French Pass Beach Revisited (Nelson/Marlborough) French Pass (Anaru), South Island, New Zealand
By Biggles and Kiwi Explorer on 26-Sep-09. Waypoint GC1Z4K6

What a great day today! Drove from Elaine Bay to French Pass. Enjoying the views and the beautiful weather and of course picking up some caches along the way I really wanted to find this one. Spent 20 mins searching behind every flax remotely near GZ. Found a great spot for a cache in accordance with the hint and aligned with previous logs, but nothing there. Had to give up, really wonder if it's still there, hiding under a bunch of leaves somewhere...On the bright side, beautiful little beach here, thanks for bringing us here.

Trouve ! / Found it ! Avec pas mal de difficults j'ai fini par trouver la boite. La vgtation prt le dessus...4543me cache trouve.Merci Biggles and Kiwi Explorer pour la cache With a lot of difficulties I ended up finding the box. The vegetation is on top...4543th cache found.Thank you Biggles and Kiwi Explorer for the cache

very calm and peacefulon the beach today in the sun. got to gz but no joy so tried one more outcrop and reaching high was rewarded. tftc

Marchwood and I are out today driving up to French Pass finding caches. After finding the multi, we hiked back up to the junction, then down to this cx. There was a large rock which provided the perfect perch to search for the cx. TFTC.

Came for the long drive out to French Pass today with a friend - gorgeous day for it. I have visited here twice - first time for a DNF in 2014 and a DNA in 2016 so I wasn't confident of a find here today. We were almost at the junction when I remembered I had brought a spare log with me due to a comment in a previous log but as it was still n the car back up I went while my friend continued to the lookout. We had the beach to ourselves when we got there - perfect. The GPS was no help what soever with going from 2m to 60m to 12m to 76 in seconds. So I gave up on that and just followed the directions. What do you know - I spot a rubber exactly the same as I know the CO puts in his caches on the rocks so I figure the cache is likely to be close. Two steps up and there it is - excellent. On my previous search I was looking too far up but even so I still should have found it. The logbook did look wet but I'm sure I could've written on it but popped in a new RITR log too. Lovely spot to revisit for the third time thanks BigglesNZ and Kiwi Explorer. TFTC # 18,401

A deserted beach and a cache was to be found at the bottom. Tide was on the way out so I didn’t even get wet feet. Logbook was saturated which made it difficult to sign, but I did my best. TFTC

Nice hiding spot
TFTC

A mugging fur seal stopped full investigation of the site, although I am sure of a neat spot, this wasn't to be my day!

There were quite a lot of people fishing just off the beach so it was hard to have a good look but no luck

Beautiful day for a walk at French Pass. Took a few mins to find this cache. Lots of dead sea critters on the beach today.

From the lookout its back to the junction then down again to visit French Pass Beach. Lots of small boats out on the water just off here moving with the currents. Got this one snagged and tagged after a short search. Thanks for great hint. Cheers

Bulwer and French Pass are on my radar to explore today, with the Seagnoid and Toby along for the ride. Left home at 6am and finally crawled back home at 9.30 having dinner at Okiwi Bay before leaving the sounds. Great views on a beautiful clear day with little wind. Lots of driving and lots of maintenance on this trip.

#7782. Day 2 of my Marlborough geocaching adventure. Have come south for a work meeting but arrived early to do a bit of exploring in a rental car. Today the plan is to drive out to Bulwer and French Pass. Little did I realise at this early stage just how far away those roads were from civilisation and the rather nerve-wracking drives on gravel roads with certain death plunges if you lost concentration and slid off the edge of the road with no protective barrier. Decided to skip most caches on the way out and pick up more on the way back if I had time. Replaced any wet or tatty log sheets with fresh waterproof paper if needed. Mission accomplished at Bulwer and heading back slowly to civilisation via French Pass. Stopped here to pick up the cache.

Parked at the walking track entrance and headed downhill. Quite a descent to the beach and gave my calf muscle a good workout after I pulled it a week ago. Certainly felt it on the way back up. Once at the beach (which was deserted this late in the day) I scrambled around to the correct GZ but took a minute or so to get to right level where I good spy the cache. Signed the logbook and returned the cache where found. Added an extra rock or two around it to stop it sliding away in strong winds. Thanks Biggles and Kiwi Explorer for the cache.

Happy palindrome day! 02-02-2020 is the first global palindrome date since 11-11-1111 (909 years ago).

The view is worth the steep climb. Found with everdene22. Tftc

Found with mangoambs on a sunny day out while on holiday in the sounds. TFTC

The start of a 2 week holiday. Staying at French Pass for a few days. A lovely walk to this most beautiful secluded beach. No one else around.The cache was easily found in its good hiding hole & log signed. TFTC

Took about 5 min based on the hint as coords seemed quite off ..... but of course by the time we found it the GPS was showing 1 meter.

After almost giving up, saw it on the climb back down, TFTC!

Speedy find. Beaut beach. Tftc

Nice beach to have a skinny dip in, so we did. No one around and we were in and out. Cache found first. Tftc.

A quick find and all in good order, while the view was stunning and sea relatively calm not sure I would be up the the family swimming competitions that the locals had, there was quite a lot of foaming whirl pool activity. TFTC

Quickly got to a spot with 0m on the GPSr, but took a few moments to locate as many of the hint objects in the vicinity of where we thought the hint was directing. After a few minutes I went back to the 0m position and suggested to TregearP she search more to the left and almost behind. Bingo!

All in good order, signed log and replaced as found. Thanks for the cache.

There looks to be fresh rock fall. No luck today. Still, a nice beach. Interesting coloured rocks here. I like it!

Nice little beach in a really remote location. Fairly quick find. TFTC.

Dnf yesterday when we walked down so went back today by sea. So many small flax bushes.... but which one? Eventually found it. Phew! A bit of a mission. TFTC

Great spot no muggles at this secluded beach. The penguins have a nesting place here one can see their tracks up the bank, TFTC.

This long weekend Jojo and I headed off to French Pass for a spot of caching and camping. 3 days, great weather and some stunning views. Sorry for the cut and past bit, and thanks to all cache owners.
Day two: After a pretty rough night's sleep, we couldn't really wait to get on the track. Seems the campsite had been overbooked so our tent was on a car park with a slight slope that soon became the talking point with our friendly neighbours. That and us being a sleeping bag short. So we got prepped early knowing that Capperz was going to meet us at 10.00am, and being a good forces bloke he won't be late, which of course, he wasn't.
The target today was the road to Bulwer and a few caches Capperz had unfinished business with around French Pass, then for Jojo and I an afternoon tea with her auntie at Elsie Bay, a catch up on the cricket and a hoover up of any caches back to FP. And overall it was a successful day - all targeted caches found, a cricket win over Oz (as well as Forest over Villa - sorry Capperz!) and some good chat on the trip and back at camp.
Great little spot this, thanks for bringing us down here. Capperz made the grab from his side after we explored most other options. Cheers guys.

This one was spotted by r.nz from the right angle and I was in just the right place to retrieve the cache. Great walk down to here and views were phenomenal today too. Replaced as found and up the track we go to tackle the road to Bulwer.

Todays plan was a return trip to French Pass after our whirlwind trip over there on New years Day (or should that be hurricane-strength trip?) Leaving home at 0700 on what promised to be a hot day of over 30 degrees I had a timing to be met and, being a good military man, was determined not to be late to meet up with caching buddies Ricardinho.nz and Jojo over at the French Pass camp-site. Together we grabbed the few missing caches of mine from the French Pass area, then a road-trip to the end of the road at Bulwer. 16 caches found and some beautiful views along the way too, nice.

Thanks for the cache:-).

When talking to some local people earlier in the day, I was told how they used to strap a BBQ onto their back and bring the local school kids here for pcnics and BBQs - I loved the coloured rocks on the beach tftc

With quite a few caches in this area, we decided to start with this one, in conjunction with a multi and an earth cache. A wander down to the beach, retrieve the cache and short sit in the sun while we sign then headed back up the hill to the lookout.

### **--\\\\\\ AYAMALIN´´´´ S GEOCACHING KIWITRIP 2016 ///--** ###

### *The Story of the New Zealand´ s Caches* ###

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Thanks a lot for the next New Zealand´´ s cache! I must say that this country is one of the best for the geocaching and geocachers in the world! Definitely YES! Beautiful hills, mountains, views, landscape, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, rocks, forests, ocean, villages, cities, farms, orchards etc. AyAmalin loves this country!
Greetings from the Czech Republic! I would like to invite all geocachers to Czechia, we have got many excellent caches on amazing places too!

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**#** ***2058***
(no trade)

**AyAmalin**

just to note that I did revisit today but decided to leave this for another visit when things weren't so slippery

Nice small beach, tftc

This cache find was a wonderful way to conclude our week staying at the old French Pass farmhouse. Finding this beautiful secluded beach was also a 'treasured find'.

Everyone helped to look but we couldn't have found it without help from the intrepid grannies.

TFTC

Found on the 29th Jan 2016

Nice place - TFTC

Had the beach all to myself today. Rain had stopped and the pass was dead calm. One lonely yacht in the distance. Stunning and serene. Cache find was a bit more elusive but eventually tracked it down. Thanks for the cache in picture perfect place.

What a beauty this little beach! <3 Thanks for showing us this little gem with the cache. The water looks inviting for a swim. Thanks for the cache.

I decided today was the day to do a Bulwer Drive By and collect a few "new" caches on the way.
This wasn't one of the new caches. In fact this was unfinished business with a dnf in 2010.
A surprisingly quick find today. How did we miss it last time I wonder.
Enjoyed the walk and the views out across the bay.
TFTC

Lovely location on a great day.

As we walked to this cache, I realised that my jersey, that had been tied around my waist, was missing, so StreetWalker went back to find it. This meant that I arrived first at GZ - a most rare occurrence . It also meant I could have first crack at looking for the cache, and there it was in the first place I looked! So for once, it was me handing the log book to SW for signing when he finally arrived on the scene.
We were here at low tide, but I wondered how how the tide gets here an whether the cache would be inaccessible at high tides. Thanks for bringing me here.

#9518. It is well worth making the short walk to this great little beach. TFTC.

Bit of a search to find this one, re read the hint, log signed back up to viewing area to look at the pass. Have not been down there for 60yrs or so. TFTC

[green] Hired a car to tour the far north. Amazing views and scary slopes down to certain death. What a fantastic road!
Dropped down for a visit to this nice pebbly beach.

Quiet a walk - especially with an infant.

Very nice cache at a beautiful spot. Tftc

10.30am. Just had an interesting couple of days on D'urville Island. Returned this morning after viewing the oil rig being attached to a submersible transporter in Port Ligar. Took time out for a cache on this nice secluded beach. Found readily with help of hint. Left a signature path tag.
TFTC
M&P.

Awesome location!!! Loved it thx so much!

Hard find cause some muggles around. Great beach! Thanks for taking us here...

TFTC log to follow.

Wonderful and quiet beach, we were all by ourselves. The cache was quickly located and is in good condition, contents dry.
After that I went for a swim in the crystal clear water, cooooold!

Thanks from Austria!

#597
24.11.2014 21:14h

Found on the return trip from D'Urville Is. Nice little walk and beach. TFTC

Found it.

Had a real good look following the GPS and the hint. Then another couple arrived that weren't going anywhere soon and I felt very inconspicuious so decided to pack in in. What a beautiful place to be searching - I totally enjoyed the visit and solitude while it lasted. Typical - I find the one further up that no one has logged for nearly 3 years and can't find this one that was found only 2 months ago. Oh well thats how it goes somedays.

Apologies for late logging.

Started off on our way down the hill & progressively lost what info our phone was providing. Thought that we'd remembered the hint, which it turned out that we had, but it still didn't help us. Were busy searching likely spots and, unbelievably, boat muggles turn up!!!! A family with teens & preteens, and as we had no suitable reason for fossicking in the shrubbery - at least from a muggle POV - we stopped. It seemed like they were settling in, so we melted our way back up the track again.
I expect we will be back.

The last time i stood on this beach would have been about 25 years ago after our boat motor had packed up as we were going through the pass. Its not a nice place to be when the current is pulling you backwards and water is crashing over the back of the boat. We tied the boat up on the beach, walked back to the pass township for the car and dad went back with the parts to fix it the following day. I haven't been through the pass since then but one day i hope to kayak through. Thanks for bringing me back here.

#2237

Found the cache and a little blue star fish

A pleasant walk to the beach (what a beautiful spot!) and found the cache after a short search. Great weather, the track was dry, and I had the beach to myself. Signed log, TFTC!

a beautiful lost place! thanks!

Three other cars parked at the top of the hill when I started walking down, so I assumed this would not be a muggle-free beach. But as I arrived at the beach everyone was leaving so I had the beach to myself and a cache in my hand. TFTC.

Three cars in the car park when I arrived so I assumed it would not be a muggle-free beach. As I arrived at the beach all the muggles were leaving so I had the beach to myself and a cache in hand. TFTC.

Fast found, hidden from the french muggles at the beach. TFTC

Today it was so windy here and the last time we went for a swim;) but last time we couldn't find the cache. It still took a while to find it today but finally we got it, thank you very much for this cache and greets from Germany

Liquorboy & Nic went to retrieve this one.but when Nic saw the track down to the beach she decided not to go any further.While they were gone we had a little nap in the car.Caching can take it out of you sometimes TFTC

I made my way to the beach and enjoyed the view. But the cache container was nowhere to be found. I checked a hundred weeds at the cliff, some was a bit blocked by a shelter there. Not sure if this is where the cache is. Looked rural, some shelter, fireplace, and mussel shells. Fits to the beach.

Thanks anyway for showing!
smorp7

Tide was to far in for us to reach it. Bugger we will try again another day. Cheers Lydias

Small climb on wet rocks to get this one. TFTC

Today was earmarked to come out this way to complete requirements for BGSc 301 and to pick up the other caches in the area. It was certainly a long drive but very enjoyable although I think I had the better option being a passenger and able to admire the views while Hazedarus had to concentrate on driving. We are still wondering if the only other vehicle we saw on the trip in to Bulwer was another cacher, both of us having decided immediately it wasn't a local because the vehicle was too clean! We were therefore not surprised to note that 3 of the 4 caches we found out there had also been signed earlier this morning. Then on to French Pass to do the Earthcache and also the other caches here. After wandering down the track to get the info required we then took the other track down to the beach to find this one. It only took a very brief search once the hint was looked at to find it. It was a lovely scenic walk down but not a track I would like to attempt soon after rain. Thank you for bringing us to this area and thank you too for the cache.

Up at the crack of dawn for an expedition caching with Holymu. I can't say how pleased I am to have finally had an excuse to go to the end of the road. Bright sun and slight breeze we thought but cutting through multiple layers with ferocity when we ventured in exposed places. We passed a bright shiny vehicle, in fact so shiny it was commented: "that can not be a local". Only half surprised we noted on our travels some logs already signed today. At GZ coords proved spot on and the cache was soon in hand and log signed. It was a good caching day that brought us to places that many people only dream of. TFTC

We went to that great place just with the coordinates, without the hints.
I think we were very close but we didn't found it.
Anyway, it was an amazing walk down there.

Thanks for showing us this place.

Short hunt then found. Just came through the pass on Quinella. Tftc

Finally found it after looking behind many small flaxes. A fantastic day weather wise.

Lovely way to finish this visit to French Pass. Will definitely be back. TFTC

After completing the Passe Des multicache it would seem a shame not to visit this delightful (and rarely visited by geocachers) little beach.

I would never have gone done that path it wasn´t for this cache. Thanks for that. It´s a beautiful place for relaxing and enjoying a bit Weka action

TFTC

No sign of this cache today.
Never sure when the hint says "next" whether that is the first or second.
Just assumed that cache was at GZ and not offset.

Having a nice break in this area so took time out to pick up a few of the caches that have been put in scince my last visit! Finally found 1m from where i spent most of my time looking . I should have searched wider earlier Thanks for the cache

An interesting track down after the recent rain !!! had been down the other track before but not this one so is interesting to see another new spot eventually found the cache and signed the log thanks for the cache

a quick find after weekend of fishing in the sounds. Thanks

Muggle family fishing on the beach was going to prevent me from logging, I thought. But as it turned out there was enough shelter where the cache was located to be able to complete the task. Two Weka had joined them on the beach, and were rather keen on the bait. TFTC.

In the area again so decided to tick this one off the list. Name already in the book from last visit but logged online today. TFTC.

enjoyed the walk down to the beach quick find beautiful area thank you.

With integersmirk, I fort to log it back then! Thank you

We spent a long time looking for this... makes you feel that much better when you find it then!

Well we did revisit it - twice in one day!! The forecast was good so we made a late decision that today would be a good day to go to French Pass. Just loaded the caches onto GPS and computer, grab a picnic lunch and go. We had intended to go into French Pass and plan things from there but we were in the area having just not found another cache - and we wouldnt be unlucky twice so we might as well go and grab this one. Ah we could be unlucky twice - the tide was high, the GPS couldn't decide if it was here or there - and we couldn't get anything except wet feet. Mrs Sobad was sooooo grumpy - why hadn't we brought the computer with us so at least we would have had the hint!! After the picnic lunch we realised we would need to be back in this area anyway - the GPS didn't have all waypoints for another cache on it - poor organisation but things don't seem so bad after a picnic lunch in the sun. On the revisit success - in one of the areas we had looked but not properly the first time. It is a nice spot and worth revisiting - just not so soon. TNLN TFTC

Lovely spot. Mr FTF was up in the car while I dodged the rain, slips and loose rock. Survived, of course. TFTC.

them rocks sure are slippery. beware. tftc

another spot we discussed when we placed ours. last few metres to cache very slippery today. thanks oh yes, FTF

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