Mt Ida Railway Station (North Otago) Mount Buster, South Island, New Zealand
By
Waitaki999 on 29-Dec-13. Waypoint GC4W8NE
Cache Details
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Logs
Found the Seargent Garveys one in the hut but had no luck with the actual cache. Will be back one day and have another go.
First to write in the log! We weren't searching for this cache but found it on a shelf at the hut. TFTC
Sorry, the "Sergeant Garvey's Cairn" logsheet and container inside the hut NOT the Mt Ida Railway Station hut cache. It's an unpublished cache which was muggled before publication.
Found it dry, not been logged for a while! Stunning country.
‘Sergeant Garveys Cairn by daywalk’ geocache log in pill container found inside hut - nothing logged on it - new papers.
‘Sergeant Garveys Cairn by daywalk’ geocache log in pill container found inside hut - nothing logged on it - new papers.
Tuesday 18th Feb 2pm. Wonderful to be here at last! We have been looking longingly at this location ever since the cache got published. Talking over possibilities with 4WD friends who have been over those roads... We were invited to join the Polak team walking over one New Year, but at that time we were holidaying with Mrs D Senior so weren't able to take off...and in retrospect I'm glad we spent that quality time with her while she was still with us.
After our last biking holiday Mr D eyed up the routes and the weather and suggested a week based in Naseby So, Monday we were dropped off and walked up to the Buster Digging (2 hrs) then biked down to McGuffies Creek and Tailings Hut (1.5 hrs by bike). After lunch we walked over to see Sergeant Garvey's cairn, in blistering heat (3.5 hrs return, including long stops). A dip in the creek afterwards and a comfortable night at Tailings Hut.
Tuesday off at 8.15am, up the hill, down again, up the hill, got to the plateau 11.30 am to admire that beautiful sea of tussock circled by mountains. Lunch at Chimney Creek Hut, then more perfect biking across to Ida Valley Railway Hut. We had met a 4WD on the Buster Diggings road who had told us there was a commercial horse trek group staying at the hut - but we hadn't expected to find that they had taken over the hut and spread their belongings and saddles around everywhere. And the place stank.
Luckily no-one was there so we moved some of their stuff away from GZ and looked... nothing within reach, panic! Got down and peered right under and finally spotted the cache, pushed out of reach under the hut. A stick... phew, snagged it. Signed, gloated, put back with a stopper rock behind and several in front.
Then, drink, snack, discussion, and we decided we wouldn't enjoy staying in the hut as we had planned. So we biked on to Wire Yards Hut, meeting the "horse people" coming back in a 4WD. Been "to Wedderburn for supplies". So we wouldn't have got much sleep if we had stayed in the hut.
Reached Wire Yards Hut before 3 pm - another basic shelter beautifully maintained by DoC, now with a sleeping platform (no mattresses), sink bench and candle holders. Looked at distance and past logs and we had plenty of time before sunset, so off we went. Walking Spur is such a clever route between the headwaters of Clear Stream and Boundary Creek, a nice gradient and not too much of a climb to the top of the Hawkduns. Views both ways from the ridge, to Benmore and over the Ida Valley, wow! Phoned for our pickup from the top. Then biking down, ugh, loose, steep, rough. Toward the bottom Mr D picked up what he discovered was a live bullet! and put it back gingerly with a stone on top. Then once on the flat there was a sign warning on unexploded ammunition... a bit late. Road end at 6.15 pm and after 5 minutes looking at the film set over the road our transport arrived. Thank you waitaki999 for placing the cache - it's a wonderful place to explore!
After our last biking holiday Mr D eyed up the routes and the weather and suggested a week based in Naseby So, Monday we were dropped off and walked up to the Buster Digging (2 hrs) then biked down to McGuffies Creek and Tailings Hut (1.5 hrs by bike). After lunch we walked over to see Sergeant Garvey's cairn, in blistering heat (3.5 hrs return, including long stops). A dip in the creek afterwards and a comfortable night at Tailings Hut.
Tuesday off at 8.15am, up the hill, down again, up the hill, got to the plateau 11.30 am to admire that beautiful sea of tussock circled by mountains. Lunch at Chimney Creek Hut, then more perfect biking across to Ida Valley Railway Hut. We had met a 4WD on the Buster Diggings road who had told us there was a commercial horse trek group staying at the hut - but we hadn't expected to find that they had taken over the hut and spread their belongings and saddles around everywhere. And the place stank.
Luckily no-one was there so we moved some of their stuff away from GZ and looked... nothing within reach, panic! Got down and peered right under and finally spotted the cache, pushed out of reach under the hut. A stick... phew, snagged it. Signed, gloated, put back with a stopper rock behind and several in front.
Then, drink, snack, discussion, and we decided we wouldn't enjoy staying in the hut as we had planned. So we biked on to Wire Yards Hut, meeting the "horse people" coming back in a 4WD. Been "to Wedderburn for supplies". So we wouldn't have got much sleep if we had stayed in the hut.
Reached Wire Yards Hut before 3 pm - another basic shelter beautifully maintained by DoC, now with a sleeping platform (no mattresses), sink bench and candle holders. Looked at distance and past logs and we had plenty of time before sunset, so off we went. Walking Spur is such a clever route between the headwaters of Clear Stream and Boundary Creek, a nice gradient and not too much of a climb to the top of the Hawkduns. Views both ways from the ridge, to Benmore and over the Ida Valley, wow! Phoned for our pickup from the top. Then biking down, ugh, loose, steep, rough. Toward the bottom Mr D picked up what he discovered was a live bullet! and put it back gingerly with a stone on top. Then once on the flat there was a sign warning on unexploded ammunition... a bit late. Road end at 6.15 pm and after 5 minutes looking at the film set over the road our transport arrived. Thank you waitaki999 for placing the cache - it's a wonderful place to explore!
Found with Sonia26642 after a wonderful walk up a mild 4x4 track over a few high ridges and through the beautiful tussucks with a bit of snow to a beautiful Hut. 
Amazing adventure!! I have been watching this cache since publication, and could not believe it had not yet had a found log! I have been hoping to come up here last summer, but it never happened, so I was determined to make it work this time round. A good opportunity came up during the end of year break, but it was still a matter of juggling different things. Then we decided to go for it on New Years, seeing that we would be up early enough in the morning for an event, and could make good time if we left straight after. A hard slog up the hill in the scorching sun was rewarded with unbelievable views, and then even better - a logbook with no signatures so far, even after almost a year. We were really surprised someone hasn't been up here yet - great hike, and would have been an enjoyable drive in a 4WD. We had a great stay at the hut, and a quicker descent the following day. Thank you so much for a great start to the year!!!
Come and join us at the next New Zealand geocaching MEGA event!! Register now at http://www.nzmega2015.com to receive newsletter updates and be the first to know. Let us know you are coming by posting a 'will attend' at http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC587BC_nz-mega-christchurch-2015 It will be a great event, come and be a part of it!!
Come and join us at the next New Zealand geocaching MEGA event!! Register now at http://www.nzmega2015.com to receive newsletter updates and be the first to know. Let us know you are coming by posting a 'will attend' at http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC587BC_nz-mega-christchurch-2015 It will be a great event, come and be a part of it!!
Seriously... I'm seriously. How come no one has found this one before us! Walk up took 5:15 moving but decided to start running back ahead after a while and got down in 3:30 moving time! This could be a one day walk/jog!
TFTC
TFTC
01/01/2015 5:51:00 PM
5448
{FTF}
Spending Christmas this year with my family, and of course, lots of caching in the mix that means!!
This cache had been on mums radar for quite a while, and she kept on telling me that come Christmas time, I Had to come down with her, and we had to go here for this cache!
I tried to bribe a few people for a 4WD ride out here - save some time so as to get more caches, however no matches were found! So a hike it had to be.
We drove out there after the event on New Years day sunrise - why oh why do we do this to ourselves as cachers! Haha - but lukily mum drove most the way there, and then we switched.
Drove as far as we dared with the 2WD, and then pulled out the hiking packs. Beautiful scenery, but beating down sun, and a very steep road.
After 7 hours of walking, including rest time, we were finally at the hut!!!!
Saw another car there, but no people, so wasted no time!!! Pulled out the cache, and scribbled our names on!! Wahoo!!! We were FTF!!!!!!
First FTF of the year, and straight on 1/1!!
A beautiful hut though, we stayed the night - cooked on the oven - and I totally want one of them ovens at home - chilled, and had a great night.
The next day, we walked back - that was only 6 hours back - including all the breaks to wait for the stragglers
Totally would recommend doing - and not even such a bad road by 4WD - There were heaps of cars coming past! Real busy! And there were only a few hairy spots, but as long as you have reasonable clearance - ie not a town 4WD, the road wouldn't be too bad!
And another hut bagged!
Consec caching day # 788
TFTC!!
-------------------------------
For info on the next NZ mega, and to pre- register, go to:
www.nzmega2015.com
5448
{FTF}
Spending Christmas this year with my family, and of course, lots of caching in the mix that means!!
This cache had been on mums radar for quite a while, and she kept on telling me that come Christmas time, I Had to come down with her, and we had to go here for this cache!
I tried to bribe a few people for a 4WD ride out here - save some time so as to get more caches, however no matches were found! So a hike it had to be.
We drove out there after the event on New Years day sunrise - why oh why do we do this to ourselves as cachers! Haha - but lukily mum drove most the way there, and then we switched.
Drove as far as we dared with the 2WD, and then pulled out the hiking packs. Beautiful scenery, but beating down sun, and a very steep road.
After 7 hours of walking, including rest time, we were finally at the hut!!!!
Saw another car there, but no people, so wasted no time!!! Pulled out the cache, and scribbled our names on!! Wahoo!!!
We were FTF!!!!!!First FTF of the year, and straight on 1/1!!
A beautiful hut though, we stayed the night - cooked on the oven - and I totally want one of them ovens at home - chilled, and had a great night.
The next day, we walked back - that was only 6 hours back - including all the breaks to wait for the stragglers
Totally would recommend doing - and not even such a bad road by 4WD - There were heaps of cars coming past! Real busy! And there were only a few hairy spots, but as long as you have reasonable clearance - ie not a town 4WD, the road wouldn't be too bad!
And another hut bagged!
Consec caching day # 788
TFTC!!
-------------------------------
For info on the next NZ mega, and to pre- register, go to:
www.nzmega2015.com
Checked cache, still in good condition. 4WD track up has deteriorated making getting up much harder.
