Transformers - More Than Meets The Eye (Franklin) Pukekohe, North Island, New Zealand
By stretch.kerr on 25-Apr-11. Waypoint GC2NQ7K

We have been enjoying searching for these transformers each time we come to Pukekohe, however two more now have missing numbers. Hoping to find out if this cache is still solvable, and having since seen the last maintenance log, if it is still findable.

This geocacher reported that there is a problem with this cache.

Some transformers have been repainted. Others are missing their numbers. GZ has changed. I no longer geocache.

Thanks to everyone that had a go.

Made a detour to Pukekohe today on our way to the Waikato for Queen's Birthday weekend. Over the years we have spent hours on this epic field puzzle, and were pretty pleased with ourselves (in 2020?) when we finally had all the locations found and the final coords in hand. But by then the cache had gone missing and the area around GZ appeared to be a hangout for kids. Took another look today on our way past and the area no longer looks to be frequented, so we decided to put in a replacement cache given that the CO is no longer caching. We know there are others like ourselves who have put a lot into doing this cache, and it would be a shame to archive this one. Replaced as per the hint, GL.

May need owner check up please!
2 years since a find .

Came here to complete this one...but the cache seems to have disappeared .
The bank by the second tree has collapsed a bit...
...

This took an awful lot of hit and miss with the driving round to find these. Some really good artwork to see and I love the concept of painting them. Not the easiest puzzle to complete. Tftc

Pazza2, Jag50 and I headed South Auckland way to find a few caches. It's not til you start looking for them that you realise how many transformers there are on urban streets! We found a lot we didn't need (but still had pretty cool artwork on them) but thankfully also found the ones we did need and after doing some calculations we headed to a spot and made a quick find of the cache.

Headed South with Merlot and Pazza today for a caching trip on the shortest day of the year. As we drove around Pukekohe we stopped at every power box, examining the artwork and looking for the required information. After a marathon effort, we soon had some numbers that looked like they would be a good place to hide a cache. Once at the final GZ, the cache was quickly located with the help of the hint.

Finally got back to locate the final cache which we had all but done a long while ago, when the final was awol. Good to see it is back. We too had to calculate one or two of the waypoints, but by a process of logic and elimination we did it! Good fun.

We have been to Pukekohe several times before and counted Transformers while touring the streets. From the 2 trips (one was cut short as night time desended) we had found 12 out of the 16 art works. As we were heading back down this way we were determined to finish this one off; I sat down the night before and figured out with what we had a good location which seemed to fit.

This morning at Pukekohe we visited another cache first and came across one further transformer and then visited another that we had also figured out the position of; the two extra numbers seemed to confirm the location worked out the night before. At GZ I didn't have the absolute final coordinates and took slightly the wrong approach to the hint items but after a short hunt came up with the goods. This is another great puzzle by the CO and is a shame he is not putting them out still. TFTC.

Find number 4706. I have been working on this one for some time. I managed to get the coords some months ago . My first visit back to the area so stopped by and made the find. Thank you for the placement.

I was with the team HRP & I was the trannie spotter.

Had ago before with this puzzle but no go.
Today we were in Pukekohe with Squirrel Nut ,Fap and Gap and EyespyBen so we teamed up and drove around and around around the streets.
Some beautiful Art work on the transformers.Also a lot of work to make this puzzle up.
Time was ticking on,so we had to come back home.
Sunday morning got up to some news and away we went to get our reward.
It will get a favourite from as.
Well done to the CO and A Big Thanks

After our return from Auckland and with 2 puzzles not quite solved we decided to burn the midnight oil and see what we could do. I think 2am we got a text to confirm our answer.
The other one came up with a stab at possible answer which proved to be aprox 80 metres out, so armed with the hint we went looking. We then received further intel and after a very long search finally found it.
Great to collect these 2 plus another lonely cache to complete our day. SLTFTC

With Gap (of Fap and Gap) and our Huntly friends; ABCDF4 and eyespyben...

This puzzle was a real mission. This is our second attempt, and I would be discouraged to report how many hours we have spent in this town. I have a feeling I have an intimate knowledge of the area, having driven most central streets many times...

We spent most of yesterday driving the streets of Pukekohe again, looking for the listed 'Trannies’. We managed to find most of them, but needed some help to find the more obscure... Our maths didn't add up. We ended up with a couple of options that proved to be too troublesome to narrow down, especially as it was getting dark. We decided to retreat and flick off some help-desk requests.

We received a lot of information overnight, and a definite confirmation that we had the final nailed. We were mad keen to see the back end of this one, so decided to make a flying visit into Pukekohe to knock this bugger off. As suspected, the cache was missing. It seems that a childish construction has formed around ground zone - hence, the possibility that the cache has gone. We had permission to replace this one, so dutifully positioned this at the foot. It is with a feeling of relief that we claim this hide. We did not find one Trannie, but almost all of the puzzle is still workable... TFTP and TFTC.

Stinks

Visiting family in the area so had a few pairs of eyes helping. Busy area but not hard to find. TFTC

Wow. Fantastic puzzle! My wife and I had an excellent time driving around Pukekohe, looking for and photographing transformers.

In the end we found them all except for the known missing ones (Chickens, Kids1, Bamboo, House1). We then managed to come up with the range of possible numbers for Bamboo and House1 and with a bit of guesswork solved the puzzle. Yay!

Unfortunately after several searches of GZ we didn't come up with anything to show for it - disappointing! I've emailed the CO for clues, and am waiting for a reply.

We've circled Pukekohe many times (we have family in the area) and have found most of the numbers. Problems we've come across preventing us from finding the final:
* Kids2 only has 2 numbers
* Bamboo & House1 are missing (just saw the last two logs!)

There are many more painted transformers around the area now. I have really enjoyed finding the pictured ones so far, and would love it if you had time to re-jig your puzzle to replace the missing transformers with new ones. Totally understand if it's too much of a mission.

Great idea for a cache!

Have been hunting for transformers with KiwiPeats on and off for the last few months. We were unable to find two but with a bit of help from Neatad we were able to locate House1 (it's been repainted) and on checking the puzzle realised there were only 3 possible numbers for Bamboo. It took a few attempts but we finally got the right co-ordinates. Yay!!! We were unable to find the cache but had a fun time finding the transformers, so thanks for the puzzle, and we'll look again another day.

Solved the puzzle with help from Carolyn (fencarrows). There are two transformer's that are unmarked

1. Bamboo - this has been replaced with a new one (it got blown up in the big lightning storm about 6 mths ago)

2. House 1 has been repainted but still has a number

Unfortunately did not find cache. Didn't want to spend too long at GZ it seems to be the local drug ghetto so would recommend day time caching only.

I have eyed the cache since I first started as it was one of those question marks locally. So for some time the kids and I have kept our eyes open and had a pretty good idea where to find them. So the sun was shining today and I was motivated by the need of some higher difficulty caches in order to complete my Provisional Caching License, so off we went. Used technology that wasn't that great ie left the GPS at home and had to use my phone to try and navigate to the final. For this techo novice that was probably the greatest challenge of the day. Loved this cache has to rate right up there. Thanks so much for a well thought out cache. A big smile as there are not many stretch.kerr puzzles I will ever solve.

Certainly know Pukekohe a lot better after doing this cache! Found all but one transformer and with some magical maths by Team Welsh we calculated some decent coordinates. Thankfully a green tick in the online checker first attempt.

Made our way to GZ but couldn't find the cache, even after a PAF. Then CO came back with some vital info that enabled us to locate the cache. Well it had fallen and become somewhat covered.... Replaced as it was meant to be and walked away delighted with this smiley.

TFTPC and Tour de Puke.

Found the original piece of paper that had some of the numbers on it and when we had a look at the date it was printed it was '2011' so once again another stretch puzzle that has been on our 'really want to knock this off' list. Out and about with avoyager today and although we couldn't locate one of the transformers a bit of logical maths put us in a pretty good position and the evince checker agreed with us. Woohoo, despite being unable to locate the cache at first we discovered that it had moved downwards from its intended hiding place. Replaced where we believe it should be and covered well. Many thanks for another puzzle that we are very happy to get signed off. Another fav point from us here.

Found orginally as part of phasevisitor team, now created own account, re-logging as yorkshirekiwi83.

We were in Pukekohe a few weeks ago and, armed with a street map of the town, spent the afternoon making our way around all of the streets in a systematic manner, slowly spotting the transformers we needed! By the end of the day we had found all but one of the transformers! While picking up a few caches in town as we went, we noticed that Vamber had also been in town on the same day. After a chance meeting with them at a cache recently, we chatted to them about this cache and compared notes and it turned out they had found the transformer we missed and we had found the couple that they needed! We were briefly in Pukekohe this morning, so we called in to pick up this cache - which was found after a short search at GZ.

Thanks for a fun cache - finding each transformer came with the same feeling of fulfilment that finding a cache does, although trying to find that last transformer and failing was also very frustrating! A favourite point added!

PS - the transformer at "Kids2" is missing one of the numbers. Someone has written a replacement number by hand, but this appears to differ from the original number.

This entry was edited by yorkshirekiwi83 on Thursday, 19 June 2014 at 06:46:27 UTC.

We were in Pukekohe a few weeks ago and, armed with a street map of the town, spent the afternoon making our way around all of the streets in a systematic manner, slowly spotting the transformers we needed! By the end of the day we had found all but one of the transformers! While picking up a few caches in town as we went, we noticed that Vamber had also been in town on the same day. After a chance meeting with them at a cache recently, we chatted to them about this cache and compared notes and it turned out they had found the transformer we missed and we had found the couple that they needed! We were briefly in Pukekohe this morning, so we called in to pick up this cache - which was found after a short search at GZ.

Thanks for a fun cache - finding each transformer came with the same feeling of fulfilment that finding a cache does, although trying to find that last transformer and failing was also very frustrating! A favourite point added!

PS - the transformer at "Kids2" is missing one of the numbers. Someone has written a replacement number by hand, but this appears to differ from the original number.

Yay! This one has been a long going project. As we are in the area fairly often, we thought we would be best to just collect the numbers a little bit at a time, whenever were caching nearby. However, a year later, we were still short by the a few elusive painted transformers. Luckily, we ran into Phasevisitor who mentioned that there were also working on this puzzle and asked if we could compare numbers, just to make sure we matched! Thanks! Eventually got the green tick on geochecker, and were finally able to grab the smiley for this fun puzzle! Loved the idea, and we had heaps of fun with this one! We had the family keeping their eyes peeled all over Pukekohe for these transformers! Thanks for the fun puzzle cache!

****UPDATE: "Kids1" Transformer is no longer numbered, so use 201****

This took a series of weekends and a few tips from PickleNZ and TOE.B.

Kids 1 doesn't have a number on it anymore but I managed to get close to GZ. Another good tip got me right there.

Tftc. This was a great one. I now know Pukekohe way better!

Rather than look for them all at once we have been keeping our eye out for the transformers while we have been out and about. With all found but the numbers missing one and after some help from the owner we finally solved the problems and found the cache today.

TFTC and the challenge

Find #197

****UPDATE: "Chickens" Transformer is no longer numbered, so use 202****

Back in Pukekohe today cleaning up new and unfound caches since our last visit. Each time we have made a visit, we continued to add a few more transformers to the found list. Today, we had 10 transformers to find to complete this cache. With a little help from the c/o on a few of the locations, we were able to find all 10. We also needed abit of help to get the numbers from one of the transformers as the digits were removed.
Once we had the final coords, we parked up and made the short walk towards GZ. I had abit of a search around where I thought the cache might be and miss carried on towards a more likely looking spot. She called out to come over and take a look when i heard her get a massive fright. The c/o was hiding in the bushes waiting for our arrival. We still took a few minutes to locate the well hidden cache much to stretch's amusement. Good to catch up with you again mate! Thanks for the cache and for the drive all around Pukekohe!

Oh shame. Spent 4 hours driving around Pukekohe (which we now know a LOT better!) only to get stumped at GZ. Juniors were well & truly ready to go home by the time we left, defeated.

Wahoooo!!! Kyle891 and myself found all transformers but one, but we still managed to deduce the final. Very cool idea and a fun hunt too. Apparently they are painting ones in Papakura too...

So after a good few trips to Pukekohe searching around the area collecting numbers, we finally got everything we needed to go get the final. Great little puzzle.
TFTC

What an epic journey today, many hours spent driving ALL over Pukekohe, we found all except 1 and were busy making some calculations to see if we could come up with the final and along comes YuGeo4 after a bit of a chat and sharing they gave us a clue for the last transformer, very easily missed, final worked out and we're off, spent a bit of time searching GZ and came up empty.

After a while of searching we heard the clunk of a door closing, and shortly thereafter Mr Yugeo4 appeared. His keen eye soon spotted it (well cammoed). We both signed the log book and headed back to the vehicles only to run in to the cache owner...Stretch. A nice chat was had.

Excellent cache Stretch, Thanks very much, and very nice to meet fellow cachers in the field.

6933 Great fun outing in Puke discovering some impressive urban outdoor artwork, managed to find all the required transformers and then some in 2.5hrs, helps when one member of the team is familiar with the town. Vegies took us the longest to find… even though we had seen it before on a previous visit.

Bumped into M.C.C during the course of our great hunt with three to go… and then caught up with them at the final. Had arranged to meet the C.O. afterwards to drop off a well earn 7+ a day FTF prize. Well done on a cool concept Simon, we looking forward to the next instalment, you just have to love those transformed transformers. Great also to catch up with M.C.C again, thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended, TFTC

Found an error in the equations. sorting now. Back online shortly.

Equations for E and F sorted. My apologies. If you're sure you have the correct coords, but the Evince check rejects you, email me your working and answer and I'll take a look.

FTF number 12 for us and a joint one with the youngest ones of Teamhoward5.
Must admit I had some help from Teamhoward5 who were spotters for the power boxs while I tried not to run into the cars in front. Local knowledge helped again with this one.
Once we had the co ords correct it was off to GZ with the gang in tow. Again it took us all to find this cache but after a long search it was in hand and signed.
The whole excercise has taken most of the day and boy we were ........STRETCHED.......again.
TFTC........they just get harder.

Joint FTF with thejaybees. A most-of-the-day effort helped along by the fact that we'd spent a lot of last Friday driving aimlessly around Pukekohe trying to occupy the kids by going to various places of interest, and many pictures were recognised as a result of that outing. A real team effort, I'll be glad to get some work done tomorrow, as there was none done today while we hunted. TFTC.

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