Disused Stations - National Park Hawthorndene, South Australia, Australia
By SIDEandHEEK on 08-Oct-09. Waypoint GC1ZK7D

Went looking for this with brother and two nephews. Scoured the BIG tree, the ivy and all up to 4m UP !!! Scoured the whole ground around, including the metal objects. Scoured the smaller tree. Scoured the whole slope down 10m. Then went and even looked under the rails for quite some distance. NOTHING after 30 minutes for all 4 of us !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like this cache has gone unfortunately and I am unable to visit and replace it as I'm now living in Perth. Sorry to say I'll be archiving the cache.

We got to the location easy enough and examined the spot fairly well.....no joy!

That's my second attempt, I read the previous logs, hunted everywhere, but without success.

we looked around for about 30 minutes and we couldnt find it we thought the climb to get there was interesting!!

...

Not too sure here, found the obvious spot but it was empty. Fun climb tho

Once my signal came back this was a quick find. Very nice. Tftc. Adam, Paul, Ben, Brent, Andrew and Tegan.

Great hide! Now for the descent! Found with our Geo family Boris Aldgate.

TFTC. A daredevil find. Terrific view. Thanks again Marker_4

Nice spot a bit of history I never knew

Nice spot a little bit of history I never knew

Perfect day for a hill climb. TFTF

great one thanks

Found it with tnt1968. Now how to get the mountain bikes out of here?

This entry was edited by Zinkie on Sunday, 28 April 2013 at 03:58:38 UTC.

At Belair National Park with friends for a play, picnic and cache!
After a walk up a big hill, the boys scuttled about snapped this one up lickety split.

Thanks SIDEandHEEK for bringing us up the hill (may not have otherwise) and sharing some knowledge.

Big hill to climb

Second time lucky after a DNF on 02/02/13...went home to read previous logs...got the vital info...came back 'et voila'...several runners use this track on a Sunday morning...!!!
Such a lovely peaceful spot.
Brought some geocoins along for a visit.
SL TFTC

Found after a while of searching, a freight train was coming so crossed the track to be a bit safer, but stood in the middle as the train came round the bend looking into the viewfinder of my video camera not realising how close the train actually was! Made a quick sprint to the side of the track as the train came hurtling through the valley! Nice walk up the hill and had a nibble on some blackberries which are delicious this time of year! TFTC.

I hate to admit it too. Approached cache easily from Hogsmead ... saw the very cache looking spot ... searched all over, in, under, behind ... a few very likely hiding positions which would be highly unlikely to be muggled ... but sadly no luck today.
Did see a freight train pass at least...
After a bit of bush bashing starting further east from GZ, I then found a pretty disused and overgrown path/steps to make a relatively painless descent ... may try again sometime. Thanks for bringing me to this place

hate to admit it but could not find this one. GPS up and down like a yoyo and after a long walk in the sun without a result. Could not spend any longer looking but we will return!!

#1415 - Looked here the other day but couln't find it, but today I did, TFTC

We started up a set of steps but then had to scramble up the step hill, which was covered in grass seeds and stick bobs. We are sure there must have been an easier route. TFTC.

Found it while on my early morning mountain bike ride. I came up to this one from Saddle Hill rd up the now overgrowing track, I had to walk the bike up the steps as my mountain bike skills aren't quite up to climbing steps (plus it's quite steep). When I got to GZ my phone kept telling me to go elsewhere but my brain was telling me that that #### over there looks rather cachey. Fortunately my brain won and I didn't follow the phone down the hill. After signing and rehiding I followed the train track to the tunnel then down and around and back to the train line, then out the park. Somewhere along this trail I managed to break 2 spokes on my bacjk wheel. TFTC.

Noticed that this cache was back in action, so after a DNF a few months ago, decided to check it out again. Quick find this time. TFTC.

Out for a day of caching with brisal5, Aussie M & M, Muff1 and Deb'n'Franc. Belair National park is a beautiful location and it was easy to fill in a day of caching here.
Thankyou for your cache

Oh my god, that cache. Luckily Mary was injured and didn't go. Those who went lost the trail, went straight for GZ climbing through scree style slope up the hill. Once the cache was found everyone headed back down with a group groan when they got back to the injured group and Sal who really just wanted a good book to read.... TFTC SideandHeek.

Only A short walk UP there, up we went and up finely at the top Where is the cache? Only place left got it SL TFTC

This entry was edited by muff1 on Friday, 21 December 2012 at 05:39:23 UTC.

Group picnic / caching day in Belair National Park with Aussie M&M, Mogni, Muff1 and Deb'n'Franc. Found the first part of the path up to the the seats. Lost it then only 40 metres from GZ. Straight up the scree slope. I went to the right but the group called me back as they had gone left. After one step up, two steps sliding back we made it to the top. Disused[?]. Non existant. Nothing to even suggest anything was here. Found the cache though. Again which way down. Not the way we came up. Muff1 and I went left and found the actual track and had an easy descent. Aussie M@M and others went right and slif scrambled back down to where we waited at the seat. After 5 minutes of getting prickles out of traouser and socks it was time to get back to the geomobiles. thanks for the adventure SIDEandHEEK. [:d] If there is hard way to get a cache..we will find it.

Thanks to The Tardis Trio who provided some maintenance for this cache to keep another Disused Starion Caches alive. All back in action. Cheers and enjoy the cache and series.

Mr Tardis had a nice bike ride today from Upper Sturt Road, down the hill, and then walked up another hill to GZ.

Replaced the container with a new one and logbook as per owner's request. Sadly no station , and no trains today. Loved that the old mostly overgrown track is still there leading up to the station.

Signed the log. Thanks for the historical cache SIDEandHEEK

I've spoken to a previous finder and I know where this should be hidden. I should be able to get out there next weekend, and put out a replacement container.

Looks like this has gone missing unfortunately. I see what I can do to get a replacement.

Remembered there were stairs somewhere so approached from the bottom.
Searched but no joy.
Sorry SIDeandHEEK looks like it may have gone. Anyone maintaining for you?

No luck for us here today

Spent 30 minutes searching with no luck. Phoned a previous finder and it wasn't where he'd found it either.

I'll wait and see if anyone else finds it, before I say it's gone.

Huffed & puffed our way up the hill. Found on our day exploring Belair National Park. TNLN TFTC

Huffed and puffed my way up here (and further on) for an orienteering event today. Wandered (purposefully) around the course with the dog meekly on leash encountering blackberries placed to trip the unwary wanderer. Returned to the car, turned on the GPSr and discovered that we had to walk up the hill again to find the nearest cache. After a short procrastination (involving lunch and chatter) we girded our loins and trudged up the steps which strangely didn't seem as steep this time. Located the cache and swapped a cute toy for an egg! TFTC and the chance to discover another bit of history in SA.

Yes, thank you to some previous log writers for a useful pointer....we would have been here for much longer otherwise, and it was nearing closing time....been locked in once, never again !! Good hide here, interesting location and glad no trains came past while we were there !TFTC.

Geokids struggled to find this one. Geodad came up with the goods. TFTC

Very well Hidden. A lovely day for a Bushwalk with Family.

Long haul from 'V for view'. Followed the track nearly all the way. Got a call from benus just as I was arriving at GZ(he was hoping I was several kms closer to his location trying to retrieve the Key to Squeakys Heart).

This turned out to be quite fortuitous as he was a previous finder. Helped me shave some time off my trip as I was already running late. TFTC SIDEandHEEK.

The Logbook is very wet

Tftc

Spending some family time camped at the local caravan park. A nice time to find some caches.
TFTC.

Found on a trip around the area while staying in Belair.
TFTC

Found on a walk through belair.
TFTC

This was my fourth visit in the last four weeks to Belair National park (after not having been here for at least 5 years - it's those damn puzzle caches that keep on directing me here) but is was definitely the most challenging.

I decided to park on Upper Sturt Rd and make my way down to the main roads via a very steep track. Little did I know that to get to this cache (and the other one I retrieved) I had to go up again nearly to the same level where I came from.... Who needs step aerobics and treadmills when there is geocaching?

GZ was like a big Zytheran proof fence and I nearly gave up on finding when I thought I'd try a different approach and voila there it was!
Thanks SideandHeek for bringing me to this lovely part of the park.

What a great place! Came here with my Dad, up the VERY SLIPPERY stairs!!! Mind you the station was hard to spot? Then, we nearly got hit by a 38 waggon goods train! - But every waggon was empty! Go figure! - I love train theme caches! Thanks SIDEandHEEK.

Took earplugs as thought they would be useful to drown the incessant chatter of junior cacher. Left egg. TFTC

A quick find on a 4hr walk around the np. Tftc

Another disused station found...accidentally swiped the pencil from the log, but replaced it on the return journey. No steep banks were fallen down during the retrieval of this cache. TFTC

TFTC

On the way up to GZ I heard an unusual bird call. To my surprise a bird popped out of the bracken and landed on a tree branch no more then three metres from me. It sat there singing away for several minutes before flying off. I think that the bird was a Crescent Honeyeater, one that I'm sure that I've heard before but never seen.

The cache was found on the third circuit of the tree.

Thanks for the experience SIDEandHEEK.

Found this a while ago, juuust logging it now! TFTF!

Man, this one took some effort. Climbing up and down the cliffs. Glancing up like heaps of logs say. Gave up, and was about to walk away, thought "Just one more check" Lo and behold...there it was. Didn't need to do all that goat trekking down the cliffs. D:

Perfect weather for a walk in Belair. This cache was a bit harder to find then I expected, and one of the previous logs, really helped me out. TFTC.

Come across this one along with another cacher out on a beautiful day, (thanks for your assistance).

We arrived near GZ to find someone already looking for something. As we walked past I spotted the GPS and knew that we didn't have a muggle problem. The search for the cache was over quickly, and after a brief chat with Delving, we were on our way. Sure is harder getting down with a 4 yr old to carry down. We really enjoyed the adventure and childhood memories. TFTC

This entry was edited by JadedOptimists on Monday, 04 April 2011 at 03:27:38 UTC.

Cache seems to be fine, a user incorrectly logged a maintenance instead of finds for himself....

It's hard to believe there was ever a station here - only the concrete crossing point would give it away, I guess. The last log was very helpful in finding this one - it would have taken a long time before I thought of searching there! TFTC.

took a while to find this one. nearing giving up just by chance a glance up found it.

Bit of a hike as we had not read the logs so we didn't know about the steps and so came down from above.

TNLNSL TFTC

canipa

Out for as morning's caching in the park.

Trail06 had tried and failed before but this time we were successful.

A nice climb up the steps.

TFTC

What a lovely way to begin the day, a nice walk in the hills.

I had tried to find it before but I had missed it

As Team Waldron said, it was nice climb up the steps.

TFTC

Luckily, we had Corrella Girl with us, and as a local she knew about the steps that lead to the railway line. Without that knowledge, I doubt we would have even tried for the cache .
Just after we had all signed the log and were heading back, a freight train rumbled (or rather shrieked) past on its careful way down the hill. It seemed to go on forever, and it was pretty intimidating watching the amount of movement in some of the sleepers as it passed over them .

A lovely day for caching, and a great spot to hide a cache. Thanks

Good cache. Lovely spot. TFTC

Went through an army of bugs, climbed the giant steps and the small one... Got welcomed by the song of the koala bear and my giant co-hunter found it. Water in the box, might need new book.
TFTC TNLNSL

Nice to see the ground so wet - one of the steps formed a mini-pond with frogspawn (not sure how well they're going to survive). However we managed to escape without getting too wet, took us a few minutes to find, but a good cache! [^] TFTC cheers

Nice surprising hike up hill. Had some water in the cache. TFTC

Found it after a steep climb. Wow we are unfit!

steep walk to find it, but it was worth it in the end

Nice Winters day walk, lots of Rosella's flying around at GZ, got a little wet on the walk back, But geokid had a great time.

Spent the day caching in the park coming in from Upper Sturt so had a lovely walk to GZ. After checking the obvious spotted it. A nice hide. L:Lizard key ring. T: Car. TFTC.

A good walk to the cache. Nice hide not in the obvious places. Took a frog and left a squirrel. Tftc.

Found on a beautiful day bushwalking around the park. TFTC Toot toot!

An excellent spot for a cache, fantastic views of the valley below and it even conjured up a few old memories of when we were kids catching the train up here and spending the day riding around the park on our deadly treadlies.
T - PADLE BALL & BANGLE
L - FROG , CAR THING & A PENCIL
Thanks for the cache!

good hide, nice hike up, however was no pencil or pen to log visit. Had already used mine in previous one so could make a log.

Great hiding spot, loved the walk up the hill. No pen or pencil in the cache though so could log visit. Left a spiderman sticker. Took a boomerand keyring.

Finally found it, while out running with friends, having looked before but not in the right spot. I couldn't sign the log, though, because to my dismay there was no pen/pencil in the cache. Could the next finder please donate a spare? TNLN, thanks Side & Heek

Thankfully knew where the tracks were for the shortest approach to this one, and spent a little while looking in the obvious spots before looking closer at where we initially thought it might be... doh.

Accompanied by Everlasting. We enjoyed our trek towards the cache. Cunning hide. You almost got us stumped.
Thanks SIDEandHEEK for the cache.

Accompanied with Lava12, we enjoyed walk along to the GZ. Pity no train (goods) past us today. Excellent hide spot. SL. Thanks SIDEandHEEK for organising the cache and hunt.

A very pleasant stroll up the stairs. On arrival at GZ we saw some very promising looking places for caches which then blinded us to the cache's actual location. Started slip sliding down the hill before looking at the terrain rating. Another one of those Doh!!!!! should have seen that earlier experiences.

Just as an aside for visitors to the park in case you didn't know; if you go to the state flora nursery in the park, you show your entrance receipt to the cashier and you can get the entrance fee from the park deducted from the cost of your purchase. This is for people who say that they only came to the park to go to the nursery, not that they ask, you just hand over your entrance receipt to them.

TFTC

That's a good hike from the bottom of the stairs! I counted about 236 steps, though it's a bit unclear exactly where the steps are now . Then at GZ I spent a while searching the usual places without luck. Finally widened my search and found it - nice hide! It's a shame that the station was closed - it would have been a great way to get to the park.

TNLN - Thanks SideandHeek!

Our first visit to this park, so drove in and covered most of the park to get value for money.
Took the stairway half way up [^], before cutting across and straight up the rest of the way to the cache . Could see our car at the bottom as we signed the log.
Took thong. Left boomerang. SL.
Can imagine the day-trippers walking up and down the stairs. Hard to believe the station was only closed in 1987.
Thanks SIDEandHEEK.

Enjoyed the walk up the overgrown path on a beautiful afternoon after picnicing nearby.

TFTC

Trundled up the slopes to locate the cache, then found the easy way back! Last of a very enjoyable series. Thanks SIDEandHEEK.

If you can work out where the platform was on the northern side of the track, opposite it is a walking track that leads up to the disused fire tower. It is a pleasant walk.

Walked down to this one after grabbing "As the crow flies" with SA_Parrothead. It was a bit slidy in the wind and rain but nice easy find. TFTC.

On a big walk in Belair today.
Loved the area.

Found on second visit thanks to a tip from the Stanleys. Our last one for this series.
TNLNSL
Thanks SIDEandHEEK for a great series.

Found at 15:15
Soaked from walking through wet foilage, but rewarded by finding a slightly easier way back down. A nice view too. Que pongo?. Olga found this one quickly.

Heads up and you'll be amazed what find! TFTC

I wasn't sweating but Freddo was. You see, it was his car and there were a few minutes to go before the gates closed.

Say no more. Clear skies

How stressed can you get caching. Steep walk. Wonky coords. Too many hiding places. No hint. Only 4 minutes to closing time. In the end we phoned a friend who told us to have another look where we had already looked.

We made it out the gate just as the ranger was locking up. Aggggggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

Nice walk this morning on way home from work, managed to slip in before cachier...
Took a few mins to find, and in the end it had spot on co-ords.
TNLNSL
Thanks