Xanthorrhoea Loop Tidbinbilla, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
By Agent Basil on 29-Aug-10. Waypoint GC2E7QD

We are heading up to Gibraltar Peak once again. We always enjoy this walk and we took a short detour to come and visit the Xanthorrhoea Loop. Having read the previous log, we came armed with a new logbook and plastic bag.However, the logbook is quite dry now and very usable and we have just replaced the bag. Its definitely okay to remove the needs Maintenance log. Beautiful rocks to sit on while we signed the log and some great views already below us. Thanks Agent Basil Domsky

Thank you Domsky ! Your blood is worth bottling !

The log book is wet and moldy and requires some TLC. Unfortunately, I didn't have a replacement.

A nice day to be out and about caching. Fascinating spot, TFTC

As part of the Gibraltar Rock Crew today, we all met at 10am and headed off. The day was mild, with the sun coming out at the right time and a small shower as we approached the carpark on the return.All caches that we targeted were found and we thank all CO's for the placement.

Find # 1234915/6/2024 14:52Caching adventures continue, plans were hatched, word got around, and with some trustee like-minded souls we assembled at the frosty start line - KittyKatch, Joolay, Fitzy, Minniek, FurfacesLL, Queenk8, and Akayem. Signing as GRC for Gibraltar Rocks Crew Always shenanigans in a group as you never quite know what might happen but its guaranteed to be fun!All caches located, retrieved, signed, and replaced.Thanks Agent Basil for Xanthorrhoea Loop

Lovely walk so far. Lots of cute wallabies.Have wanted to climb Gibraltar Rocks for ages love to be doing it today with the crew. Kittykatch, Queen K8te, aykayam, contesta, FFLL, MinnieK and Fitzy_1965 signing as GRC- Gibraltar Rocks Crew.Thanks for getting me out and about Agent Basil

Gibraltar Rocks CrewFound with Joolay, Queenk8, fitzy, minniek, FurfacesLL, contrsta and akayem. Logs signed as (GRC) Gibraltar Rocks Crew. First cache for the day before we started the climb. Thanks for the hide Agent Basil

Six of us met at Dalsetta Carpark at 10am this morning to walk up to Gibraltar Rocks and pick up geocaches in the area. We signed logs as "GRC" for Gibraltar Rocks Crew. It was a great 6.5 hours of walking and talking and climbing and searching and eating snacks from locations with great views!This was our first geocache for the day, and in a gorgeous location!Thanks for the cache, Agent Basil

I've always wanted to walk to Gibraltar Peak, so I was pleased to get the opportunity to tick off yet one more of my must do, but have not done yet items! With the disappointing news of an older, significant cache being listed for possible archive, an incentive to go.Today with AngelG we set off. A perfect walking day, being cloudy and the right temperature for a hike. The scenery as we walked was stunning, more so as we ascended higher. Lots of wildlife seen along the path and great conversation worthy to distract me from the challenge this walk was to be.I wasn't sure if I could make it, but had to try. Slow and steady, support from walking poles, determination and AngelG to see me there and safely back to the car. It wasn't without repercussion in the coming days, but I'm pleased I did it, and made it!This is a really lovely area, its been a pretty walk and a great spot here. The cache was found easily enough. Log was damp and moulding slightly but signable. Thanks for the cache to highlight this spot.

Cache # 11266 on 4 May 2024With the very disappointing news that several of the spindoctors earthcaches may be archived in the next month, Aquilus1 and I decided to head to Gibraltar Rocks to collect this one before it disappears. Today was a perfect day for hiking with cloud cover and cool temps so today was the day!! I had never walked up Gibraltar Rocks before so also excited to see them up close - amazing. Four caches for our efforts, as we decided to stick to the fire trail today - will come back for the others another day. First cache for the day. Was wondering if it was going to be there after no finds for few months, but it was found safely in its hiding spot. Log a bit damp, but managed to make our marks! Photo from near by attached. Thank you Agent Basil for the cache and the fun!

Great location! Lovely walk, thanks

Loved the location amongst the grass trees some of which have been recently burnt. TFTC.

Found at the end of a loop of Gibraltar rocks. The grass trees have just been burned and looked particularly stunning

Another cool summer's morning, perfect for grabbing some of the easier caches around Tidbinbilla's lower reaches. This cache was a straightforward find at GZ after a lovely walk along this loop. Thanks, Agent Basil.

Dropped off Mia san GIGA silber.

Accidental find. We weren't looking for this one but the adventurous 10yo spotted an odd rock

On our way back down the firetrail we did the Xanthorrhoea Loop and found this cache.
TFTC

On our way back down we decided to take the fire trail back and grab this cache. A much easier descent than ascent. We took a little bit of a detour to the site, bush-bashing our way through until stumbling upon the loop path and feeling a little silly.

Without the spoiler picture, this was a little tricky of a find as it is a good 5-10m away from the co-ords but we made the find and signed the log, with a small trade. TFTC!

I was going to return via the road, but went back on the track instead, so was going to miss this cache. Spotted the loop track on the way down so I went up and over the hill to get to this one. No reception for the spoiler pic, so decided to try my luck and quickly found the correct spot.

All good, and a nice spot. Thanks,

Super spot for geocaches

Thanks

Never been to Tidbinbilla for a walk before! Been here on a drive through for some caches a while ago. Today's only goal was doing the walk to Gibraltar peak with my daughter. She agreed on me doing a few caches, so of we went. Great walk, but very busy and lots of walkers that should not be there? Enjoyed all the views from the different locations, close to the track or not. Really enjoyed the play around the not so visited rock formations of Gibraltar Granite. Did a little detour on the way down.
TFTC Wilbert67

Oh no - workers on the track! Gerriactive found this one - I was too busy trying to figure out how to use the Geo App on my new phone - love the compass now just have to find the App - ha ha.

First find of the day with Silvereyes. Parked one car at the start of the track to here and left one at the Visitor Centre. This was an easy find. Co ords spot on. Workmen busy nearby. Not sure what they were working on. Thank you Agent Basil, this is a lovely area.

Last find on our walk back from Gibraltar Peaks, wow what a beautiful area

For something slightly different in Tidbinbilla I went for a rather meandering walk up and down the hills here in pursuit of geocaches that I had usually bypassed in favour of heading straight for Gibraltar peak.

Xanthorrhoea Loop:
Now I finally know what that curious prehistoric-looking grass is actually called!

Thanks for the cache!

My only find for the day after doing the new Gibraltar Peak walk. TFTC

**This Cache**

The first find of the day! After parking at Turkey Hill we set off onto the Gibraltar Peak walking trail. A quick diversion to Xanthorrhoea Forest to grab this cache which was found quickly. A great little spot and start of the day!

Thanks Agent Basil!

---

**The Day:**

Myself and DSD planned a huge day out to Tidbinbilla to find as many caches as we could! An early start leaving Canberra at 7am, grabbing some food along the way and walking out to the first cache to make a find at 8:30am.

We clocked up 40,000 steps, which was 30km of walking over 9 hours! We also managed to walk on parts of 11 out of the 20 trails within the nature reserve, and didn't have a single DNF which was quite amazing given the amount of unloved, and previous DNF's a couple of the caches had!

An awesome day was had, with perfect weather and lots of fun along the way!

Found with three muggle friends on the way back to the car after climbing Gibraltar peak. I think we had a little bit too much fun seeing faces in the Xanthorrhoea. I have always called the things ‘Blackboys’, obviously not very PC. I’m glad I now know their true name! See Xanthi and I below
Thanks

Rocks and spikes

#8045 @1320
Along with others from the Canberra Bushwalking Club, led by JohhnyBoyACT, we walked up to Devil's Gap, then climbed the pinnacle for Just for the Views #6. We ere then heading for the Gibraltar Gully caches, but one of our group broke her ankle. While others carried her down to Corin road, I walked/puffed/ran back over Devil's Gap to the car park and drove around. That put an end to the walk for the day, but after shuttling folk back around to the cars at Devil's Gap, Fox in Jox and I (and a muggle) stopped for a few side trips. A pleasant walk up to here and a quick find. Great views. TFTC.

Joined the Canberra Bushwalking Club's Tidbinbilla (T)romp walk, led by JohnnyBoyACT, with TikvaNZ, IamCoust and nine other walkers. We walked up the Devils Gap Fire Trail to the SE rim of the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, then ascended The Pyramid. Then the trek got cut short, with one of the walkers slipping on a steep firetrail and breaking her ankle.

Once all recovery activities were done, TikvaNZ, a muggle fried and I returned to the Nature Reserve carpark to pick up a few additional caches. We walked up to the Loop. 20m from the sign, I said that I had always wondered what the correct name for these Grass Trees was. TikvaNZ suggested I read about this cache at the sign. Doh! At GZ, TikvaNZ came up with the goods. TFTC Agent Basil

Strolled down to this from Gibraltar Peak, where we enjoyed the entire rocky outcrop to ourselves, while feasting on fried eggs and bacon (I took my little camp stove with me). It was quite a cool morning but we had the best of the weather, as when we got to the grass trees it was starting to turn bitter. Lovely spot here, and after a bit of a circular about, we had the cache in hand. Tested out my new caching stamp, a birthday gift from my husband. Couldn't write the date on the log, as neither my pen, nor the one in the cache wanted to work. TFTC.

Had to make a quick stop on the way upwards on the meander to put my name on this logbook, first to do so since mid last year in fact. All the Xanthorrhoea plants looked quite interesting after the control burns in the area , obviously designed for such conditions! A beautiful spot to sit and another Tidbinbilla gem in the Agent Basil domain. TFTC

I drove all the way out here because I needed an "X" cache for my alphabet, but was told at the visitor centre that the trail was closed due to fungus. Hopefully I'll have a chance at it later in the year or next year...

Found this one today after returning from Gibraltar peak. We also didn't realise that the loop was closed ... But now that makes sense as I did notice the barricade, although it was nowhere near the entrance to the loop? Beautiful spot. Love the picnic table one the top of the nearby hill, will have to come back. Also found a crisp brand new $20 note in the open within a meter of GZ ... So I did my cache in, trash out part and took it with me. TFTC

Great Canberra day after -3 frost
TFTC

We swung past this one on the way down from Gibraltar rocks. Made the find without any issues and then headed back out. Pagan decided to check the barricade sign that had been blown over in the wind and realised that the loop is currently closed due to a fungal outbreak in the grass trees - oops. Loved all the grass trees in the area although in hindsight some did look a bit worse for wear. Thanks Agent Basil

A lovely view and a good Geocache to take the Geokiddies to.

The Jr Cachehunters three and I bimbled up to take in the loop after a pleasant lunch at the adventure playground, which was amazingly quiet.

Loads of ants all along the path, but the Kunzea was in full lower which was a sight.

I explain to the Jr Cachehunters three what a Xanthorrhoea is and they were pretty impressed.

A quick find, I signed the log while the obligatory toy swaps were made.

TFTC.

Picked up a few on a lovely walk in Tidbinbilla today with JohnnyBoyACT. TFTC.

A Canberra Bushwalking Club “Yet More Gentle Geocaching at TNR” walk. A new partner in crime, ChifleyGrrrl logged her first caches. Mixed results today, although my inability to read geocaching instructions remains constant. Well done, cachers and muggles. Lovely views from the top of Gibraltar Peak. Trip report at http://www.johnevans.id.au/wp/?p=5392 . TFTC.

Nice walk amongst the grass trees. Took the travel slug Australian Penny and left a little book on Australian wildlife to be taken by an overseas visitor to remind them of their visit here.

The plan for the day was to visit Mt Eliza, Gibraltar Peak and Mushroom rock and bag the caches, plus a few others on the way. Alas I had to postpone going to Mushroom Rock to-day as Basil’s Tidbinbilla Meander Multi put me in a differing direction for the final point. A nice pleasant day with lots of emus, roos and a wild cat. Collected the Owl TB. TFTC.

Found on the way coming down from Gibraltar Peak. Phew,, what a hike! Dropped an Owl TB I was hanging on to for a while. TFTC.

Perfect way to spend Easter Sunday (especially one with such grogeous weather). We missed this one thanks to a phone GPS that didn't want to work last time we were here, so glad to finally grab it. Lovely location. TFTC.

Took fighter plane badge, left matchbox car.

Tyfc. Great day to be out.

tftc, would like to go a bit deeper into a hike next time i'm here to find the rest

Took a little detour from AB's Gibraltar Meander to grab this one. Missed it on my last Meander through this pretty area. I loved those trees! So unique! Found the cache without any problems. Sat and enjoyed the area for a few minutes before continuing on my way. Thank you for bringing me here Agent Basil. I probably wouldn't have taken this trail if it wasn't for the cache. I love the diversity that Tidbinbilla holds!

Sunday 3 February 2013 - a mid afternoon walk to Gibralter Peak on a very warm summer's day with a cool breeze off the mountains. This was an enjoyable detour for what was a 2.9km walk up, up and up to the peak - BTW wait until winter to undertake this climb ). Dropped off BlueCaddy's "MotherArt". Thx p2p, TFTC.

Great spot nice views, good company. What more could a cacher want. The geo-juniors enjoyed hunting this one out.

Out with Jmanjezza, Noikmeister and the juniors on a lovely cold morning.

Third find of the day, strolling around the loop. Another lovely spot, with some great views over to the snowy peaks.

TFTC!

This was a cache I bypassed with the tired relatives when we did the Gibraltar Peak meander. So today the other tripped to the BB and then we all found this one. Cache was completely filled with water due to the last finder putting it back upside down. Dried out a bit and the log was dry in its bag, so you can probably mark this one as OK.

Thanks AB

Wasn't expecting this little forest here! Unfortunately could not finish the Gibraltar Rock expedition today having botched the start of Basil's Meander and leaving geo-midget's water in the car. It just was not meant to be. This little loop soothed the heartache. Thanks AB

TFTC

Nice walk among dozen of kangaroos. TFTC!

Great little loop, and the trees are interesting 9mm yr! TFTC.

Our first of 10 finds for the day at the Tidbinbilla Event, this one with MtnLioness, BatGirl and mtrax, on our way to the nice easy Eliza Elixa...ha,ha,ha.

Found in a small group today.
Love these Black Boys, they're my fave tree.
Easy enough cache and lovely place to put one!!

Found it with many others during the Tidbinbilla Holiday Event. TFTC.

My third for the day with mr_roo, Cadda76 and Toyhunters and this is one fantastic location with the grass trees near GZ. Once there mr_roo came up with the cache within a couple of minutes. Thanks AB for the cache.

6th of 9 today at the Tidbinbilla event. Went caching with Jusojara, Mr_roo and Cadda76. A nice walk up the hill, and after a bit of searching, Mr_roo had it in hand. Then spotted some other cachers down at the picnic table. Nice views. TNLN. Thanks Agent Basil!

first of the day, and another to add to my Tid. cache finds, we originally weren't headed for this one as we had Eliza on our mind but only a short detour, and I glad we did as we certainly didn't bank on Eliza being so tough.
Any way got a group photo of the find during the days event.

First stop of the day during the Tidbinbilla Caching Event. A nice easy stroll to get us warmed up for what lay ahead. Group find with MtnLioness, OneHippieChick, mtrax, CorvettePete and a couple from Germany.

Another cache done today with jusojara, cadda76 and toyhunters. This one we just fitted in before meeting everyone for the lunch barbie. Found quickly nice view TFTC

Such a nice location for a cache. Toy Hunters, jusojara, Mr Roo and I found this one just before heading for lunch with other event attendees. There were some lovely views here.

TFTC Agent Basil

Found in a large group on the Tid event. TFTC

A pleasant stroll to GZ enjoying the wildlife followed by a quick find. TFTC

great day out the other week with Flinestone's!

Off for a stroll with Mad Moggy who convinced me that this would be a good thing to do. We found this cache with a tail sticking out of it. Mad Moggy was convinced it was a snake. I was convinced that it wasn't, so I got to get the cache out.
Thanks Agent Basil!

What a beautiful, beautiful morning for geocaching. I'm glad you took me to this spot Agent Basil

We decided to get the cache on the walk down the Rocks, and it was a great way to compare the two views.

We probably made the mistake of coming at the cache from the wrong direction, so there was much scrambling over rocks and fighting with native flora. Prickly little things! After finding it, we were like lizards, lying in the sun.

The temptation to dig up an Xanthorrhoea to take home was high, but better minds prevailed.

Thanks for the cache Agent Basil, so many more to find!

We went up on the Gibraltar Rocks trail today together with Northwestlee and so this was the first cache on our walk. Beautiful spot in the grass tree garden. Northwestlee found this one very quick once we where at GZ. This is Northwestlee's first find and cache and a very worthy one as such.
TFTC Agent Basil. OUT:two pins IN: bracelet+ forgot

This entry was edited by Flintstone's on Sunday, 13 November 2011 at 14:01:29 UTC.

A nice little stop to admire the xanthorrhoea. Pity they were not in bloom I would have liked to see what the tasted like. Now on ward and only up ward to the next cache. TFTC

Loving the Xanthorrheoa! Found with Ozzemuke tftc

Nice hike to a surprising place! It took a while for
us to find the container (no spoiler available). TFTC.

Found while out on a caching run through the Tidbinbilla area with fitzy_1965 (and finally logging it !!).

Great area Tidbinbilla - I just love coming out this way.

Thanks for the Cache !

Found & grabbed TB.
TFTC

3860 + 188 = 4048. A lovely morning finding some caches in Tidbinbilla with ACBC66....

Second find of the day after a nice little walk up to GZ - thanks again Agent Basil !!

TN Left TB - TFTC !!

Cheers....

Found it with the family on a birthday walk for mr bam! Great cache TFTC

A nice stopping point on the way up the hill and already the views are quite spectacular - to say nothing of these plants. What a phenomenal spot - thanks for bringing us here. This was also the second cache of the day for Nadia, and her second cache find ever. Brilliant! No swaps but took out the TB to move it along. TFTC

Now these are definitely more interesting that your average plant - TFTC!

Very nice location. We actually came back hear for lunch 7 days later. TFTC

Found with Choccobamacca & Antiquarius
nice short waddle up the hill

Cheers for the hide!

Second of three caches for the day. Wet and windy when we tackled this one but the view at the top was worth it. We'll come back to visit again when the weather's a bit better I think. TFTC

We used Xanthorrhoea as a turn off point for Eliza.
The day had been hot so we had spent some time down in the Sanctuary and started up here as the heat went off the day.
The heat didn't.
Boy! was it hot on top of the lookout rock.

From here we could see where we were headed.

The second cache of the day for us. We enjoyed the walk over the lush green hills and guessed the general hiding area pretty quickly. It took us a while to finally spot the cache and we were under the watchful eyes of a roo nearby all the time. TFTC and TNLN!

4001 today, and a lovely short walk and rocky rest stop for coffee and biccies. I love grass trees and the bonus today was all the other wildflowers out in flower making a great display - stackhousia, hibbertia, prickly hakeas and more. I don't know why more people don't get out here for these caches - the walks are not long or difficult, and the views are magnificent. Thanks Basil!

Another great spot out in this great park........

The walk up was good and the views from GZ very worthwhile. And of course, then out comes morning tea. What could be better in life......a great day a for walk, great views and a cuppa to enjoy it all by. Very good.

Thanks Basil, another top location.

Wandered by here chasing a few caches over the years, usually going past and up over the hills.

Cache is well served by the views, unique location and fauna. Nabbed in the company of Winglen and SolDeLune on a days caching in the area. Very pleased to capture some shots of the Xanthorrhoea in flower, unique to me and no doubt others.

Thanks for the cache.

Well, this was created less than 24 hours since my last visit around the loop, so it took a few weeks to return and go around again. A wonderful location though, with many beaut wildflowers now growing amongst the Xanthorrhoea. Saw kangaroos, emus and a very hungry kite or hawk in the neighbourhood. Dipped our Bushfire Appeal Geocoin in and out for a visit. TFTC

Fantastic day for a walk up here! Ran into WombatFlat family at GZ! Was nice to meet up with you! Saved my hunting for the cache too! They were heading up further, but I headed back down! Have been up there a number of times! Great spot, thanks Agent Basil!

First of six today out in the Tidbinbilla area. Lovely old grass trees in the area and pleasant views. Just as we (Geo-family) found the cache Tankengine arrived. Had an informative yarn with him and received a Tankengine GC...VMT. Left Wombat and took Platypus Thong keyring.

2045+128=2173 with Captain Tomato

A really lovely spot with the "blackboys". Also wandered over to nearby Wallaby Rocks to see the caves - sensitive cultural historical area - pity, would have made a good cache hide.

Found with SecretSquirrel-BJC.

Nice area and a good set of coords thanks AB.

Reperio at 1335. Met up with Darwinian today for some caching, and the day was just too good to let it get away, so we decided to change our plans and head for Gibraltar Rocks. Not the first time I've found a cache near or around these fine specimens, but is the first time I've seen so many in one spot. Once at GZ, we expected to have to search around a bit to locate the cache, but I must have chosen the right entry point as I spotted it straight away. A fantastic walk...and with a nice day, beautiful landscape.

Great spot AB.

Gratias.

We decided to plan a trip to gibrolta, and looked for this one on the way. Not to far off the track, said hi to some roos on the way. Thanks

Coooeeee, a *FTF*. I had booked this afternoon many weeks ago for my 50++++ doctor checkup, so after I was given the all clear, off I went for a beautiful ride/walk on a sunny day at 16º, beautiful. Lots of kangaroos lazing in the sun, a deserted TNR, a pristine cache found without the pic. Then I just admired the views from the rock, looked at the expanse of these grass trees below, then just ambled back, ahh, lovely. left the foxy path tag there for STF. Thanks Agent Basil.

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