Maori Lakes ( South Canterbury ) Hakatere, South Island, New Zealand
By Bitsprayer on 27-Dec-10. Waypoint GC2KQQM

Very very wet able to write on - TFTC

Such a beautiful place! Log book was frozen and I didnt have my geocache maintenance kit to replace the plastic bag. Thank you for the cache!

Found, log wet. Suggest screw top container and new plastic bag. Lovely place though. TtFTC

Requires screw top container and new plastic bag- sorry ran out. Wet log

I headed out today on a little recon for a potential trip up Mount Taylor. I stopped for a few caches on the drive from Christchurch and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery. Now the focus of the recon trip was to confirm the drive and hiking trail to Mount Taylor which is the current home to the highest geocache on the South Island. I had an awesome day on the trail and would like to thank all the COs for doing an amazing job of placing and maintaining their geocaches. TFTH and fun!

Still there, not many logs recently

This took a few minutes to locate as there were many hint objects nearby. The log is wet but we were able to sign. TFTC Bitsprayer.

Day exploring Ashburton Lakes.
Bright day
Logbook very wet

Collected this cache with one of Trifolia Argentea on the way to an ambitious hike attempt of Mt Taylor. Saw quite a few birds on these pretty little lakes! TFTC

Made a stop here with Ilmari_the_Red on the way to Lake Heron and Double Hut. An idyllic spot with plenty of avian life. A quick find. TFTC!

Was staying at Lake Heron Station for a surprise birthday getaway so got out and grabbed some caches while we were here. What an amazing part of NZ! Found with Conbat. TFTC!

Out mountain biking and caching with Ice Diva
A quick find on the way back out.
TftC

O Tu Wharekai, so a great spot for an early lunch! TFTC!!

Very scenic spot.Collected cache while walking Te Araroa. Hint item is no longer alive.Tftc

First cache of 2021 yay
To day we have 32 km in front of us to our pick up Pont for the river hazard zone.
It a beautiful day for walking and I wouldn't want to be any where else.
The best way to start 2021 on the Te Araroa just having a ball and making new friends and seeing all nz has to offer.
It was another epic day on trail.
Just loving it.

Finally I am back on the main land , feels good to back in the south island.
Living life one foot steep at a time as i walk from cape reinga to bluff and caching my way home as I walk the
Te Araroa and discover the hidden treasures new Zealand has to offer.
From the beachs of the north to the forest and lakes and the odd bump of the south
Blùff here i come
Thanks for the hide

tftc

What a beautiful lake, it was our favourite for the day! We could see lots of birds, the sign was interesting as well. Easy find, both container and logbook were in good condition, thanks for placing this here!

TFTC

Found it, took a while to find.

#1147. I've been walking the Te Araroa trail since the end of September and this is day 141. This cache is the 73rd cache I've found along the way.

I had read the hint before arriving at GZ and so once I got there I was able to simply waltz on over to the cache and grab it without even looking at the GPS. A nice very easy find thanks!

Thanks for the cache! [Here's a link to my Te Araroa blog entry for today](http://teararoa.g2.co.nz/2020/03/13/day-141-manuka-hut-to-potts-river/) for anyone interested!

Found this on our TA thru-hike, day 112. We were thinking of camping here last night- glad we didn't, as it is VERY windy here this morning!

Tftc!

Windy here today, matagouri certainly are a feature of this landscape.

Quick find but very windy here today

I thought it might be fun to head out towards Lake Heron today.

I just love these bushes - NOT.

Cheers for the cache.

We'd come up this way to try for a FTF on the new cache at Manuka Hut. Sadly it was a DNF instead.
The next part of the plan was try for a few other caches around Lake Heron, then camp up for the night and do a spot of fishing. It was nice camping here, though the fishing resulted in another DNF
Those caches we *did* find, such as this one, we signed BRN (Bo& bronnie, Rincewind3, and NotManlyJack). Even the ones Bo found years ago!
This was a quick park and grab on the way home (& our second find of about 15 on the way).
TFTC Bitsprayer
Find # 3712

found cache with paddle chick

Sir Belac and I walked into Manuka Hut yesterday for the night, took longer than it should have to find, the grass had well and truly covered the hint item. Thanks Bitsprayer

#8612

Nice park and grab find

After spending the weekend up the Cameron Valley we stopped on the way home for me to grab this cache. Quite a few black swans present.

Up for a Mad Monday Mission and had an itch to go for a bike ride. We planned to come out this way last week but we were twarted by a snow storm. The FTFs fell that were up this way yesterday but the the idea to go MTBing in the dark in the hills by a lake was too good to miss. TG picked me up just before 7pm and we headed for the hills. We hit the caches before 9pm and parked up at the track head and got back to the vehicle just after 10pm. We biked 7.5km in the howling wind and it was cold. We got back home after 12am and clocked up 340km to boot. Great night out.
This was the first stop for the evening and we were careful around GZ as there were a lot of used toilet paper blowing in the wind. We were glad the tourist bombs weren't nerar the cache! Quick find. We both rugged up before getting out of the car for the next cache.

Thanks for the cache Bitsprayer.
#5368

More later

Mad Monday Night Mission with TheWanglers. We had an itch for a night bikeride around the newish caches that had been placed around Lake Heron - we had been foiled last week due to bad weather (snow!), so here we were tonight. It started out mild and calm but by the time we got out hereit was blowing a rather cold gale. Ah well - still rather fun! First stop here on the drive in to the Heron carpark. Loo paper all over the show so was a delicate search until we spied the rock/cache. Canada geese honking up a storm over in the lake (although too dark by no to see anything!)....

Found with StreetWalker on an Easter weekend trip to the Mt Somers area, and beyond.
We weren't sure if we had time to make the detour to Lake Heron. so left it for the way back. Really pleased we did have the time as it was a lovely drive. There was a car parked at the lake, but they left not long after we arrived. Once SW reached GZ and realised where the cache was, he called for me to bring over the walking pole for probing duties, but by the time I got there with said pole, he had already retrieved the cache. Lovely lake, thanks for bringing me here.

#15398. The bushes at GZ looked nasty to search, but I spotted a stone under one that was quite easy to get at, and retrieved the cache unscathed. TFTC.

Heading off for a fishing trip up at the Ashburton Lakes, Caching along the way TFTC

Our second day staying at Lake Clearwater. We decided to head up to Lake Heron & grab a few caches up that way. This one was indeed a quick park & grab on the way. TFTC

TFTC. Great weekend getaway at Manuka Hut

AI was visiting the Hakatere area for work, so took the opportunity to pick up a few of the caches around the nearby lakes. Easy find on an overcast calm morning, with lots of low cloud around - very quiet and peaceful. Great spot for a cache. *TFTC Bitsprayer #161*

A nice walk from the camp ground

Jdscout and I are off on a campervan adventure. We are staying at Lake Heron. I have not been there before.
There were a couple of hikers near here who were walking the length of the South Island. They started in November and plan to finish in March.
Find out more about New Zealand's next big event [Oamaru Geofest](http://oamarugeofest2017.wixsite.com/geocachingevent)

Thanks. Bitsprayer for putting in the effort to hide this geocache. This was find 4644 for me.

A quick drive by. TFTC Lft TB

TFTC quick find on way out of lake Heron.

Afternoon caching. Cloudy but no rain.

Out with team Macdonald and grandchildren doing day caching thanks to co

Had forgotten to put gas in the car when we left town so After grabbing a few around lake clearwater this was as far as we could go today but we will be back to carry on right up to lake heron to get the ones around there. tftc found with chiko1

A small diversion on the way back home, might as well grab them. Flash house on the hill! Cheers

We didn,t go to Lake Heron last visit up this way. Today we did, and it is another lovely area. A quick stop and grab from the spikey guardian. Cheers.

I was planning a wee raid to Ashvegas today, then noticed 3 new puzzles up Lake Clearwater way. A quick change of plan, and a text to Kiwi Moose checking on his keenness, and we were off, to a glorious part of the country.

Had a great day, and found plenty to keep us busy.

Thanks to the CO's for the hides. Cheers.

#1501 12:30

Found with no problem, very nice surroundings. What a wonderful place!
Quick grab, unfortunately we didn't enjoy Lake Heron itself, because of heavy rain.

Thank you for the cache and greetings from two Czechs!

Quick find

Meant to log this a while ago and forgot to get round to it! Quick find with Caiktin & Geomum
TFTC! (Sorry about the generic logging)

On a 4WD trip so had the opportunity to grab this one. TFTC

Grabbed on the way up the valley. The road deffo needed degraded. Cheers for this one

Stopped with Jillymc while passing. Interesting info board here . Thanks

Easy find, stopped here for a quick coffee and a paddle to cool off after a hot 4WD trip. TFTC.

An easy find whilst on our adventure to Lake Heron. Cache dry and in good condition.
- plastic soldier
+ tube handcream

Found it with "FrenchSuperTrampNiko" on our hiking Te ARAROA trail
TFTC!:)

after a trip up to lake Clearwater to attempt you walk on(frozen) water to the island , unfortunately the nor wester had other ideas and the ice was thawing out , so I had to get my fix for the day so a quick detour for a quick grab tftc

Nice stop on the road to lake heron. Tftc

We were going tramping nearby, but the car park had enough cars to fill the hut several times over, so we decided to stay elsewhere and went for a wee drive to fill out the afternoon and found this cche while out and about. The weather was pretty wild and windy here.
Cheers and thanks,
S.t.

On the way here came very close to rear ending an Escape tourist van stopped on a corner. Foggy morning too. Be careful out there people. Eerie feel to the lake right now. Hope the sun comes out soon!

Easy find on way back from Lake Heron. Cache intact. TFTC

Tftc

on our way into lake Heron for the weekend.TFTC. Cheers Bo

Found with my wife to be Sonia26642

13/11/2014 07:49PM
# 5282
We were off to start walking the track to Double Hut, as we were gonna go make an attempt on Mt Taylor in the morning.

I did still need my cache for the day though, and though there was one at the hut, I didn't want to risk it, and find out there wasn't one afterall as it was missing or something! Wouldn't be a nice way to break the streak.

So stopped on by, and had to wait for the GPS to get signal, so walked around in circles for a bit, and then once it was finally settled, made the find very easily and quickly. Awesome as.

Consec caching day # 738

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For more info on the next NZ mega event, and to register, go to:
coord.info/gc587bc or www.nzmega2015.com

Lots of swans on the lake today. Quick find in this lovely spot.

This entry was edited by TwoSharpe on Saturday, 05 April 2014 at 06:29:00 UTC.

On our way to Lake Heron, TFTC.

Found it while having a short stop on my way to Lake Heron. Lots of swans on that little lake that day. TFTC

Nice easy find on the way home from staying at Double Hut overnight. Lovely place. Gorgeous day - really warm with high cloud.
TNLN

Nice easy find today. Thanks

TFTC SL Beautiful day for a drive. Good place to add a fish to the cache !

This entry was edited by Pollyf on Thursday, 15 August 2013 at 05:01:28 UTC.

Maybe if I hadn't taken so long to decide where I wanted to cache today as part of my Mother's Day treats we might have had longer here to look at the swans and the view. As it was we had time for only a quick stop here before driving back into Ashburton.
Alastair was my helper on this cache and retrieved it from it's hidding spot. Husband was busy getting Benjamin out of the car as he was insistint that he would not miss out on any of todays adventure.
I had thought of stopping for the cache in the Ashburton gorge but by the time we got there B was already asleep and it was decided to leave it till another day.
So it ended up being a very interesting drive into unknowen territory on a day when the sky couldn't have been clearer. I even made the older boys turn their portable DVD player off and look out the window. There was some very interesting rock formations but by the end of the day the sun was disappearing fast and I had drained the camera battery and filled the memory on my iPod so although I said it was a oncer trip I think I might just have to come back out this way another day.
Thanks for the cache/s. Four for the day, all placed by none other than Bitsprayer.

Quick found while walking my 133rd day of Te Araroa Trail.

A quick grab with Flynnsworth and Bill the Muggle en route to Lake Heron. We had a cast or two at Maori Lake without success but were kept entertained by a little stoat that popped up and proceeded to jump and run about the place. I know they're supposed to be nasty little creatures and a danger to wildlife but, being from Oz, I've never seen one before and this one looked so cute. Many thanks Bitsprayer.

What a magic spot. A very pleasant day fishing at Maori Lakes on the way to fish at Lake Heron with Bristlehound & Muggle Bill. TNLN TFTC SL

Found on the way to Lake Heron for a bike ride. Stunning day and spectacular scenery. Orchids in flower and lots of bird life on the lakes

Nice treasure discovered by the roadside as I traveled towards Lake Heron.

A quick find on our way through to Lake Heron. Thanks

No swans today, no-one around. Beautiful Canterbury day as I went to see Lake Heron (long overdue, seeing my moniker is Kotuku!).
Aother lovely Bitsprayer cache. TFTC.

A beautiful spot! Didn't expect to see the huge amount of swans and cygnets. TFTC SL

Found uncovered,but all is good now.Had to be Stealthy as Muggles were closeby,looking out over the Lake.TFTC

TFTC

Fortunately an easy find as it was incredibly hot! Headed straight to Lake Heron for a paddle.
TFTC!

I know we weren't going anywhere, is this anywhere, well another for the Nuvi 3760T. This is #2

Nice area.

Nice quick drive by on my way to Lake Heron

Quick find on the way to the Lake Emily track. TFTC

Quick detour on the way to Lake Clearwater. Easy find. Unfortunately got a puncture on our way back so decided we better not do any more unsealed roads as we couldn't risk a second puncture.

Nice spot

A quick easy find, despite the prickly nature of the hiding place.
TFTC
Part of EAG Forum Quest - Letter M

All I know about the Moari Lakes it has BIG EELS in it and the bottom is very soft so wading is not advisable. TFTC

This entry was edited by La Vista on Thursday, 27 January 2011 at 03:29:04.

Quick find on way to the Lake Heron caches, very windy day too. Left a wee 10 pin bowling pin. SL. TFTC.

A nice quick stop in a very picturesque area. Cheers Gav [7099]

A lovely spot - visited on a bit of a deviation whilst heading south to visit the cache owner.
Awesome scenery.

The start of an awesome detour.

3481. We ducked in to pick up this cache but had promised to only be 10 minutes so couldn't keep going for the caches at Lake Heron. Even though this was only a quick detour we enjoyed the find. (That's what happens when you go out with the whole family!)
Thanks
Iris & Rodney

After a day of LOTR tourguiding at Edoras (Mt Potts), we took the road to Lake Heron. It was hot and windy, with rain on the western hills, and white-caps on all the lakes. With a little help from a young friend (Jase the Ace), we easily located this cache.
After getting three FTFs for the other Lake Heron caches, my question is why didn't ecogeek and Co, who were FTF on this cache on the 1st day of the year, go get FTF on the other three? I'm glad they didn't, so I could get 3 FTF two days later.
Many thanks and cheers from Grandalf(1870)

Found with Geogeek2 and great to find it on such a pleasant first day of the year.

A lovely spot for a cache, found with Econut. Nice to log a first find for this cache on 1/1/11.

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