RAAFmines - Bunker Balmoral, New South Wales, Australia
By The Cash Man on 09-Feb-10. Waypoint GC23TC1

Even though this cache is archived I thought I'd go check out the Bunker, not disappointed at all, it is flooded and waders are needed to explore past the top stairs. After some cool photos, I checked out the cache, it is still there in A1 condition. Now awaiting info on its archive info.
[green] - Found It . TFTC! [/green]

[size=2][blue] This log was posted with CacheSense v2.717 beta, for Android ![/blue][/size]

Archived

Nice short walk with the family.

Fun find. We took some Aussie money and left some euro coins instead. There were no travel bugs or trackable though.

Another piece of wonderful history, Nice Cache, TFTC

Great spot. Would love to come back here and try to explore it one day. Cache was found easily enough, in good condition too! Found with al3xm on the way home from a scouting event. TNLN. TFTC.

Found it with macca1 and hinto22 on our way home from the Hunter & Coastal Scout Rally (a camp for 400 Scouts). Find was quick and easy. Bunker was really cool but filled with water. Will have to come back sometime with more appropriate gear to explore it. TFTC

Tftc

A fairly straightforward find after a short stroll through the bush. Dropped TB and 1951 halfpenny.

Tftc

The road looked a bit messy after the rain so we walked into the cache (It turned out not to be too bad). After finding the cache we went too have a look at the bunker. Half full of water it wasn't - it was completely chockers! Not having my SCUBA gear here, we didn't look any further.
Thanks, Robmc.

Great hiding place tftc

Great night caching with the Venturers. Yay. ??

Interesting bunker.
No way i was going in it though.
TFTC

Thanks to the "Cash Man" for another interesting spot of history, SL, TNLN, TFTC

Having lived in the area my whole life i never knew this was here. Great bit of history. TFTC

had to move fast, thunder and lightning everywhere. not worth getting fried for.
quick find, took nothing and left a poker chip

TFTC (With Wishy1 and Fessman1)

Found at 5:50pm. Had an early evening cuppa on the tailgate while enjoying the history - and the many frogs singing. The fairy martens were flitting about and came very close to us a few times. As we viewed the flooded bunker (and tried its echo capabilities!), several birds flew in and were greeted by what sounded like young offspring. Lovely spot - thanks!

Excellent cache for its historic significance. Bunker is still flooded. SL TFTC

Great piece of history. Thanks mate

TFTC

A great piece of local history. SL. TFTC.

A great piece of local history. SL. TFTC.

track in was pretty good A few boggy patches. bunkers were flooded of course nice historic spot hope it remains. Co-ords spot on for cache. Thanks for another Cashman cache...

boy oh boy try this at 8pm in pouring rain in a 4x4 i made it but will ve to come back to take photos one day

PHEW!!!!! Lucky we drive on old track to GZ and found it.. very well thnak

Great spot. Even though the bunker was flooded I still really liked this place and found the cache high and dry nearby. I might have to come back here during the next drought for an other inspection, I am sure by then cash man will have pumped it out and put some coded battle plans on a table to add to the atmosphere, lol, TFTC.

Reperio at 1740. This is one of those caches I always drive by on the way to and from work, so with being in the mood for walking, I parked at the head of the trail and headed to GZ. With the nearby construction muggles gone home for the day, the walk was nice and peaceful. The bunkers looked very cool, and will hopefully be one of those historical pieces that remain intact.

Gratias Cash Man.

Parked on the roadside and started the few hundred meter walk to this just as the sky started to lighten with the dawn of a new day.
Located the cache quite easy and then spent some time looking about the caches namesake. Would of like to go below but the water level prevented going any further than the door way.

Grabbed TB.

TFTC

Found at 1.55pm GAFF1
On reflection we probably could have taken the van down this track which would have saved us a walk of a couple of hundred metres, but it was an enjoyable walk just the same. The war history around here is interesting and when we peered into the bunker we found that it made a nice swimming pool for the local wildlife.
Thanks The Cash Man

Neat Loaction - Nice walk in the bush to loacte.

Yeehah

Been waiting to do this one a lot of memories here used to come out here when I was young and lived at Wangi Wangi
Thanks Mick for the trip back in time Geotwins swapped dinosaurs for some plastic toy

This entry was edited by jonignite on Wednesday, 05 January 2011 at 03:30:37.

Grabbed this one down visiting my family for Xmas

Lived 5 minutes from here most my life and never knew about this bunker

TNLN

Tftc

Would have been a nice swim in the bunker full of water:)

We decided not to wade into the bunker. The Newcastle area contains some fascinating relics from the War. Thank you for taking us here and sharing the history with us. The track was a little rough in places due to recent rains. We'd recommend a high clearance 2 wheel drive or you'll have to walk. TFTC

Found after a great picnic at Rathmines, where we found another geocache, didn't know the bunker was there, had lots of help with second grandchild, Eagle-eye Matty

Water kept me out of the bunker, but an interesting peice of history. Cache was quickly found, signed and replaced before heading back to the car.

Thanks.

Very interesting place... totally full of water inside. So entry to bunker was not possible. Easy drivable access with the 4x4.

Couldn't find it as it was getting dark and we didn't have a 4x4 so was going to have to walk through the thick bush.

try again another day

Found it, water is still quite high though. Taking the pig somewhere else as he's been here for a while

Didn't bring wellies so couldn't cross the water that's accumulated from the heavy rains we have had. There's a construction site there too and they have a "Trespassers will be prosecuted" sign up (which we ignored anyway - naughty naughty) on a gate across the ent from wilson road. Will give the water some time to evaporate and go back (:

Interesting spot
Left signature marble
Took travel bug - will log later
Got shoes muddy getting there and back
SL
TFTC

Found pretty easily after a walk in from the parking spot. TN. Left the Sub Bug. Appropriate, as most of the work performed during the war was to find subs. TFTC

We walked down a muddy track and soon found the bunkers, a very odd looking construction in the area. The rifles were banging away nearby. Took a TB and left a TB but no other swaps. Thanks to The Cash Man for yet another good hide.

Had to walk don't have 4wd. Interesting area. Took TB left another. Took fuel drum left 8 ball keyring. TFTC

Found at 12:15pm after checking on our geo-boat it was off to do this cache. It was made a little easier as the road works are almost completed and we were able to pull off safely. It was a bit of a muddy walk to GZ. Soon located the cache and exchanged TB’s and swaps. It is a shame that the bunker had water in it as I love exploring these old installations. Like the other cacher today the area echoed with the sound of gunfire from the nearby range.

A Quick find with an even quicker retreat. It's a bit un-nerving standing around so near to the sound of all that gunfire, especially at a wartime relic.
TFTC
TNLN

Left most of the family parked on the main road while geo-son and I bush bashed to GZ in the rain. Thanks Cashman for taking us to a bit of hidden history even my (local) mother-in law had never heard of.

Because of the road works, it was a bit difficult to find the track.
Track was wet and slippery.
Finally we got to the bunker.
TFTC

Found this one fairly easily, just a short stroll from the main road. This structure was actually a semi-underground wireless receiving station. There were a number of them constructed down the east coast.

Easter day find. Happy little bunnies. Tftc!

3466.

The first cache of the afternoon around this side of the lake. I drove in under the powerlines and made a quick find. I then explored around the area for a while. I think you'll need a big set of waders to check out the area a bit more, either that or a pump for a few hours. Looking at the big concrete blocks on the way in the 4WD access may be cut off soon.

Thanks Cash Man for the cache and sharing the area.

TNLNSL

This was the Pie 4 Pi Event day we were heading to. Spikeymikey so generously and thoughtfully picked up myself and minichef for a day of caching and pie for which we both are indebted forever. It was a great day, with some good caches, a top event and a fun day out with a mate.

Thanks to the cashman for making this one a little challenging to get into. The rain made access tricky, and as usual it was our third try at getting in, which was originally the first attempt but was thought to be the wrong one, that got us there in the end. Would love to go back and check out the bunkers when it isn't raining. The Loop Around The Lake bike race made it fun, as it appeared our driver for the day was playing 'how many can I hit rather than avoid' game.

After a few false starts, and a lot of mud, we were able to drive right up to GZ, which made it easier for my co-cacher and (very, very poor) navigator for the day, TheHeadChef.
Would have liked to explore these bunkers, but full of water.
Maybe another day.
Took TB Jeep, TNLNSL TFTC

This was the Pie 4 Pi Event day we were heading to. Spikeymikey so generously and thoughtfully picked up myself and minichef for a day of caching and pie for which we both are indebted forever. It was a great day, with some good caches, a top event and a fun day out with a mate.

Thanks to the cashman for making this one a little challenging to get into. The rain made access tricky, and as usual it was our third try at getting in, which was originally the first attempt but was thought to be the wrong one, that got us there in the end. Would love to go back and check out the bunkers when it isn't raining. The Loop Around The Lake bike race made it fun, as it appeared our driver for the day was playing 'how many can I hit rather than avoid' game.

Found it after a good look around at the bunker. really awesome. GREAT spot.
T;N L:N
TFTC

Always love a great bunker! Amazing old site, would love to have explored inside, but the water probably helps keep the place isolated and that air of mystery around it. Thanks again Cashman.

Another piece of history by the Cashman. TFTC.

We decided to have a romantic Valentine's Day spent caching! Our Pajero had no trouble with the track so we made our way quickly up to the bunkers. Pretty amazing structure - but what were they protecting back here? We made sure we put the insect repellant on before we got out of the car to search for the cache. It wasn't long before we located the cache. Dropped off the GeoCooper TB and signed the log. TFTC

Found this afternoon while caching with brendan-m2. Thanks for bringing me to see this interesting piece of history

Found this one with Dodgy123. Great piece of history in this one, was very interesting to see. TFTC

Second and last stop for the day. Parked off the main road but could have easily driven to GZ. I though a stroll would clear my fuzzy head (not sure if anything would have helped this morning). Arrived at GZ after a pleasent stroll. Located the hide and then the mozzies arrived. I was swatting 3 at a time. Guess the water in the bunker now serves as a breeding ground for them. So while the bunker is not in use by the military any more it is still heavily defended. Great spot and a bonus FTF to boot. TNLNSL (and ran away quickly) TFTC Cashman. [FTF 20, C 421]

Photographs of the Bunker

Published