4x4 #2 - Views from Sugarloaf Fosterville, Victoria, Australia
By tigersden on 02-Apr-11. Waypoint GC2RBBR

well, we were mistakenon the walk up mount sugarloaf, we were perplexed by a soundnot the twittering birdsnot the blaring drone of the dirt bikesbut a softer, more underlying soundrhythmicthumpingbassechoing through the forest like a booming drum beathear that?we thought he had solved it:a trainsome big freight-laden locomotive lugging shipping containers to or from a portbut we couldn't see the long colorful convoy of carriages flicking past in the countryside belowand besides, the maps showed no railway line in the vicinitysowe came to a different conclusioncome here yourselvesclick your engines offand see if you reach the same one

TFTC! A interesting hide!

TFTC

Today we explored Bendigo and surrounds using geocaching as a guide.We enjoyed travelling through the countryside and visiting new, to us, locations.We found a variety of hides with varying degrees of difficulty.We continued onto this one and made a quick find at GZ.Many thanks to all CO's for your cache placement.

Visiting Bendigo for a 50th Birthday Bash tonight and thought we would spend this great day out with @The4WDShed grabbing some caches. Nice drive in this area to grab these ones. TFTC

In Bendigo for the weekend for a freinds 50th birthday so it gave us a chance to get and about exploring the local area with @Smithiesoutbackgear to knock of some caches.
This caches definitely put a smile on my face, although not being in the normal 4wd that we take caching (35s lifted and twin locked) it certainly upped the level of driver skills required not to damage the daily. Happy to report it made it through with only minor damage to a side step
Tftc

Continuing on from #1 we discussed the option of having to turn back if the track got too bad. We then came across a steep and washed out section of track. Geoteen was surprised when I got out and started walking but she soon joined me & I could explain what I was looking at and how I intended to tackle it. Once back in the Geopajero we executed the plan and safely got down. This was a nice leg stretch but the cache was lying in the open. A quick walk back to the Geopajero to see what other fear-inducing fears were in store! Many thanks

Tftc

Found it

Yes Track was a little bit slippery Had to get the winch out Geo Mrs says don’t be a silk and take the hard road

April 14, 2022 11:38 AM

So after finding #1 I was all pumped up to continue my journey south to collect the last three caches in this series. I jump back in the geomobile then I see the track and come to the conclusion that this requires a 4wd way more ruggedly equipped than what my geomobile is currently in. So I choose to walk to find this cache instead and drive back out the way I came in. The other two caches can wait for another day. Who knows , I might even give you a bell and we can do them together? Thx for this one anyway tigersden, terrific fun up here today.

We decided to head up to do this as we had done one before in our city Jeep 4WD however thought there is no way we are gonna go that down the mountain….. so fast forward a few months and now have a 3 week old Wildtrak and Geohubby wanted to give it a go, let’s just say I was crapping myself and he was loving it TFTC

Found a while ago but couldn't log it! Thank you!

Ahhh, finished the available 4x4 series and only terrified myself once. Glad i drive an old vehicle for which i have no respect. Thanks for the whole adventure!

Found ️
Great view of my husbands work!

Contents was wet and we couldn't log in the booklet.

Just a short drive up from the 1/2 one in this series this one in particular was a great find, nice little hiding location, not overly obvious, it's around this specific area of the track that things start getting difficult, it started to become less about the geocaching and more about making sure I could get to the next location intact.

But after finding this one and logging out names we moved on to the next one.

What an absolutely fabulous view from Sugarloaf.

Great fun finding with the family.

Np&Mb

Day 1 of weekend roadtrip to Echuca following lockdown laws changing so able to do overnight camping. Can't believe it has been almost 12 months! Fortunate with amazing weather all weekend.

Up here I remembered a 'On top of Fosterville for the seriously insane' - to see now archived. What a shame to see this one guy, would have liked to have seen the notorious track!

Another good hide. Thanks for the cace. Thanks for the views.

Took the opportunity to catch up with Micaparamedic which was great as this is not somewhere I would have been happy going with only one vehicle. What a great area this is up here.
Thanks for the cache and bringing us here.

Up in micaparamedics stomping ground so had the chance to catch up with him. Pleased we did as this terrain is better to have two cars than one, not that the second car was needed this trip. Great views. Thanks for the cache and bringing us here.

12:18 pm #9568
When micaparamedic realised we were in the area today, he arranged to meet up with us even though he’d already done these caches. Always better to have two vehicles in terrain like this. Amazing views from up here!
Thanks for placing and maintaining this cache, tigersden

If you don’t have a 4x4 do NOT attempt to drive here

Walking through 4WD tracks definitely takes a bit of time! The terrain rating is worth it though for me. Audiobook turned on and it turned into a great day! Thanks for this series

Day 9 of our epic trek to the St Arnaud Mega via Geelong and return via wherever the caches are.
The constant was my travel companion for the entire trip, - Anymules but we were joined by other cachers in our travels.

With the Mega event finished we continued caching around Bendigo where we were based for a few days. The GPS died yesterday so let's try some phone caching.

Time for the cruiser to earn some cuedos. Negotiated this section with ease. Quick find a GZ.

Thanks for the cache.

*Found with [Geooh GO](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobiltal.geoohGO)*

Now this one I used 4X4 to get to. A fun little drive.

Thanks for the cache tigersden.
Found on 19/11/19 at 11:29 am.
Find #10077.

I have had my eyes on this little group of caches for quite a while. I put out the call to Na'wal, who was more than happy to join me. This was a great area to let the 4WD stretch it's legs as well. Thanks for showing us this picturesque area.

Once again, good co-ords made for a quick find. We were a bit weary of putting our hands in the rocks, but it was all good. TFTC tigersden

When DAB mentioned about this small area of caches, I jumped at the chance to be able to get out here and explore a bit of this area. It was great to be here and good to get the geo wheels off into the dirt and gravel.

This cache was a quick one for us today with the co-ords spot on. A few spots for snakes to hide, I'm sure they must love this area.

**Thanks to tigersden for placing this cache for us to find and enjoy**

Beautiful. Thanking you. Xx

We found this one today as we headed out towards Fosterville to pick up a couple caches on a very wet and damp day. The Geonavara decided that the track approach from the north after #1 in this series was not to its liking so we ended up walking up to the cache in some wet and wild and very windy weather. The find today was was a quick walk in and grab. From there it was back to the Geonavara and a drive around to start on the Smiley face series. TFTC from the inspectorrexteam

We did not get to this one today as we had some minor 4WD issues, that caused us some embarrassment before we could get to this one (bloody hub locks it helps if you lock them in) on the way here and a big thank you to the Land Cruiser driver that pulled us out of our predicament prior to getting the hub locked in. We will be back to collect this one and #2 in this 4X4 drive by series. From the Inspectorrexream.

Bit of a climb had to send Jarrod found but no pen.

Today, my son and I decided to discover Mount Sugarloaf whilst on our way to Ballarat from Violet Town for an overnight with family muggles there before heading off to the Avalon airshow for tomorrow. We drove the geocar as far as the previous cache to the north and soon realised that any further down (or is that up?) the Sugarloaf Track in our AWD with no low-range could be a tad risky. So a short journey on foot to another remote geocache was soon undertaken. The caches today were found dry and in good condition. A nice view of the gold mine below from up here. Very hot day today at ~36°C. TFTC, tigersden, and for bringing us to an interesting area today.
#863

We've gotten the hell out of Dodge, . . . err Melbourne, as the place goes crazy about watching other people be active. Bendigo was the destination as we aimed for a number of Challenge caches we currently qualify for. These nearby 4x4 themed caches couldn't be ignored even if we have the 'Town Tyres' on; let's see how far we get!

A couple of spots getting here where we had to be careful in where we palced our spot town tyres; otherwise nothing too difficult. (geoP might disagree)

TNLN SL TFTC

Having had our eye on this run of caches for a while with work shifting north it was time after work and with the long summer day light hours to make the finds plus the evening it’s cooler than some of the hot days we have been having. Not having a 4x4 by a car with decent clearance it surprising how far you can get with a bit of moment plus a study of the tracks to try from various ends including getting very close to the T4.5 hide. A good trip across the top with no one else around. TFTC.

I was up here scouting out the trig, so continued my journey and grabbed this one.
TFTC.

TFTC - lovely drive and walk in the bush with the family on a Spring Sunday morning!

Very late logging this cache but oh well that is life
Chof_hoe gave me a call and said do I want to go for a drive to Mt Sugarloaf for some 4wding and caching
I said why not, but where the heck is Mt Sugarloaf
So I meet him and his trusty side kick Morty at their place and off for a Sunday drive we went
This is the third one we found and another spectacular view as well
Quite a few bikes around and going by the side tracks it must be a fun place to ride
Thanks tigersden for bringing me up here TFTC

Posums and I went for an adventure through the Mount Sugarloaf Nature Conservation Reserve today in our trusty 4WDs, along with my trusty partner and caching sidekick. We signed as chof_pos.

We passed quite a few motorbikes around here. It looks like there is a fair bit of single track around here, and plenty of people out enjoying them.

TFTC tigersden!

A great morning 4X4ing around Mt Sugarloaf track good fun
TFTC

Lot of water in the cache, could do with a washer. Managed to sign the log but not sure this will last. Nice spot. TFTC

The log book is very damp and will need replacing.

Meeting up with McLookers and downhillracer at Par4X4 , they ditched their geomobile and joined us for a 4X4 adventure along Sugarloaf Mountain. Working our way through the caches we enjoyed the fun rocky roads and the views they afforded us.
Thanks tigersden for placing these caches in a great spot .

More fabulous views here. We found the cache in the open. The log book was in the cache hidey hole but it was very wet. We did not have another log book with us so unfortunately we needed to put the damp log book into the sealed cache. This one will need some attention.

What a hot day! We were worried about snakes but saw a bearded dragon
Thanks for the cache

Geo kids happy to be the ones to find this after climbing around on some rocks

This was my third cache found along this dirt road for 4WDs only. Since I only have a 2WD I traveled by foot, approaching from the north. Despite being summer, today was a much cooler day, though sunny and very pleasant. Loved the walk to get here, loved the views from Sugarloaf, and I was rewarded with another nice large container at GZ. Thanks for the journey and the cache tigersden!

I was talking to micaparamedic at the MEGA about some of the 4x4 caches in the bendigo area that I needed for my D/T Matrix. He gave me a call a view days later to go and do these caches. I don't have much experience 4w driving, so mica drove

I really enjoyed the experience and really enjoyed the views



Thank you tigersden we had a great day out

found with Ghihash

Tftc. Had to walk to this one from #1 found with natey88

Found @1050 glad for a cool morning . Great views .SLTN

a nice easy find today while out 4 wheel driving. signed the log and on our way again.

Continued down the road to this one, parked and then climbed up the rest of the hill. Once I was at the top I saw that the road continued right up to the top so I could have saved myself a short climb - but I really need the exercise! Anyway, once at the top this one was a quick find. Thanks to tigersden for this one.

Tftc great view cheers

found it.
TFTC

[:(!] After the mediate family reunion, I went for a late morning, early afternoon caching run and this was one of them, parked the geocar as close as possible to GZ and walked in from there, on arrival at GZ the cache was located and it was in hand in a matter of minutes.

I like it

Another one of the list

TNLNSL TFTC/TFTH/TFBMH Tigersden [^]

Nice one.
Tftc

Found this cache by accident on holidays in Bendigo! We decided we would check out some old gold mines & see if we could find gold! No luck with the gold but found this cache instead!

Found

My fifth find for the day. Walked in from the north as I didn't have the clearance on my 4x4.

Took a slinky and left a rubber mouse.

Thanks for the cache.

Nice easy find thanks

That last stretch was fun, looks like someone has clipped the tree on the rock corner. Left hedgehog tb. Thanks

Found it

Tracks remind me I never want to go serious 4x4 driving. TFTC

Found with DoorMatt, we decided to do this track while i still had my brothers 4X4. TFTC

Found with ronnienash, a quick find once we got to it. TFTC.

Slowly finding these caches up here which I have flown by on a few occasions on two wheels, it's hard to convince the people who I go riding with to stop and grab a cache when they are crazy and don't enjoy the search! So I pace myself and convince them to have a little rest while I " just go 300 meters away" , haha snuck two caches in before they came looking for me thinking I had fallen off into a mine shaft! TFTC will slowly get all the caches up here!!!

#4599 We continued along our way on this 4x4 track which was quite an enjoyable drive. There are some large rocks in the track and the trees alongside the track bear the scars of a hit or two. Once again Mt Sugarloaf offered some nice views of the area, this time overlooking a working quarry. Another larger container in good condition was in hand after the SPOR was spotted. Our thanks to tigersden for the cache and 4x4 fun. Cheers [^]

Out and about at large with Slink1 on a on a planned caching run.
An afternoon of caching enjoyment was had by our little group, and a
vote of thanks to Belleakelea for the effort and placement of the
caches. TNLN SL TFTC.

In the area with Dunko on a on a planned caching run.
Bikes deployed where needed, Walking when appropriate, drive by where
possible. A big day of caching enjoyment was had by both of us, and a
vote of thanks to tigersden for the effort and placement of the
caches. TNLN SL TFTC.

Wow, Tfth tnln

Once I had parked the geomobile just below the trig point and climbed up to the trig, the next cache was only a short ridge top ramble on foot
I got to enjoy the views from Sugarloaf for longer that way and stir up a few kangaroos into the bargain
Now to the subject of peaceful surrounds
If the sound of the rock crusher at the gold mine rumbling away is peaceful then someone needs a hearing aid
The rock crusher does add a certain ambiance to the scene and provides a reminder of what riches lie beneath your feet (or tyres)
TFTC and views....

Found this today with bogonghazy, after finishing off the Milestone challenges. Came from North to South, and my baby (GeoPrado) did me proud. Great views from up here, thanks for placing this one tigersden.

Found today after doing the Milestone Challenges with Sully1.
This was a real test for her Prado, with the deep corrugations, wheel ruts, and boulders on the track.
I certainly felt relaxed in her capable hands, but also deep down was glad it wasn't wet.
Some terrific views to be had, and some nice little treks uphill to see them.
Thanks again tigersden

Quick find again after the walk, and saw a rock wallaby bound away here

More bumpy travelling, but a nice quick find. Thanks for the cache.

Found 15:40, in the company of Muzza, after a brief search.

TNLN, CSI=2 thanks tigersden.

A mildly warm day and beautiful bushland enhanced our enjoyment, we ventured on to this cache and gave the Toyota a bit of a run which helped us to utilize our low gear lever which we had to have regreased in Pt Macquarie. No problem with the trail today but it would not be so nice on a wet day. Found the cache without any problem after a bit of a walk from where we parked the car.
Nice work thanks to tigersden.

out for the weekend with INKLE to do the Axedale,
4x4,s smiley face and Bendigo area.
Left butterfly and saw
tftc

out with taz-bud
easy find tftc
left dragonfly and leaf

Found at the end of our 'Smiley Face Adventure' with RedCentreDazza - thought we would show him a thing or two about Central Vic geocaching.

Tracked along the ridge line to get this one. Last of this series for us today. Headed home. May get back to finish a few more off before I leave bendigo on this visit. TFTC

It ended up being a pretty big caching day today with a 200 km drive from the Mornington Peninsula up to the eastern Bendigo region, namely around Wellsford, Forestville and Mount Sugarloaf. My main aim for the day was to reach my 5000th cache find, and hopefully finding the 'Milestone Challenge - 5000 Finds' cache as number 5000. Once the challenge caches were done it was off to Mount Sugarloaf for some 4X4 action before meeting up with my TDC compadre Trailrunning as we spent a few hours and tackled the 'Smiley face' series of caches.

Once we had completed that it was back to Melbourne to join up with the third TDC member Blacklegend with whome we had some dinner with before setting of again and caching on into the night. I had a great day and did find my 5000th cache, and some.

With most of the challenge caches I could do here done I decided to start the 4X4 series of caches and the other trads in the area. I didn't have any intention of going all the way but eventually did and managed to find all the caches along the way before spending a bit of time driving around trying to find my way out onto a main road so I could meet TR for the Smiley face series.

The track certainly got a bit tougher to negotiate along the way to the next few caches but with the Pathy in 4X4 low, and some careful and slow navigation around some pretty deep ruts and over some rough and rocky ground, we meandered our way along and found the caches at each point.

The mine below was sure making a lot of noise too. Thanks tigersden, lots of fun had here.

Found with Stooy and Aveen, There are some deep shafts around here. Thanks for a great trail, we had a fun time.

we had some much fun finding this cache.

We found this one after becoming sidetracked by several deep mineshafts nearby, they looked deep!!

I had to abandon the Subaru and do the rest of this mini series on foot. I don't have the ground clearance that the big boys have. So I hoofed it all the way along the ridge. Anything a 4x4 can do, I can do on foot, or that's what I kept telling myself. It was worth nearly killing myself just for the views.
Thanks tigersden for the exercise.
This is a memorable cache for me.......my 800th.

We aren't lovers of 4x4ing, especially in this kind of terrain but this wasn't any worse than the last time we were here and the views are great. Pretty impressed with the guys that did these at night - not for the faint hearted. TFTC

The Coffee's picked this one up today.
Thanks for the cache tigersden
Regards The Coffee's

Found in the pitch dark on a 'day' trip with Ogrebeast!! TFTC!!!

done in the dead of night TFTC

Nice TFTC

another great view and some nice terrain on the way up, cheers. took radio, left slinky and spider.

Found with DazRascal on our way home after a great weekend caching in Bendigo.

Mrs H and Daz headed up the hill to find this cache, and both checked out what we thought was an obvious spot for it, however it was the OTHER obvious spot! LOL!

We both checked out the operations below as we signed the log!
An impressive area - many thanks again to Tigersden for highlighting the area.
TNLN SL - Cheers!

Made the short climb up here with Mrs H for the search. Gps was pointing at a fallen tree and I was too focused searching it when Mrs H pointed to the very obvious hiding place behind me. Sometimes it pays to put down the pointer box and use your eyes
Was surprised at how much noise we could hear coming from the gold mine down below , looked a long way off but could hear it quite clearly.

TNLN TFTC, Cheers.

This log marks the 1379th smiley to be recorded in the stats of WazzaAndWenches.

The Wenchette headed off to the Big Smoke on a school trip so I packed the Wench into the car and off we went caching for the day...

A little bit of scrambling for traction on the loose surface but we still go through ok. Parked nearby then a 40m uphill walk to GZ for a very obvious hiding spot.

Thanks tigersden

another one with great views tftc

Was muggled by a native at gz (see pic)
Tftc

#2 on there afternoon 4x4ing. Another nice wasn't up the hill.