Fergusons Creek (Otago) Upper Waitati, South Island, New Zealand
By Cumbyrocks on 17-Jun-11. Waypoint GC2YC3C

Went in too low at first, then at top of steps. Got stuck so dropped backpack and fought my way through. Gps going in circles and was about to give up when spied a bottle of Meths and the cache. Easier out going up. Head in before you descend muddy steps.

Managed to bash our way into this. Wasn’t hard to find. Log is in good condition, TFTC. Some interesting swag but we left it all.

Just dove right in. Crashed around till I found it. Thanks️

Had what I thought was a good stomp about. I don't know if there were lots of kanuka trees down when you hid but on the general area the GPS pointed there are now.

Parked at the locked gate on Rollinson's road and walked from there. Left the car at 2pm and I knew sunset at 5:30 would be a challenge as I was going to do Home Guard and 200 Burns. Home Guard first and 200 Burns second. Plus all the trads along the way. Made it back to the gravel road way up just after 5:30 so had to walk down in the dark.

I really like the Burns track, and hadn't had time to do this cache when last up there, so it was a no brainer today. There was nobody else in the area on this public holiday; I had the birds, insects, track, and three delightful goats all to myself. On my way there I used the steel stile, just to make it feel useful (although it isn't) , then onwards. Admire the creek, then back to as close to GZ as I thought I could get. There's no other way to do this: plunge into the bush. Do not believe former finders who say "there it was, sitting in the open". Hah! If it hadn't been a 10L bucket, and I hadn't accidentally dropped something near it, I would never have found it in that tangle of trees, lawyer and other growth. To its credit, the contents are completely dry, and I signed the log and replaced it slightly more prominently than before. After all, it is over 2 years since the last finder, there probably won't be a rush. [which is just as well because I accidentally put tomorrow's date in the log book. Sorry, but I'm not going back] Thanks for a fun adventure!

Upon arriving at GZ, I had about an hour and a half of daylight left, and there was still a muddy and wet Burns track to navigate. Therefore, I only had a quick look with a rather predicateble result.
Nevertheless, if the purpose of this cache is to entice people to explore these tracks, then I would say the cache absolutely achieved its purpose. Thank you

Thanks just needed to go more off track into the bush than last time. Phone GPS took me right too it. Can’t miss it once you are in the correct place. A nice day today so a great day to be out Geocaching. Nice to change a sad face into a happy face.

I should have read the previous log as I was looking for something more like 1-2 litres so I spent too much time looking under all the brush etc. I moved on a little and there it was, a much larger cache sitting in the open. A bit of a scramble to get to it so I doubt that weed eaters or muggles will ever reach it.

Wow this cache hasn't been found in a while. I'm glad it is as big as it is otherwise it would be quite tricky to find. Thanks

Pointing me off the track. Not keen. Then someone came past. So not today.

A bit of a scramble amongst the fallen bush.

I came down from Swampy Summit to find the four caches in the Burns series. A nice sunny but chilly afternoon out caching with no one else around. Thanks for the large caches Cumbyrocks, they will help with the Jolly Green Giant challenge!

A swampy old creek this one found with our good friends weka.

Although we didn’t see any obvious point to leave the track. We managed to find a way towards the coordinates, and fortunately the cache was readily visible from a short distance away. Found with The Bohemian, back on holiday from the UK. TFTC

Out and about on a misty day, no views and the bush was waterlogged, no rain as such but every time you brushed past a flax or Manuka a shower of drops descended, so waterproofs were needed to prevent getting soaked.
Came on up the Burns and got the other one nearby so carried on for this.
I'd read the previous logs, so knew that there was no need to go too far and I soon spotted a likely entry point, dumped the pack and made my way into the bush. I soon saw a welcome sight and had the log signed sharpish. All good in the container.
Then moved on over the swollen creek to get up onto Swampy.
TFTC

Crossed the creek before realizing we didn't need to so back we went to grab the smiley. Found with Aoraki Sheep.

Always nice finding a big cache. Co-ords spot on, even under the trees. Found with debsnz

I was passing so I dropped in a couple of swaps which I have been carrying around looking for a decent sized container. A book and a CD. Cache is in place, intact, and dry.

TFTC Bugger came down wrong spur so stroll after lunch almost broke my leg tipping over this one

Out for a back country geo MTB ride this morning. Lots of pushing on the over grown tracks.
Looked around for this cache for a while but came up with nothing. Will have to go back for another look at some stage.

Found it eventually after crossing and recrossing the creek - which I needn't have done in the end TNLN. HOTA

Finally getting around to logging... I did this as part of the MEGA trip organised by KiwiChris (thanks!). Quite a bit of 'ever-increasing circles' to find this one, but I eventually managed to do so. A very pleasant trip. Thanks.

The saga continues... A wonderful hike led by KiwiChris, but conditions were pretty tricky just prior to arriving at GZ, testing me with a challenging creek crossing. Fortunately others in the party were more fleet of foot and had already located the cache by the time I ventured off the beaten path, so it was much easier for me. TFTC.

Down here for the mega event, and thanks to evilno9 was signed up to take part on this hike. Probably the best part of the weekend! Nothing like a good hike in some wild weather! Big thanks to Kiwichris for being a fantastic guide, and great to meet some new people.
Off the spur now, so getting back to nature in the bush. Nice to be walking downhill for a while and once across the stream, after a bit of bush bash, the cache was soon found. TFTC

With the nice and easy terrain behind us we were able to snake down towards this cache and enjoy the local fauna in much closer detail than at any other time up until now. Got our first stream crossing of the day out of the way as well and then it was on to find the cache. Heard the successful cries from not too far away so made a bee line to them to get my name on the log and then continue the slog up the hill.

Great spot - TFTC

#4221. The MEGA Walkers were spreading out a bit as the underfoot conditions got more slippery. Reception was not great, but with 9 searchers the cache was soon found. TFTC.

Found as part of the group completing the NZ Mega event Swampy Circuit Trek led by KiwiChris with StreetWalkerNZ following behind ensuring we all kept together.

The group met up at our starting co-ordinates and then set off at 9am. There was a question as to how far we would get due to the uncertainty of the weather, however apart from having to shelter briefly from some light hail it turned out to be a rather nice day allowing us to complete the full circuit.

Cache number 9. Would have been hard to miss this decent sized cache. TFTH

As a part of the NZ Mega event a "tramp" was organised and led by KiwiChris to tackle the challenging Swampy Circuit.

We all met up at our starting co-ordinates (cheers for EvilNo9 for the lift) and then set off at 9am.

The weather was the only uncertainty about the day, but apart from a sharp hail storm, it was all perfect.

The terrain was the most challenging, with some long steep climbs and some pretty trecherous
downhill mud slides.

The walk was about 13 km, but felt more due to the terrain, but we completed it all within 6 hours,
with a break for lunch and stopping to find for 12 caches.

All in all a fantastic mini event, a big thank you to KiwiChris, with whom this activity would never
have come together. Took some fantastic photos on route.

Cache did not take to find with 10 active searchers !!!

TFTC.

Hmm the squelchy mud appeared as promised as we descended to the creek. The moss and trees where pleasant and the trees gave much welcome protection from the wind. A slight detour off track, and this cache is rather hard to miss. Great to see such a large cache.

The weather had cooled a bit by the time I got here but still very pleasant. A flock of waxeyes near GZ caused me to stop and watch their antics for a while. It was very nice to be out here and to be able to stop in a few places and appreciate the birds and certain plants (not the gorse though!).

TFTC!!

Found at 9:32 AM on 12/05/2012.

Although not raining the bush itself is wet so I was getting a bit damp after signing the log here, although not as wet as the next one...

TFTC Cumbyrocks

Nice one Cumbyrocks! Not quite as demanding as Off the Beaten Track (Burns), but still pretty good. With the previous cache fresh in my memory, I left the track when I seemed to be closest, only to regain it later, which puzzled me mightily for some time.

Easy find at GZ, coords spot on, or at least close enough to spot the stash (hard even for me to miss!).

TNLN. TFTC.

Crossed the creek before realising that I didn't need to. Counts for Ramblers Reward.

A little off the beaten track, but very findable. Glad I whipped out the GPS before I crossed the creek. TFTC

Quite an easy find. I came in from, and returned to, the car-park, but I thoroughly recommend all of the loop possibilities. I recommend tramping boots too; I forgot mine.

Already a beaten track to this one (although that would be from pigs as well as geocachers). Found it rolled down the bank a wee way. Kathy had an interesting time looking through the swaps. A decent amount of water in Fergusons Creek- indeed it would have been a useful addition to the city water supply.

For those approaching this cache from the uphill end, the Burns Track leaves the Swampy Ridge track at S45 46.592 E170 29.445. This track was the direct tramping route from Leith Saddle to the Silverpeaks. Early trampers would head out from town after work on Friday and get to Green Hut for Friday night.

Nice wee walk up to this cache, 3 of 5 caches for the day, took a few minutes for the GPS to find the right location, now the long walk to cache number 4

Thanks Bitsprayer

Contined up the Burns track from "Off the Beaten Track" and "Kashmir". Intent to continue up to "Flying Saucer on Swampy" via the Swampy Ridge track. TFTC

TFTC

Published

Carried on up from the other new cache and found this one too. Took the FTF tag. Carried on up onto Swampy ridge, along to the transmitter and back down the Swampy Ridge track to the car. Rather cold and windy up the top with very limited visibilty (couldn't see the top of the transmitter when standing at the base)but good to feel alive! All up 2.5 hours so definitely a ramble that qualifies for the Rambler's Reward Challenge.