Flora Exotica (Wellington) Johnsonville, North Island, New Zealand
By huhugrub on 14-Oct-11. Waypoint GC35XT5

Found today! Thank you so much for the couple helpers with the puzzle! Greatly appreciated Cool find with an accurate hint

You cannot believe how happy I am to knock this lonely cache off.Admittedly I needed a hint or two to get to the answer (I thought I was 1/3 the way through the puzzle when in fact I had it for weeks) Cache itself is in perfect condition, besides some spiders who decided to make residence. I tried not to disturb them. Nice dry log and happy to help anyone else who needs a gentle shove in the right direction.

This puzzle was solved quite a few years ago before being able to get to it recently. I remember it took a while to solve and in the end with some help. Getting to GZ was a breeze but it took a short while to locate, and only after carefully rereading the hint.
Thanks for the puzzle and the cache huhugrub.

Found with TrinityNZ and TwigNZ and NZ_B. I had forgotten to log this!

I didn't have anything at all exciting planned for early this morning, having enjoyed a lie in and then put a wash on whilst sucking back my first coffee of the day. Then a couple of caches got published in the Kapiti area. Taking a look at them, I figured "nah" as I knew locals would have a much better chance than I to get the FTF. But then I got a phone call that basically acted as the catalyst for the rest of my day. I didn't get either of the FTF's, but still had a fantastic day of caching in company.

So by now we were a group of 4 (NZ_B, TrinityNZ, the Seagnoid and myself) and had driven back to Tawa to find a few solved puzzles in this area. I have to admit in this instance that I hadn't looked at this puzzle previously, so was a tag-along as an extra pair of eyes. But as it turned out, these eyes found the cache

Thanks for the cache.

I solved this one a while ago after a bit of a hint and was in the area today with TwigNZ, NZ_B and The Seagnoid. We all had a good look and thanks to the hint soon found the cache.

Thanks for the puzzle and cache

Had an assist on this dotty puzzle ages ago. Was out caching today and added this + a multi to fill in some Type Dot Days. Took a short explore behind vegetation for hint to come together. Thanks huhugrubs!

Nothing to hard to do

We are spending the day caching from Porirua to Johnsonville before catching a very late night / very early morning Bluebridge ferry to the South Island.
Another interesting puzzle that we solved while in lockdown last year. Nice to able to collect a few today. Thanks.

I've looked at this off and on pretty much since I've been geocaching, and never getting anywhere. Recently I received a hint and from there I was able to make headway into getting a solution. Finally satisfied I put it on my solved pile and promptly forgot about it.

Today I had an urge to pop out and grab a cache and this was high on the list of possibles. Headed on up here after work and found a place to park. A short stroll and soon had the cache in hand. Signed and replaced, then off home. Glad to finally have a smiley here. All good here, and TFTC

While I lived in Wellington this puzzle always teased me as it was quite close to home but could never work out the solve. My puzzle knowledge has certainly improved but still needed a little push in the right direction then it was so obvious. Why did I not see that previously? Any way today I made a small excursion and cache was in hand. Now of my no idea what I am doing pile. Thanks for the puzzle and thanks for the cache.

I looked at this puzzle many times over the years. Some features were identified but I seemed to be a long way from figuring out any coordinates. Earlier this year, it got back to the top of my "too hard" pile and I tried something a bit different and discovered something surprising which led be to believe I was on to something. Enthusiastically, I carried on and was delighted to produce some viable coordinates that got the green tick from GeoCheck.

This evening, I decided to look for the cache and was pleased to go somewhere I hadn't been before. It didn't take long to work out where the cache was likely hiding. It looked as though retrieval could be tricky but it all worked out fine.

Looked at this from time to time over the years since it came out but didn't make much headway.

A nudge from the CO helped, though unfortunately through a slight misunderstanding he accidentally introduced a red herring!

Eventually after some more research light dawned on the first stage, I had nearly got there but had got sidetracked with a related variation to what was needed.

I was stuck on the next stage which I overthought but fortunately soon after solving the first I had an opportunity to speak to the CO who confirmed I was on the right track and kindly steered me in the right direction to solve the final stage.

Lots of flora in the area, much of it undesirable and the place is looking very neglected. This is the second such area I have been caching at lately where there are signs of the Council having
not done any mowing, weeding etc recently resulting in a very untidy facility.

When I arrived I couldn't see the hint items, they were well hidden by the flora and access was a little tricky, I wonder if it will eventually become impossible! A quick find once I found my way in.

TFTC and the helpful guidance.

I have submitted a Fixit report to Council concerning the state of the grounds. I don't think any work done is likely to put the cache at risk.

Having done a fair amount of 'out of town' caching lately, it was time to show Welly some love today. The plan was a bunch of caches that had been on my radar for a while. This was one of them. I had looked at this puzzle several times over the last couple of years, and never made much progress in figuring out what came after the initial unscramble. Recently I ran in to the CO (up in Wanganui we got a joint FTF) and the opportunity to swapped hints came up, so I asked for a hint to this one - The result was he gave me a direction to look in, and with the help of the mighty Google I was finally able to find a way to apply what I knew that gave me a result. Phew. Called past the GZ today and the cache was quickly located, all safe and dry. TFTC

Wasn't easy and took a long while to solve Silly me thinking I was good at flora so it was after a nudge I got the green tick and thanks to that page I was able to find it in it neat hidey place thanks huhugrub another classic TFTC

#8383. I remember looking at this one within a few weeks of starting geocaching and having some botanical skills I thought it might help me solve it. Wrong. I did recognise the exotic flora referred to in the puzzle and played around with so many combinations until my brain started to hurt. No luck so gave it away. Looked at it occasionally but still no inspiration. Eventually trading some hints for puzzles I was given some information that allowed this one to be solved and the coordinates were put into the geochecker. Green tick. Nowhere near as satisfying as fully solving it yourself but at least its now a smiley. Headed up here after dark and at GZ I soon spied the cache with my torch. Signed the log and replaced as found. All good here. Thanks the huhugrubs for the puzzle and the cache. Great to finally have it cleared from the map.

I like exotic flora (rhododendrons, magnolias, roses, orchid to name some) as well as natives (orchids, kōwhai, etc). I’m not sure the tree the hanging over GZ is exotic or not (there is a native next door) so I’ve taken a photo of it to show a friend who is more knowledgeable than me about flora. TFTC and challenge.

18 May 2020 13:37. Well I have been searching for this elusive blossom for several years now, but it always seemed out of season. Lockdown provided a new focus to get the unsolved puzzles close to me resolved, and eventually I stumbled upon the solution to my dilemma and had the location of the last reported sighting confirmed by the geochecker. You know when you think it must be near one location and it isn't? This was one of those times - I had been looking for it in the wrong habitat entirely!

Now that I knew where I should be searching, it was merely a case of waiting until the conditions were right to recommence foraging, and I had a reason to be heading this way.

I am pleased to report this reclusive species has been located in its habitat, and is exactly as described and is obviously very happy in its current ecological niche, being in perfect condition.

The specimen was photographed, and the field notes amended as required before returning it to its hiding spot to await the next adventurer. TFTC.

Thanks for replacing - we got it today with no problems due to the detailed hint.

Tough puzzle, took me 5 years to solve!
SL TFTC

Second visit to this location today and good to make a find with tmann421 before we headed to the boxhill Christmas bunfight. TFTC huhugrub and for replacing the missing cache so quickly

The cache appears to have gone missing. Will replace soon ...

Replaced cache. Moved slightly to new position. Coordinates unchanged. Updated additional hints in Geocheck. Good to go again.

Pretty sure we were in the right location but no find for us today.

I've looked at this interesting puzzle before and was actually very close to finding the solution. I happened to check it out again this morning and saw that the information had been updated. Using what I had previously worked out, I had it solved within a few minutes. Yee haa! Popped out with the pooches to find the cache in a very appropriate location. So satisfying to have a smiley on this one! TFTC

Alas, the "smarter" way to solve the puzzle is now no longer available. We have added a bit of information as to what form the initial solution should take. Updated hints accordingly.

Woohoo! My local nemesis has been overcome!! Its truelly a difficult puzzle that I had worked on off and on for ages. However it great to have it knocked out. I really have to work on my projections as I nearly got it correct - jusst a wee bit off and you can be a long way out. Anyway, thanks for the very cleverly constructed puzzle. +FAV

Well, sorted the puzzle eventually, but quick, if a damp day, find at GZ.

Thanks for the puzzle and the cache

This entry was edited by XboomstickX on Sunday, 18 August 2013 at 23:31:44 UTC.

TFTC 200th cache[8d]

This one has taken an inordinate amount of time to solve, even after getting plenty of 'help' from various people.
Eventually clicked as to what was required.
Finally went out to get it tonight.
Cache itself was a nice easy find in the end.

Solved a while ago and was in the area, so decided we would knock it off the list. Mycro Man enjoyed the walk up to the cache and back down again.. Thanks for the cache. Did with Wandering Dragons, Mycro Man and Violet Butterfly

Did with CrystalFairy

Did today with MycroMan, Crystal Fairy and Wandering Dragons. A couple of local girls passed by as we were heading to the cache, but it seems to be a popular route so we didn't attract any unusual attention. TFTC!

Cache #169

Cache #687 - a quick one found while tagging along on Crystal Fairy's coattails. Also did with Violet Butterfly and MycroMan. TFTC!

This entry was edited by The Wandering Dragons on Tuesday, 21 August 2012 at 09:05:20 UTC.

I had made good progress with the puzzle when it was first published but required a little nudge to get make the required connection. On arrival at the gz I noticed a set of fresh tracks in the damp grass so was not surprised to see that boxhill had been there earlier this morning. Very glad to have ticked off another huhugrub puzzle. TFTC

Took me ages to solve this one. Finally got there after a bit of a push in the right direction. TFTC

Very challenging puzzle indeed. Managed to crack it some time ago with a hint from kjwx, and was finally in the area today (in the wind and rain!) to grab the final. A most unexpected spot. Haven't been here before! TFTC

The first few layers of the puzzle were easily peeled back, but the last step took a long, long time to figure out. In the end a hint was needed, and it was soooo good to finally get to GZ today and turn this thorn in our sides into a very happy smiley face.
Luckily the hide was not tricky and another quick find for StreetWalker.
TFTC.

#3607. We'd got most of the way there when the cache was first published, but got stuck on what proved to be the last layer. After a nudge in the right direction we finally got the green tick. GZ was an interesting out of the way spot. TFTC.

An interesting puzzle that was bit of a challenge to decode (as is to be expected from Huhugrub puzzles)! However, after a bit of to and fro and some research, all was eventually revealed. Finally get around to finding the cache today while passing, having solved it late last year.
TFTC.

Took a blooming long time to work out the whole puzzle, thankfully not quite as long to locate the cache itself. A very fitting locale for the final.

Took a blooming long time to work out the whole puzzle, thankfully not quite as long to locate the cache itself. A very fitting locale for the final.

Finally solved it. Got stuck at various layers for a few weeks at a time. At CITO Petone showed Mrs HHG my page of calculations and workings and she nudged me to see the wood from the trees so I could make the last step to calculate final coords. Quick visit to GZ not quite as exotic as I was expecting, but glad to finally fell this puzzle. TFTC SL

Found it after many hours trying to solve the clue! After solving a different puzzle, realised I had the answer all along. TFTC

This entry was edited by Broadbridges on Saturday, 28 January 2012 at 23:03:02 UTC.

This entry was edited by Broadbridges on Saturday, 28 January 2012 at 23:03:25 UTC.

Spent several evenings, morning tea breaks, lunch hours and sleepless nights on this. This cleverly constructed little puzzle took longer than it should have for several reasons. Firstly despite a quick first layer being excavated my brain continued to fade on a regular basis and despite some prompting and confirmation of the journey of exploration the cogs just wouldn't click into place. Secondly, despite Little Blue Hen solving the intricacies of the numbers required I led her down a different set of tracks without catching sight of the Yeti or any other bear like creatures. Thirdly,( and as an experienced Geographer this is unforgivable), I had a severe lack of knowledge in some particular areas despite having stood with one leg either side of the Prime Meridian at Greenwich earlier in the year! Found today with my favourite chicken and Richargr.
Probably counts as a joint 2TF ( or is that 3rd) but more importantly has eased my troubled brain. TFTCSL and well worth a favourite point.

This was one of those puzzles that grabbed my attention when Bkj97 was muttering and mumbling and kept us both occupied for a number of evenings.Having come up with the appropriate items needed for the solution on one of my earliest attempts I then attempted two zillion (at least)other possibilities as Bkj97 said it couldn't possibly be what I first came up with. I have now reminded him of a statement made by a caching aquaintance which was "Believe the chicken!" T4TCSL and took the playmobile TB for a bit of a holiday.

Whoopee!!!!! a joint FTF with agcnz (20:30). This was one of those puzzle that took a bit longer to solve that I initially thought it would, how hard can a three star puzzle be. After initially seeing the cache I rang agcnz and asked him about his thoughts, after going away and thinking about it I realised that there was a bit more to it that what I first thought. After cracking the first part it took another few hours before agcnz came back to me with an idea, after that I realised that I had something but didn't realised that I had the answer right in front of me until the penny dropped, why didn't I see it earlier on, decided to do the Geochecker and realised that I got the perfect score. Decided to have dinner before going out to grab the cache and then came back home to watch the rugby. What a clever little puzzle, you just got to love these multi layer puzzles, managed to find the cache quickly without any issues before taking in the views, decided to grab the First To Find Micro Geo-Award, ad dropped off Po' Joe Travel Bug for a short stay, TFTC SL (3461) FTF CRAZE Yeetrees and Tane Ruru "The Geocaching Morepork" also came out to visit this one as well.

Joint FTF with Yeetrees at 20:30 this evening - just in time to get home for the rugby! This was a very interesting, educational and well-constructed puzzle and because of its multi-faceted nature it was worth teaming to bring two brains to bear on it. Yeetrees and I bounced ideas backwards and forwards for almost a couple of days with each of us having "eureka" moments before finally this evening Yeetrees put the last piece of the jigsaw into place and the geochecker tick was obtained on the first and only try for each of us. The cache was a quick find - thanks for an enjoyable puzzle and cache which is well worth a favourite point.

Whoopee!!!!! a joint FTF with agcnz (20:30). This was one of those puzzle that took a bit longer to solve that I initially thought it would, how hard can a three star puzzle be. After initially seeing the cache I rang agcnz and asked him about his thoughts, after going away and thinking about it I realised that there was a bit more to it that what I first thought. After cracking the first part it took another few hours before agcnz came back to me with an idea, after that I realised that I had something but didn't realised that I had the answer right in front of me until the penny dropped, why didn't I see it earlier on, decided to do the Geochecker and realised that I got the perfect score. Decided to have dinner before going out to grab the cache and then came back home to watch the rugby. What a clever little puzzle, you just got to love these multi layer puzzles, managed to find the cache quickly without any issues before taking in the views, decided to grab the First To Find Micro Geo-Award, ad dropped off Po' Joe Travel Bug for a short stay, TFTC SL (3447) FTF CRAZE Yeetrees and Tane Ruru "The Geocaching Morepork" also came out to visit this one as well.

Published

+ First To Find Micro Geo-Award