multi and a Large cache. Two things dalerious and I need, like everyone else that like qualifying for challenge caches . We both love the multicaches in Bendigo. They are always inventive and diverse. This fitted so many niches.
Thank you again Romax and Claybol .

Well that wasn't supposed to happen. [:o]
Catnap777 and I were supposed to be swimming under waterfalls and looking for glow worms on Mt Buffalo today, but all that wet stuff was falling in the wrong places.
Instead we attacked Bendigo with a very long list of solved mystery caches we had been working on in our quiet times. [^]
Remarkably, Bendigo didn't cop a drop of rain the whole day we were there and even more remarkably, cat' and I managed to pick up 7 Romax caches (including this beauty) and 1 named after this legendary team.
This has got to be some kind of record.

Ironically, the last time I was in this park (3years and 3 months ago with Cybergran V) it was again the weather that thwarted our plans. That time it was a hailstorm that kept us pinned down at the nearby "Pet Rock Palace". We called it a day after that.

Thanks for the cute puzzle and large cache Romax, and thanks for looking after it Claybol.

Lovely place walk around some kids swimming lesson there. And some all old fence.

Family Fun at Crusoe was transferred from kazba16 to user claybol

One more day left in the Bendigo area so I decided to explore a little more. I was in need of some exercise so I looked for some walks to complete my day.

As part of my stroll around the lake I undertook the fun activity at WP1 to reveal the GZ coordinates. After stopping to collect another cache this one was soon found. Everything is in good order and the log was signed. A fav point for your effort.

Thanks kazba16 for placing this gamepiece in the wild for us to find.

Yeah

It is still here we almost gave up

I must be a kid at heart because im loving these caches

Out for an afternoon's caching with LittleBoss2 trying to get in a bit of exercise and a few numbers today. We loved the puzzle here before heading to GZ where a quick find was made. Thanks again Max for the cache, and the exercise

Lovely afternoon walk. Great walking tracks. Thanks for placing the cache

Find number 9558 at 12:38:38 pm on Sunday the 23 May 2021
Travelling up to Bendigo this morning pick up a new washing machine after ours carked it yesterday, might as well grab some targeted geocaches along the way.
Needed a leg stretch before picking up our new white good and heading back down the highway. Wandered around here a few times now, always nice to come back
**Thanks for placing this cache Romax and to kazba16 for maintaining it**

---
We’re all going to Wangaratta to participate in Victoria’s next Mega!
*Are you coming to join in the fun?*
[**The Wangaratta Event 2021**](https://coord.info/GC8EW45)
*13th & 14th November 2021 - GC8EW45 - Wangaratta - Victoria*

This one was done (and enjoyed) by geokid11 while we were out with the reeofmar crowd. Thanks for a great day out on your home turf.

TFTC

Found. Love this walk. Great cache... TFTC

Enjoy cycling around the lake.
TFTH

Very cool puzzle and hide, thanks

Quick find with Kellmik while on our way to Bendigo for our Central Victorian Christmas Caching holiday. Nothing like some mythmas day geocaching!!!
TNLNSL
TFTC
TTFN
Beaker

Nice easy multi.
Out with Beaker.
TFTC

TFTC. We had been itching to get out for a day of caching this week but weather and other things got in the way. Today we loaded up some sandwiches and coffee and headed toward Bendigo. We stopped at the Reservoir and walked the loop finding caches as we went. Linda soon had the field puzzle worked out and we quickly found the new GZ. Great idea and a FP from us.

Tftc

What a wonderful cache!

Even this big kid enjoyed this puzzle and find. Nicely hidden caches and a good day for a walk. TFTC

First multi! Great walk through the area, tftc

Having the young geo niece and nephew with us for this one was great! They had a good time solving the puzzle and following the compass to GZ
Tftc

Had fun with this one!

No fun today, after sitting down and doing the jigsaw and working out the or-ords my GPS decided not to receive them, I should have used the pic as a clue, however a great day for a walk in a great area beats Thomastown. I'll be back.
Greytiger

tytaylor19 and i found this one yesterday!! our first multicache!!!! it was alot of fun and a very cute walk. thank you for this one

It has been a while since Neville_devil, AusFox; and myself have been out for a big caching trip but today was the day that would change as we headed up the Calder for some caching in the Bendigo direction.
The suns had set by now and we were heading into town for some food and a couple of large caches got our attention. Food can wait for a little time for a stroll in the dark with torches.
A nice multi here, a good field puzzle and a large cache to boot.
Thank you Romax for the hide and sorry for the late logging time gets away sometime when life gets busy

It had been a while since our last caching trip, so Simsfamily, Neville Devil and I headed up to Bendigo to tick a few boxes and visit new locations with perfect weather.
The sun had set so we worked under torch light. Arriving at GZ we were greeted with a well hid hide.
Log signed and replaced as found.

Thanks for the cache Romax
#5,193

Nice Find
TFTC kazba16

First time ever finding l one these

Ooh, a large cache container, best see if we can collect this multi and add it to a Challenge or two we are working on. Had no trouble doing the puzzle at WP1, and continued our walk to GZ. A pleasant 17 degrees and just perfect for a walk around the Lake. SL at 5.06pm and very few muggles about today. TNLN #5941 TFTC Romax

This was the first of my main objectives today. I’d hoed to find it on the 18th after attending an event in Bendigo, but we were caught in a hailstorm and were forced to retreat.
Returning today with Muggle Hubby, Surefoot24 and jtnsilo, Muggle Hubby ventured into the scrub to fetch the first waypoint cache and brought it to me to solve the field puzzle.
That successfully completed we continued on and I was delighted to find this large cache.
I have been on the hunt for large caches and Multis for challenge caches I am working on, and this one ticked two boxes.
Thanks for the cache, definitely a favourite from us.

TFTC!
Fun find to work out, spent extra time being still by game cache to watch all the wee bills hovering about

An adventure day out was planned with DAB after solving plenty of caches up Bendigo way. This cache had us in a spot I had never been to before. We did think we could get closer to it but with only walking access we parked and went in on foot. The weather though it was cold, was supposed to be nice today for us without rain but as we got close to this one, the rain started. There were no signs of muggles anywhere near this cache and we made a quick first find. The puzzle took us a few moments to piece it together and we had our final. Off we went, still enjoying the location even though it was icy cold now with the rain. A quick hunt around where we had our numbers and found the container we wanted - how did you get that in there 

**Thanks to Romax for placing this cache for us to find and enjoy**

With a day off work, I joined Na'wal for a day of geocaching. With an early morning start, it was a chilly start to the day. The temperature hovered around 11 degrees for most of the day. We had a few periods of light rain, but it didn't dampen our spirits. A good mix of cache types and hides were our reward for the day.
Even though we had light rain, we still enjoyed the field puzzle. Loved the hide as well, we always appreciate a good sized container. TFTC kazba16

Family Fun at Crusoe was transferred from The Morris to user kazba16

Family Fun at Crusoe was transferred from Romax to user The Morris

TFTC. Signed and returned.
Out with Mrs aussie fun seakers for a few finds today.

A great multi after working out the co-ords for GZ we set off on a further walk.
Getting plenty exercise today. At GZ we made a quick find with little blue wren.
A favourite point from us. Thanks Romax for this interesting multi. TFTC.

Puzzles are not my strong point so I was glad this was a kiddy sized one although the juniors would probably have solved this in half the time. Enjoyed the walk and the puzzle so a favourite point coming your way. Thanks Romax

Our first game this just gets better

Nice spots

I a a cache a bit like this up in Echuca recently. This was considerably easier to to do but much harder to access. Plenty of energy expended here! Great cache, worth a favourite point.

Glad to be able to get a smilie on this cache after getting the run around at wp1. Seems my gps likes a later start. Anyway after taking a walk and seeing what eventuated before heading back for another go. Then it was well it MUST be there else im Going home. Sat down to make the puzzle before finding GZ and the cache. Monash uni doing bird studies in the vacinity but was able to get in and out while they sat under their shade chatting away together. Tftc .

Found a very well protected large box!!
Very cleverly done.
TFTC and the puzzle.
We did not appreciate the Mosquitos though... They are everywhere this year.

Cool

Find No. 1389. Found with FUF009 at 3.10pm

A quick trip to Bendigo to grab a few things and on the way home we went via Crusoe to grab a couple of caches.

Unfortunately today we could only grab this one due to muggles in the area of the other one. What a busy place on such a lovely sunny day. We came across bird watchers, bush walkers, bike riders, joggers. You name it - they were all out and about today enjoying this lovely spot.

Well we managed to do this in between passers by and able to sign the log.

We will have to return when it is not so busy to grab the other one in the area.

TFTC Romax What a lovely area to visit - so much to do here.

Find # 3202
Found with Tyred n Cranky.

A leisurely arvo cache grab. This one had us passing by a couple of bird watchers, bikeriders and a couple of others walking along the track all before getting near Wp1.

Getting the numbers for GZ was a bit of fun. Now for another walk. Thankfully all was quite here while we made the grab.

We will have to visit this area again as we still have a few more smileys to collect around this water.
TFTC Romax

Beautiful day for a walk after the rain Thanks Romax!

Tftc

Found it
On of a few we found today on a walk around

Brilliant find

Loved it thank you

We stayed a night in Bendigo we found it before driving home to east gippsland .
Caching with m&d? and mica.
Catching up on some late logs.
Thanks Romax

After completing a near by cache and having no plans we decided to give this one a go
Yet another great cache from Romax!

A good fun one
TFTC

Found it! I had a few hours to spare so I thought I'd search for a few caches around Crusoe Res as it was a beautiful morning. I loved everything about this cache. I didn't have geoson with me so TNLN. Thank you for the cache and for the effort you always put into your hides

Found by Huggies883 thanks

I thought I'd stop by this multi on my walk around Crusoe Reservoir to at least solve the jigsaw puzzle. I've always loved jigsaw puzzles ever since I was about 5, so I enjoyed doing this very simple one. After entering the required coordinates in my GPS I saw that my pre-planned walk would take me right past GZ so I was able to make the final find shortly after. Loved the container - a nice large one that can hold all kinds of swaps yet so perfectly hidden! Didn't have my kids with me so took nothing and left nothing, but thanks for the puzzle and the cache!

Wicked walk just on dusk made thos one spooky. Tftc found with natey88

Wicked hide made even better doing it at dusk found with Ghihash

Found with emthegem. Enjoyed the walk around the lake. Got a surprise when we finally found the cache. Not what I thought it would look like.

Found with Teamlauren. What a beautiful to take a stroll around the res and do some caching. We loved fonding this one

Enjoyed the multi on a glorious day - happy coincidence that it is the 15th anniversary of geocaching! TFTC TNLN.

Found today while in the area picking up some solved Mysteries.
Sprung by the muggle in the house across the road but turns out the pleasant lady has a cacher son and knows all about the hide.
Thanks for the Multi Romax

Intended checking out some caches in the forest park by bicycle but had a major misshap with the bike just after starting out so decided to go for this one on foot (a long walk from where I started). A really novel cache and enjoyed in. A great location.

found it.
TFTC

I had a few hours to fill today so wandered around Crusoe Res for a few cache finds.

Working a pretty full-on job and being onvolved in a busy emergency service takes its toll at times. A great escape from the chaos is to sit and work on a jigsaw. It gives the brain a chance to slow and relax a little. And so it was that I found this puzzle quite enjoyable...a jigsaw and a quiet spot to work it out.

Thank you, Romax, for this enjoyable and relaxing type cache.
#3271. Log signed at 1639Hrs

A great days caching with many differing experiences, some where I walked right to the cache and others where I needed to hunt around a bit. As usual I have enjoyed the various challenges set by the CO's and the fact that I get to cache with friends and am outside in the great outdoors.

Many thanks Romax for placing this cache .

Another day caching in the Bendigo area, went out early to beat the heat.
This was something a little different - wow, geo-wife likes these puzzles.
A bit of fun at WP1, and a quick find of the large container at GZ.
Well worth a favourite point from us.
Many thanks for placing this cache, Romax, for us and others to find.

I had this cache on the list for a family visit to Bendigo for some time. Unfortunately a 42 degree day made it a little difficult. But we went early and it wasn't too bad. The walk back along the dam wall in the heat was a struggle though.

I went off the path to grab the first WP and brought it back to the family, where my wife and daughters put the puzzle together. The coords weren't completely clear (order of numbers) but I tried a couple of combinations before finding one near the path. An easy find once we got there, the kids were very excited.

Fantastic to see such a large cache. This is what caching used to be about. The kids took one thing and left one thing each. Took dinosaur, ballerina and photo frame. Left brain squishy toy, puppet and picture book.

Thanks again for a fun cache, if a little hot and dry today!

Great fun thanks, love the puzzle

Amazing to see the amount of effort put into this one. TFTC. Always love coming to Crusoe Res.

We needed some caches for the seven souvenirs of August, and there were two we could get at Crusoe Reservoir, so we stashed the bikes on the back of the car and headed off this afternoon. I had been here a couple of years ago and completed the puzzle, but my five year old companion took sick and we couldn't finish it (and I have since lost the coordinates). So now I can finally log this one as found TFTC

After a few wonderful days caching in this delightful area it was time to think about returning to Geelong but not before a few more caches to be found on the way home.

More sheltered on this this side of the reservoir and much quieter as a number of hardy model sailing boat enthusiasts were passed earlier.

With the required numbers sorted it only required a signature in the log book, great to see some descent sized containers. I had one like this but someone needed it more that I did.

Thanks Romax for placing this cache, and a F.P. (14th this trip) that says something about the quality of caches and hides up this way.

This was Suscoe's last day in the Bendigo region for this visit and we spent the morning in the company of Bushfire as we headed south.
A very cold start to today with below zero temperatures but the sun was shining and there were caches to find.
This was the second find of the morning for Suscoe.

Arrive at the listed co-ords and sorted out the required activity.
It was almost warm here as the co-ords became clear.

A delightful journey to GZ and there was the cache almost exactly where it should have been.

Thanks goes to Romax for placing this cache and creating such a nice idea.

This area is really fantastic and we were surprised how quiet it was this morning, a favourite for the whole experience.

First cache in our Crusoe Cleanup afternoon. Found the required info and set off on a nice walk to GZ. We met the same runner a few times here today but had no problems avoiding the multitude. TFTC Romax

Out for the day with Mainebirds and Nacspaceman. Geokids loved the puzzle. As we were travelling clockwise,had to retrace our steps to the hide. TFTC Romax.

This entry was edited by khanman47 on Monday, 21 April 2014 at 04:36:25 UTC.

5th find for the journey around the res with NacSpaceman and khanman47. The geokids (eventually) solve the jigsaw puzzle and we were on our way. Great hide and the usual spot on coords. Thanks for this great cache, Romax!

With Mainebirds and khanman47. I enjoyed the jigsaw puzzle. Nice big cache in good condition. TFTC Romax.

I thought we had found this one before but it must have been another one by romax. never mind. a nice bike ride round the res and an easy find. kids had fun doing the puzzle. kids made swaps. tftc

Found with DoorMatt while on a lovely bike ride around the Res. Didn't take long to reassemble the puzzle, and then further find the GZ container. Very cleverly 'set in place'. tnln tftc

Found with Eminor93 on a bike ride around the reservoir. Both containers were located quickly and the log was soon signed. TFTC.

Found awhile back with ctlnp TFTC

Enjoyed doing the puzzle to get the coords. Quickly found the large cache in the expected position.
Thanks for the cache.

I'm a 31-year-old "big kid" who had a blast with this multi. The puzzle idea was very creative, and Muggles the friendly cockroach must've thought so too when deciding to camp out with the puzzle container.

TN, left a $2 coin for the kids (the bad news is that it doesn't have quite the buying power it did when I got excited about $2 coins as a kid, but the good news is that inflation makes a fascinating dinner-table topic that leaves every kid spellbound).

I'd intended to do the entire set of Crusoe caches, but it ended up getting too late. I'll return some other time.

TFTC!

Out here today playing a game of a different flavour. Dropped in to read the log and retrieve our find date, 31.7.2011 think this is a late log

Obvious hiding spot but being my 3rd cache, took a while

Very well done only our third find, great work and location