A Quiet Roaring (Central Otago) Cardrona, South Island, New Zealand
By
phiki614 on 23-Jan-10. Waypoint GC21W0D
Cache Details
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Geocaching Australia is not affiliated with the original listing site for this cache.
Please click here to view the caches listing.
If you wish to log this cache, you will need to log it on the external site.
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Logs
#1225 - Last of four caches today on what ended up being an unexpected 48km day hike.
Starting at the Cardrona end of the Roaring Meg Pack track, I made my way up to Tuohy's Saddle before turning off towards Meg hut and continuing up to The Tops cache.
I then headed back to Tuohy's Saddle for the second time and turned off and up to the Cardrona View (Central Otago) cache. I then headed back ti Tuohy's Saddle for a third time and after some contemplation on another cache or back to the car, another cache won out.
The legs were getting tired at this stage but the elevation grade was easy and the track easy to follow. GZ is really beautiful and the cache in good condition.
On the way back, I was very glad to go past Tuohy's Saddle for the forth and final time for the day. Arrived back at the car in just under 10 hours from when I started the hike.
Had a fantastic day hiking and was able to get almost 10 years of unloved with two of the caches. Tftc
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Starting at the Cardrona end of the Roaring Meg Pack track, I made my way up to Tuohy's Saddle before turning off towards Meg hut and continuing up to The Tops cache.
I then headed back to Tuohy's Saddle for the second time and turned off and up to the Cardrona View (Central Otago) cache. I then headed back ti Tuohy's Saddle for a third time and after some contemplation on another cache or back to the car, another cache won out.
The legs were getting tired at this stage but the elevation grade was easy and the track easy to follow. GZ is really beautiful and the cache in good condition.
On the way back, I was very glad to go past Tuohy's Saddle for the forth and final time for the day. Arrived back at the car in just under 10 hours from when I started the hike.
Had a fantastic day hiking and was able to get almost 10 years of unloved with two of the caches. Tftc
→←
Found with nissan 65. Flew in from sydney for a short holiday. Hoping to see as much as i can on the south island and pick up caches along the way . Thanku for the cache.
Going up the Meg, not roaring today just burbling. A beautiful valley - it was exciting to see the retaining walls of the original pack track. Plumbtart did the honours, and then we enjoyed a well-earned 11 o'clock lunch in this lovely spot.
Took a few minutes including avoiding a potential muggle who was a Belgian cacher! Tftc
First of 3 caches found on a mammoth gutbusting, legbusting 28km return hike up to Queensberry Hill today. Stinking hot at 28deg, fabulous weather, sweated buckets but delighted to hike in such amazing countryside. Fortunately this flat area was our food and drinks stop. Quick find. TFTC.
First find of seven on this trip from Roaring Meg to Lowburn via the Cardrona Pack Track. Over-night at the Meg Hut. Found with Sting1606. Great spot. TFTC!
Found with GillygangGoo nice hide. Nice to get my 2nd to last letter only one to get. Went from there to Meg Hutt staying the night then going down Lowburn side.
bum rode the road, (while worker went for a roadie) should have taken bike on, well defined single track further mostly riable for intermediate riders, 3.45hr return to car. last of the a-z except for idylic, which is looking like preventing us complete the series. we have had fundoing these during the year.
Episode 7.
A steep push up fromthe Meg Hut and then a nice ride down to the Tuohy Saddle. The way down the Meg started ok, but the riding got more and more difficult, especially with frequent stops for pumping up the leaky tyre and extreme caution near the spaniards. However we made good progress till a km or so before the cache when the track got rougher, steeper and with many more spaniards. Fought our way round the last bend and realised that we now had 3 flat tyres again.
Cache was easy enough but being distracted by the tyres, heat etc forgot to note the special code.
This was the last of our alphabet caches so please could you email the code to us.
We did a swap around of inner tubes to get the leas leaky ones onthe bikes and set off for the valley.
The first section was all push and carry with the track very indistinct where it traverses shallow gulleys onthe hillside. Once it got more easy to ride we pumped up the tyres and went for it, but with 3 tyres to pump up every 5 minutes progress even downhill was slow.
Eventually hit the road after 13 hours on the hill. Epic day but we would recommend tramping it rather than taking bikes. As a momento we have a few Spaniard seedlings which will eventually protect part of our garden.
Many thanks phikio614 for an interesting experience and 7 fine caches.
A steep push up fromthe Meg Hut and then a nice ride down to the Tuohy Saddle. The way down the Meg started ok, but the riding got more and more difficult, especially with frequent stops for pumping up the leaky tyre and extreme caution near the spaniards. However we made good progress till a km or so before the cache when the track got rougher, steeper and with many more spaniards. Fought our way round the last bend and realised that we now had 3 flat tyres again.
Cache was easy enough but being distracted by the tyres, heat etc forgot to note the special code.
This was the last of our alphabet caches so please could you email the code to us.
We did a swap around of inner tubes to get the leas leaky ones onthe bikes and set off for the valley.
The first section was all push and carry with the track very indistinct where it traverses shallow gulleys onthe hillside. Once it got more easy to ride we pumped up the tyres and went for it, but with 3 tyres to pump up every 5 minutes progress even downhill was slow.
Eventually hit the road after 13 hours on the hill. Epic day but we would recommend tramping it rather than taking bikes. As a momento we have a few Spaniard seedlings which will eventually protect part of our garden.
Many thanks phikio614 for an interesting experience and 7 fine caches.
great early winter day for a tramp up roaring meg with central otago hilton. was literally freezing when we set off, but we walked into the sun and up and up to the cache. great cache in amazing scenery and interesting to follow the old pack track all the way up - and then back down again! tftc - tnln.....
Combined jaunt with ggadget. Good trek up to the cache (was trying out new boots - blisters ouch) lovely quick walk back to car park. Thanks for the walk phiki, next on the list are your pisa caches...
We wheeled our mountain bikes up the gravel road from the gate at the State Highway (don't try this up the track from the picnic area). This gave new meaning to the term "pushbike". At the start of the poled route we left them leaning against a convenient fence. Some of this track gives the impression that it has had no maintenance since Maori first established it, but we arrived at the cache site in time for lunch.
The amended co-ordinates seem spot on, and the cache was an easy find. We didn't see or hear any falcon activity while we ate lunch, but heard both adult and young when we were about 200m on our way back down again.
Walking back to the bikes was tiring, but uneventful. Cruising down the gravel road to the Highway was an enjoyable finish to the trip.
+ a large marble and a balloon, - nothing.
The amended co-ordinates seem spot on, and the cache was an easy find. We didn't see or hear any falcon activity while we ate lunch, but heard both adult and young when we were about 200m on our way back down again.
Walking back to the bikes was tiring, but uneventful. Cruising down the gravel road to the Highway was an enjoyable finish to the trip.
+ a large marble and a balloon, - nothing.
** Coordinates Changed From **
S 44° 56.814 E 169° 02.754
Distance From Old: 77.1 feet or 23.5 meters
Thanks Guzzi Riders.
S 44° 56.814 E 169° 02.754
Distance From Old: 77.1 feet or 23.5 meters
Thanks Guzzi Riders.
Second to find after RexTrex once again but not surprised. A great walk in. We chose a perfect day for it. The track from the upper power station (9.3km return) is narrow and rough but well marked and most enjoyable. It took us a wee while but we expected it to. We took our lunch and came prepared with wind protection. It gets very cold up there in exposed places. The wind wips round the corners. Saw the falcon at the cache and were lying back enjoying the peace and sun eating lunch with our boots off when two Aucklands came from up the Creek. They had been staying at Megs Hut. Where the cache is would be an excellent spot to pitch a tent. Nice and flat and grassy. Would be interested to know if you are allowed to camp over night with tents and gas fires in these types of areas.
We agree the co-ords are about 30 metres out. The clue was handy.
Picked up travel bug. Left peg with lady bird and butterfly bead.
We agree the co-ords are about 30 metres out. The clue was handy.
Picked up travel bug. Left peg with lady bird and butterfly bead.
What a great introduction to the rest of the 'Roaring Meg' or Kirtle Burn as I now understand it is called.
I started from the reserve beside the power station about 9AM then slogged my way up the road, pausing quite often to take pictures and listen to the bird life - and yes, to gasp a bit and recover myself. Onto the foot trail, then more great country to watch hawks and spot fish in the creeks below. About mid day I waded through the creek and up onto the far bank where I hunted up the cache. The listed coordinates are about 60 metres from the DOC sign, so are about 30 metres too far - using the hint the cache was soon located. Left a TB and a valuable little RexTrex dino dropping.
While I was making the log entry there were bird cries from the cliffs across the creek - young hatchlings calling for food. I was then treated to a display of falcon aerobatics as a parent falcon chased a small bird, then eventually took it to the nest to feed its young. Fantastic!
My return journey was thankfully a lot quicker (being mostly downhill), but I treated myself to 40 winks when I got home to recover a bit of energy. It is certainly a long hike and one to be well prepared for.
Thanks phiki614 for another grand cache site and for the opportunity to explore this part of Central Otago. I can't resist leaving a picture of the area.
I started from the reserve beside the power station about 9AM then slogged my way up the road, pausing quite often to take pictures and listen to the bird life - and yes, to gasp a bit and recover myself. Onto the foot trail, then more great country to watch hawks and spot fish in the creeks below. About mid day I waded through the creek and up onto the far bank where I hunted up the cache. The listed coordinates are about 60 metres from the DOC sign, so are about 30 metres too far - using the hint the cache was soon located. Left a TB and a valuable little RexTrex dino dropping.
While I was making the log entry there were bird cries from the cliffs across the creek - young hatchlings calling for food. I was then treated to a display of falcon aerobatics as a parent falcon chased a small bird, then eventually took it to the nest to feed its young. Fantastic!
My return journey was thankfully a lot quicker (being mostly downhill), but I treated myself to 40 winks when I got home to recover a bit of energy. It is certainly a long hike and one to be well prepared for.
Thanks phiki614 for another grand cache site and for the opportunity to explore this part of Central Otago. I can't resist leaving a picture of the area.
