Secret Waterhole (Nelson/Marlborough) Wakefield, South Island, New Zealand
By Southward4 on 05-Sep-10. Waypoint GC2EKT1

Not much of a track here but I did get to the waters edge. It definitely is pretty apart from the vicious sandflies. I think I spent about 30 minutes looking and then finding the cache. Once I established where the GPS wanted me to be it was just a matter of getting through the bush ... it felt more than 5m from the trail entry. I'd say its an easy 10m. I'm guessing that perhaps in the past there was a more direct route to GZ.

I had come prepared but discovered my container was short on capacity. No sign of the white item in Hint 1 but I did find a brown item that would help. So it was back through the bush and down the track to the waters edge with both containers ... I needed both of them too! Got the cache, signed the log and left the brown container for the next person although it is a bit small. Thanks Southward4 ... a stunning location. Have a favourite point.

As we were up this way collecting a new cache, we decided to find the rest of the caches we hadn't yet retrieved in the area. Considering the content of the last few logs, we found this one resonably quickly, the GPS leading us straight to it. A handy receptacle was then used to retrieve the cache. Log signed and replaced as found and we were off again. tftc

Was looking forward to this one, but no luck today.

Tregearp and I searched for about 30 minutes. Similar to the previous finder - no sign of Hint 1 object, but we though Hint 2 gave us enough to work with. Suspect we must have walked over it several times. We'll be back another day

Success after probably 40 min.. Couldn't find hint 1 so carried on with a search of hint 2 and after a while found it... With some improvisation had cache in hand.. Awesome cache... Than x4tc

Couldn't even find the object mentioned. Hope it's still there after such a long time. Great location though.

The Seagnoid has a caching mission of two this weekend so the Team (The Seagnoid, Zara, Toby and I head to Brightwater, Nelson to complete his mission. After P&Gs this morning recharging Tobys battery for a couple of hours its time to explore further. After exploring Spooners Tunnel we are back on track and heading to Wairoa Valley.
Toby and I are having fun driving up this road. Down, round, up and over with a bit of a bush bash until The Seagnoid finally locates GZ. I have experienced one of these before but this one fails to work so an alternative was required. Tagged finally and hopefully will work for others. Cheers these cache types are fun.

Taybeedragon and I came over last night. Something went wrong and Toby woke up this morning with a flat battery, so instead of the original plan we cached around town doing park-and-grabs, leaving Toby's engine running each time. Wel just went to the Spooner tunnel caches (awesome place) and Toby survived being switched off there, so now it is back to plan A - the Wairoa Valley. Loving this road.

A bit of a random bush bash to get to the cache. An earlier log talked about a side track to the cache, but we could not find it - it is all fully overgrown now. The cache was a bit stuck, and the corrrect method of extraction did not work. but with a bit of cleverness on the dragons part she managed to free it. Hopefully it will now be free for the next person.
Interesting thing near the cache. At first I thought it was a thing-what-I-don't-know-what-is, but the dragon thought it might be an ex flying fox frame. I think I agree. We looked across the river, trying to spy the frame at the other end, but no such luck.

After the rain of the past day or so I was determined to get out and about for a while today. So I loaded Master B and Miss N (reluctantly) into the car for an explore along the Wairoa Gorge - where we had never ventured before.

After navigating a few water filled potholes and other debris washed downhill in the recent rain we arrived at the bridge mentioned in the description and parked up allowing just enough room for the logging truck, which appeared from nowhere, to pass.

We quickly found what looked like the little path and followed this down to the main waterhole. Seeing no direct route to the suggested GZ, Miss N and I backtracked and saw another small path leading off into the bush. As we pushed our way through I saw a utensil that I though might come in handy later on. As I went to pick that up, Miss N spotted the item mentioned in hint 2.

Only when I started to use the Hint 1 item did Miss N notice a small 'trick' in the pipe by which time we had run out of water. So off we went for a refill, picking up a handy bottle to fill as a reserve.

Having scrambled and slipped down the rock to refill the utensils, I scrambled and slipped back up the rock to where Miss N was patiently waiting for me to return. Once we were both in position, we were able to make a quick grab and sign the log.

This was the first cache of this type we have found and it certainly made us smile.

Thanks +1FP

#615

Nice quick find and had the required liquid to get the container.

SL TFTC

On a geocaching holiday with tmann421 seeking out caches at the top of the South Island. Thanks to all the CO's for making this such a memorable trip.

Another good hide here.

TFTC

What a lovely location. We went down to have a look at the waterhole then realised we would need to back track to GZ. Didn't take long to find the cache and as we had the "tools" with us, we were soon signing the log book. Looks like the "white container" isn't up to the job these days, so just as well we had all we needed with us.
Thanks for the effort with the hide and for bringing us to this secret spot. TFTC.

#8750. We were impressed by a number of waterholes along the Wairoa. Went to look at the river, then realized we had to backtrack a bit to get to GZ, and found a side track to follow. We were soon at GZ, adn the cache was winkled out soon after. TFTC.

great water hole - but the water is mighty cold today. had loaded this onto my GPS before I was a premium member so had no clue or description to go by - so it took a bit of finding - makes a whole lot of sense now that I have read the clues etc tftc

Came well prepared for this one, always fun.

TFTC

Clever. Really enjoyed this one. The white container still does the job - just. It might need replacing at some point. Get's a favourite from me. TFTC!!

How clever. My first water challenge. Got support from Isis 58 for this. Tftc

It helps when one goes out caching with cachers who have all the necessary tools. TFTC

TFTC very interesting cach. So far the most imaginative. Excellent [:0]

What a great hide, well done. TFTC

Secret waterhole. He he he. Oh. Did I say, it must have rained in the night. There were puddles on the road. TFTC

Nice sunny warm day today but I don't think the water would be the same. Quick find without the use of hints TFTC

#975

This entry was edited by paddle chick on Saturday, 10 August 2013 at 09:53:54 UTC.

A great looking hole but really not the time of the year to be testing the waters. Quickly completed the required task but the slippery rocks added to the challenge.

Another one down of Day 4 of the 31days of Geocaching.

TFTC

[:d] coordinate tracking out, after a good look found it.

Well this lovely little secret place is no secret anymore (to me at least)! Looked very inviting today. Replaced the log but not sure how long it will stay dry. TFTC #4591

While returning from scout zone camp just around the corner thought I should grab this. Logbook still very wet and in need of replacement.

As we were about to get out of the car we realised we needed water for this cache, fortunately we had some in the car. Cache soon in hand but log is sodden, we were able to make a mark with an ink pen but the log needs replacing. TFTC.

We had an itch and had to scratch it. Grandson would be navigator and off we went. Second find this year [?] I suppose we're as guilty as the next one. It's out of the way and although Holymu was faintly familiar with the area I've never been there. The coords were spot on and we sorta knew what to expect. Our special equipment didn't quiet make the grade but ingenuity saved the day. The log was sodden but serviceable so we made our mark. Unfortunately there was no time to dry it and we didn't bring our kit today Great cache, loved it. A fav. TFTC

Very nice swimming hole indeed! Knew what sort of cache it would be, and was prepared. Cache itself is damp and needs maintenance. Cheers Gav [10356]

Wow! Been swimming up here millions of times as a kid, but never took on this spot. Gorgeous (but still cold i'm told). Cache was great, had heard of one of these but never seen one in the flesh. I spent a while looking under rocks before Wifenuts worked out what it was all about. It took Jess's nibble fingers to finish the deal.

The log book was soaked/moldy/fell apart when we touched it so couldn't sign the log sadly. Might need a few one... or perhaps that is just the way with this variety of cache? Favourite point for you!

Love these ones require alittle more than most water hole a bit cold for me though tftc log was very wet .

Nice spot, and nice cache good to see

Started to wonder what i was missing for this one but then it all became apparent. Was a bit of a laugh clambering along the rocks as they were slippery and i wasnt fancying a swim at this time. Soon collected required materials and had cache in hand Cache log was wet but managed to sign but i did not have any spares with me in this trips so i was unable to replace
TFTC and the method of hide made a pleasant change

A great looking swimming hole - but way to cold in the slight drizzle to think of swimming - Sent Stretch0 for the required equipment (well he does have the longer legs !!) we did the required and soon had the cache in hand - didn't think we would be able to sign very wet log but it seemed to be written on well enough thanks for something out of the ordinary all the way out here !! Enjoyed the cache

I've done 2 like this before, so it's getting a bit familiar now - nice to have a tool close to hand to help out with this one, a good addition All quickly found and resolved, many thanks

Beautiful spot; and my friend was very impressed with the cache too!

Great spot. We found the cache then had to go back to the car for the camera. Noone near the site but we did have to take care on the road as cars came down the road rather fast. Thanks

The kids loved this one. TFTC.

A very secret spot and a great cache hide. After the dog had a quick swim we continued on our way. TFTC

Nice one! One of my favourite types of cache this. Very cool. TFTC, Biggles.

Good stuff. Thanks for the effort you put in to making this cache.

FTF on the bike? Great day to be out. Should collect carbon credits off all the other cachers! Awesome cache, watch out for the bits of dead blackberry.

What a cool cach.. not a bad spot ether.
Boys had it sorted in no time.

Have done this type of cache before.When coming back down the valley there was a car parked near the cache and had me thinking is that another cacher or not

This entry was edited by bullertrout on Saturday, 18 September 2010 at 23:03:22.

It took me quite a while to find the cache holder. After that it was a very cautious visit to the creek and then an easy find.
I highly recommend Taniwha Levitation if you're ever in Hamilton.
The river was very swift today but I can see that it might be a nice swimming spot when the flow reduces.
TFTC

After 10mins of hunting around found the cache great idea for cache good spot. thanks

great clever cache loved it
Thank you for making the effort putting this cache out.
TFTC

events & pastimes bring us around here often, so knew where I was heading. GPS worked for me, coords zeroed out right at cache. Then it was just the issue of the water bottle in the car too small....got it eventually, helped by a peice of blackberry stem ! good cache

ftf. had to drive past on the way to work.how could i resist. tftc

Much easier today. Followed the clear geotrail that ended in a totally crushed fern and tadaaah - STF. Not sure how I kept walking past that half a dozen times yesterday, but then I was taking the old hint too literally. New hint will have people looking for the right thing, and if they're quick the trail won't recover in time At least I knew I wasn't first as soon as I got there TFTC.

It'll have to be a secret a while longer, 'cause even with the hints and an hour of looking, I couldn't come up with the goods. Had a nice relaxing time - wish I hadn't come out in work gear... I looked pretty much out of place.... at least it kept the low flying aircraft away from the skin.

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