Light at the end of the Tunnel (Bay of Islands) Opua, North Island, New Zealand
By RussellSchool on 10-Nov-13. Waypoint GC4RTMW

That was a mission. The tunnel was very tempting, but nah, better not.Cache: semi dry but tatty log. Tin has rusted and no longer has a lid or bottom.Location: Follow my skid marks to GZ. There is one less branch on the shrub now, as it gave way while I hung on for dear life.

Short bike ride today. Detour was a shame but better than the end of the trail where they've locked it off unless you take a train. TFTC

That hill up and over the tunnel is no joke on bikes. It would be a lot easier to go through the tunnel but i guess they dont want that. This cache was a bit of a challenge to find. The log is not in great shape, but enough paper there to scribble a signature.

The only way I could do that was if we had the money For a month and then we would be In a hotel and The only way The Big Bad

Now this was a challenge. After getting over here to find the track closed. Hmmm what to do. As always a good cacher goes on!!! Up the hill and down the other side we went. No dismount required but boots made it easier. The tunnel was spectacular and such a shame it was shut away (yes safety is important too) the cache gz had us scratching our heads but after reaching for the sky for a few more bars the hint did help... still tricky but the log was signed. Thanks for a great day out.

Found the cache. Shrub has grown around container locking it in place, needs a new cache container.

In need of a bit of tlc

Great old tunnel

out cycling. spotted from low down.very slippery getting to cache then couldn't get lid off due to rust. needs new container.

Had a good look - no joy

Tunnel is now barriered off but cache still accessible, though the bank is slippery at the moment. TFTC

To risk the tunnel or not..... I'm too much of a wimp lol took the detour. A little damp this one but was still able to sign the log. TFTC

Found this sion enough but a scranble to get to it, vidible from the trail though. Signed log and got on our merry way, a couple of South Islanders pleased to be seeing some of Northland, tftc

Been meaning to do this small section of rail trail so close to home. We rode from Kawakawa to Opua and back. We had a great lunch at the marina cafe in Opua before heading back. We picked up most of the caches except 2 which we will log as dnf. We rechecked these when heading back. Thanks for the geocache trail.
Luckily I spotted this one right away, otherwise it could have taken a bit of time. Difficult to retrieve the log, but managed. Might need a couple of cable ties to make it easier? TFTC 730

Found it but couldn’t sign it as unable to retrieve log book. First find of my walk today. TFTC

No way I was following that detour so went straight through. Log very damp and ripped as unfolding, then pen went straight through it a few times before able to get something down on it.

TFTC

Nice and easy to find

No need to climb today as I can see it from the track. Newer gps so will change coordinates.

Found it quickly compared to other caches around that we could not find! Thanks for the little Geo trail, we will be back for another search! No pen so here is a photo

Found yesterday with other cachers

Thank for the placement, very enjoyable walk along the cycle path

Easy find

Nice find on way back to Kawakawa. Lovely bike ride. Tftc

Found. Lovely walk. Now onto the next one

??

Couldn't find the new hiding place but thanks to the geocaching network I contacted the person who replaced it. Changed the clue accordingly.

Geocache has been replaced.

Geocache has been replaced.

Day 2 of riding the TCCT, this time from Opua to Kaikohe. Had a good look around the end of the tunnel, but nothing caught my eye.

The Light was there, but could not locate the cache.

No light no cache

Thanks to those who help maintain.

Needs to be clean and fixed I suppose

On A road trip with Dee+ME from Tauranga. Have been having a poke around here and there and been taken to some great places, many thanks to all you COs for your placements. Today we are cycling from Opua to Kaikohe and caching along the way. It’s an absolute stunner of a day. Cheers Have replaced container and removed geo litter. Cheers

Yebo RusselSchool

And another on this cycle trail, a great idea to transform this former railway area into this and we did come across a couple of cyclists and a car well none of my business

Walked through the tunnel on our own account (though there is a detour) and searched quite a bit
And true, the cache Needs some love

Tftc

Cache needs some serious maintenance

As previously mentioned this cache needs some TLC. Like the other cyclists I decided the tunnel was a better idea than the detour

Today was International Geocaching Day, so what better excuse than to push on and get my 2000th milestone cache on this special day. I needed five more to get there, so a plan was formulated to head north and pick up as many as possible.

Third one on the trip today was this one here on the cycle way. Just as I was about to head off along the track, some muggles walking a young puppy came along, so I walked with them for a while and then pretended to stop off to take some photos. Once they had moved on far enough, I found the Whistle cache and then continued on along here to the tunnel.

There was a big sign up saying the tunnel was closed for maintenance, but it looked alright to me and there were no fences or gates up, so I gave the steep bypass a miss and walked safely through. Several other jogging muggles obviously had the same idea, but a couple of tourist cyclists thought they should obey the sign.

Once near GZ, I struggled for a good 5 minutes before locating the damaged cache container. I managed to sign the log, but it was quite damp. Number 1998 done, so two more to go now. TFTC

TFTC... A lovely bicycle ride with Geodad Matini264 today. Although there were warnings not to use this part of the track and to take the detour, cyclists we met up with said they always use it

Unfortunately cache lid hadn't been secured properly contents were wet. Dad tried his hardest to secure properly.

This was my 99th find... one more for the hundy!

TFTC Log a little bit damp but still managed to log in with daughter Jaimee83

This geocacher reported that the container is damaged.

A nice walk out to here, tunnel was interesting, but cache has seen better days. Looks like its been sliced up by a weedeater. TFTC

Not the most difficult to find or weather proofed but the tunnel is neat

Serious tunnel. LOL. Cache needs serious maintenance

Saw the cache on my approach open to the weather with lid on the ground. Cache definitely needs replacement. Tried several times to attach lid but no joy. Tftc

Quick find. Container a bit broken.

Quick find whilst cycling the trail. TFTC

That one was more tricky to find. I think the cache need a maintenance, the container is very damage...
Funny tunnel, TFTC

This is our weekend of fun cycling to Kawakawa from Opua.

rustynz tells me I need to catch up with my logging. Sorry for the generic log. Thanks for the hides and for maintaining all your hides

Cycling from Opua to Kawakawa with rebel98 and some muggles. This was my first cache for the day

The GPS bounced around a bit, so once I walked back to the tunnel entrance, with a bit of a scramble I was at the cache. The log was signed with no problems. Although the container is a bit battered and the lid does not want to attach.

Thanks for the hide, a beautiful location for a hide.

Looked for a ages no find

Took two walks through the tunnel but found it! Thanks!

Mid afternoon I went for a 2.5km walk in the rain to this cache. Loved walking through the tunnel (it was dry!)
Thanks to Lis's Crew there is now a good log in a plastic bag in this cache.
Cheers

I was on my way to Paihia today so I took a detour too grab this cache. I've cycled this track before but thought the kids would enjoy a stroll to see the tunnel. A new road or driveway is in the making just before the tunnel. While we were there a motorcycle zoomed through the tunnel making a terrific racket. We found a container but no log. I wasn't sure if this was the cache but I put a piece of paper in as a log. A neat little walk, TFTC

found the box not cache

Just an empty box
still a good find though

It's here!!

Found plenty of school kids projects stashed all around the tunnel including one right at GZ, but no light. Sad day for another DNF.

Staying in Pihia for the week.
Pity the trail is open through to Kawakawa yet . Log very wet.
Replaced log and plastic bag.
Cheers

#2108, Cool walkway/cycletrack. TFTC

?

??

Yay found it

Nice day for a short bike ride. Wish the bridge work was done. I'd love to get on the train! TFTC.

Have been cycling all weeknd around the TCCT trails. Really enjoying the area and exploring. Really looking forward to the trail being completely open. Loved this tunnel and its brickwork and it came in very handy when the rain came down for 15mins or so. Soon found the cache, it was very wet but log still able to be signed. Thanks for the cache, awesome GZ.

Will try one more time in this location. Smaller container so please byo pen!

Will check it out.

Visiting from Tauranga and out for a day's cycling and caching. We went around and down and up as far as we dared here; but saw no sign of any light or cache. It's all a mystery.
Unfortunately the bridge was closed during re-piling, so we had to turn back. Never mind, it was still a great day out. TFTC.

Looked and looked.

Out on a cycling mission with my caching buddy today to collect the last two smiles to complete the TCCT series. Had a good hunt for this one but no luck. Sent an SOS to our friend but she was unfortunately too busy working. Liked the tunnel. Thanks anyway

#1915 Out for a potter around the East coast to collect a few more caches. Walked here from Opua and enjoyed wandering through the tunnel with my niece and nephew. Found the cache out in the open so hid it better before returning to Opua. TFTC.

Hid the light more!

TFTC

Back on TRACK!!!

DNF

Will need to get out and replace

This ones gone
Found it ages ago, but it's not here now

No luck here today.

It's a wonder that nobody's pinched the holder. TFTC.

Quick easy find, our first with our six week old, her first cache!!! TFTC

Another quick and fun find on our bike ride today. TFTC! And thanks for getting us on this trail!

Cool tunnel.

We enjoyed walking along the rail trail to the tunnel. There has been a couple of sizeable slips but the cache is still there, in perfect condition. It was nice to meet the cache owner earlier today at the Kawakawa social event. Thanks for the cache - a favourite point from me.

This entry was edited by Kar3nlj on Saturday, 16 August 2014 at 05:37:07 UTC.

thanks for the cache!! loved to tunnel

Such a good idea. Unfortunately it's been taken from the 'light'

Replaced with a more waterproof cache.

(968) Found while out on a Sunday jaunt to collect some caches in the Bay of Islands. TFTC. Log is very wet.

Cool cache. Thanks

Brought my bike up especially for these ones, lovely ride

Tftc

Easy find after a lovely walk from Opua harbor.

Nice bike ride to the cache.

Quick find here - the log is fairly wet.

We liked this one.

Well I think we did but the log is missing

easy find but no log?!? Had a spare one and replaced the log:-)
TFTC

Great cache! Next time we'll bring a pen...

Saw the light! signed the log, Thanks for the fun cache!

It's that priceless moment when you turn around and think "that thing over there looks suspiciously out of place"

Nice to see a few new caches pop up. So off to enjoy a wonderful summers afternoon walking this lovely old steam train track. It's been at least 20 years ago when the kids and I enjoyed a trip from Opua to Kawakawa and back. Great to see the tunnel and such a cool welcome breeze as I walked on through . Nice wee find here thanks . Good walk in from the rugby grounds as a starting spot. Very scenic as I remember it . Shame the train won't be running anytime soon, but walking or cycling is fun .

A very long time ago we boarded the train n Opua, bound for the bustling metropolis of Kawakawa, to do our shopping. Somehow, we forgot there was a tunnel! It is a shame the train will no longer be able to run to Opua, but we had fun "seeing the light", re-discovering the tunnel, checking out the new "track" and are looking forward to cycling the whole route! TFTC

Published