Worlds Coolest McDonalds (Central Plateau) Taupo, North Island, New Zealand
By Malsdad on 13-Jan-15. Waypoint GC5K6CM

Cool place but DNF. I think I was looking in the right bush but a car parked right up against the fence made searching tough. I'll be back!

Zusammen mit einen netten Ehepaar aus den Niederlanden kurz vor der Abfahrt meines Busses gefunden. Mal ein etwas anderer Mc Donalds , tftc

With help from a German geocacher. Not so easy, but we found it. Tftc

Tftc!

TFTC - quick hunt before bfast! Nice camo.

#4250 Today is day 40 of my geocaching vacation in New Zealand. Today, I spent some time in Taupo before driving to Rotorua. I tried to find it in the dark two days ago, but no luck. Found it today. It's cool to see the inside, too. However, I did not see the postcard being sold.Malsdad, thank you for the cache! -crystaloops from Taipei, Taiwan on November 9, 2024 @ 10:32:57[GC5K6CM] Worlds Coolest McDonalds (Central Plateau) was a D1.5/T1.5 Small Traditional Cache at the time of finding.

Taking a Gate1 tour through NZ. When bus stops for a break I look for geocaches while others are getting coffee or snacks. Thanks for bringing me to this awesome location. Log signed. Replaced as found. Favorite point awarded.

Found it with help in the comments

Not in the bush I thought it was in! Fun stop at the world's coolest McDonald's. TFTC!

7.World travelers adventure log.Out and about exploring the world with Nildran on this epic adventure!Thanks for adding to our memories and letting us explore your favorite spots all over the world!It continues to be a wild ride!TFTC SLIf you find yourself at a local pub during trivia night, and the category is:'States shaped like a Mitten'here is some information that may help you win that round:Michigan trivia 7.01. While Florida may bear the title of Peninsula State, Michigan is the only state consisting of two peninsulas, upper and lower.2. Sault Ste. Marie, founded in 1668, was the first European settlement in the Midwest, and the third-oldest one west of the Appalachians.3. Michigan abolished the death penalty in 1846 for all crimes other than treason, becoming not only the first state but the first English-speaking government in the world to do so.4. There are no longer any living wolverines in the Wolverine State. There was one discovered in Huron County in 2004, the first one spotted in 200 years, but it has since passed on and has now been stuffed and mounted.5. One of the world's largest registered Holstein herds can be found at Green Meadow Farms in the appropriately-named village of Elsie.6. The world's largest limestone quarry is located near Rogers City.7. Colon, despite its unfortunate name, is nevertheless quite the magical place. It's the former hometown and, unless he's pulled a Houdini and managed a posthumous escape, the final resting place of Harry Blackstone, Sr. It's also home to several magic supply manufacturers: Abbott Magic Company, Sterlini Magic Manufacturing Company and FAB Magic.8. The first air-conditioned car was manufactured in 1939 by Detroit's Packard Motor Car Company.9. Da Yoopers are a band from da U.P., ya? Dey're famous for singin' 'bout deer huntin' an' farts.10. Yoopers (everyone on the U.P., not just the guys in the band) refer to people from the rest of the state as trolls because they live below the [Mackinac] bridge. Other nicknames are flatlanders and lopers, the latter name being short for Lower Peninsula.11. In Michigan you get 10 cents back for recycling a can, which is the highest payback rate in the country. While the state also has the nation's highest recycling rate (no surprise there), they're also losing over $10 million a year due to out-of-staters fraudulently trying to cash in. Blame the border states: Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio which don't offer any can refunds at all.

Out with Nildran enjoying the sunshine TFTC

Out caching with TL. TFTC! Thank you to the previous logs that made our second attempt more timely and finally ... successful!

Original for the place ... nice to find it-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --French version below-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --Short late log but more complete now that we are back home.Our vacation will take us to the other side of the world to the land of the Maoris. After many, many hours of flying, a passage through China on the way there and through the United States of America on the way back, we will finally arrive in Christchurch which will be the starting point of our journey.We will enjoy the beaches of the Pacific Ocean and we will go back towards the North Island via State Highway 1. To combine business with pleasure, we will take regular breaks and small detours according to the caches that seem the most accessible to us.With a little more than 3500 km in 20 days, we will have discovered many facets of this island which is soothing. We will have to come back because there are so many places that we have not done ??. In broad strokes, the path will go from Christchurch to the Kaikoura Peninsula then towards Picton for the crossing to Wellington.New island, new road, and by State Highway 2 we go towards Hastings and Napier. We will leave the seaside for several days to go to Tongariro and Taupo. We will continue north towards Rotorua and Hamilton (without forgetting a detour via Hobbiton ??) A detour to the Coromandel Peninsula and finally the almost north of the island with Whangarei and Waitangi to learn the history of this country.There will only be a few days left to spend towards Auckland and its suburbs before taking the plane back to the grayness of our European autumn.The majority of the boxes will be found, we have abandoned those where our English was lacking and where we could not understand the clue. Thanks to all the owners who brightened up our path, who took us to incredible places (that's also geocaching)In short, we had a great vacation, saw beautiful places that simply ask us to come back. We learned a lot about the history of this country and its traditions, it's a great motivation for our destinations.-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --Petit log en retard mais un peu plus complet maintenant que nous sommes rentrs la maison. Nos vacances vont nous emmener lautre bout du monde au pays des Maoris. Aprs beaucoup, beaucoup dheures davion, un passage par la Chine laller et par les Etats-Unis dAmrique au retour, nous arriverons enfin Christchurch qui sera le point de dpart de notre priple.Nous profiterons des plages du de locan Pacifique et nous remonterons en direction de lile du nord via la State highway 1. Pour joindre lutile et lagrable, nous ferons des pauses rgulires et de petits dtours au gr des caches qui nous semble les plus accessibles. Avec un peu plus de 3500 km en 20 jours, nous aurons dcouverts pleins de facettes de cette ile qui est apaisante. Il nous faudra revenir car il y a tellement dendroit que nous navons pas fait ??. Dans les grand traits, le chemin ira de Christchurch la pninsule Kaikoura puis direction Picton pour la traverse vers Wellington.Nouvelle ile, nouvelle route, et par la State Highway 2 nous remontrons en direction de Hastings et Napier. Nous laisserons le bord de mer plusieurs jours pour aller au Tongariro et Taupo. Nous continuerons vers le nord en direction de Rotorua et Hamilton (sans oublier un dtour par Hobbiton ??). Un crochet pour la pninsule de Coromandel et pour finir le presque nord de lile avec Whangarei et Waitangi pour apprendre lhistoire de ce pays. Il ne restera que quelques jours passer vers Auckland et sa banlieue avant de ne reprendre lavion pour retourner dans la grisaille de notre automne europen.La majorit des boites seront trouves, nous avons dlaisser celles o notre anglais faisait dfaut et ou que nous narrivions pas comprendre lindice. Merci tous les poseurs qui ont gay notre chemin, qui nous ont emmen dans des endroits incroyables (cest aussi cela le geocaching)Bref, nous avons pass de superbes vacances, vu des endroits magnifiques qui demandent simplement que lon revienne. Nous avons appris beaucoup de chose sur lhistoire de ce pays et de ces traditions, cest une grande motivation pour nos destinations.

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Took me and my buddy about 20 minutes to find, but we got it

Stage 3 of our trip is a few days on the North Island of New Zealand. Thanks to all the COs for placing and maintaining caches for us to find. Day 1 Quick find at the Airport when arrived before we headed down to Pirongia to say with friends. Day 2 I spotted a multi in Hamilton which took us on a tour of street art. So we headed into town for a stroll around. After lunch, a walk was in order so we stopped at Lake Ngaroto and walked and geocached around. Day 3 we drove up to Coromandel stopping along the way to see the sights and of course geocache!Day 4 Up early to head eastwards and a leisurely drive back down the coast. Day 5 we headed down to Taupo for lunch and an afternoon of caching. Lovely place to visit.

Armed with jandals and a chilly bin, a couple of Aussies headed across the ditch for a 3-week tiki tour, exploring the beauty of New Zealand.DAY 4: Rotorua to Whanganui via Taupo & Turangi.A very cool Maccas!Thanks for showing us this special place by placing this cache, Malsdad ?? tena koe~??????????~

Found it TFTC

TFTC!

Clever hide. TFTC

Quick find on 2nd attempt.

Tried to find in the dark, well lit but couldn't see anything hanging. Although it appears from a previous log with a spoiler pic that i was distracted.

Came to see the Maccas plane, decided to get some food so we could eat inside (super warm inside even tho its 15C out), then noticed that a cache is right below us (literally). Had to get this one, but I couldnt find. It took TD99 only about 5 min to spot it. Hurray. Fav Pt. All is well here. TFTC

Found with Doofus19x2. Took a while but then I spotted it. Dont know how we missed it. TFTC

It sure is the coolest McDonald's. Over visiting family and a trip to taupo this morning for a ramble ..Thanks

Good stop on our trip down Wellington. Quick find. Thanks!

??

Pretty sure something to do with the wheel but no luck

tftc. in good shape

Found It!!!

When we decided to have our holidays in Australia & New Zealand after we retired, we finally plunged into this trip plan years back but no thanks to Covid, our plans postponed for a few years until we decided to go for it in 2024.It was also a life dream to go to Milford Sound & the coolest McDonalds DC3 plane where we had lunch inside this retired plane as well. Though we travelled so many places by renting an SUV whereby my husband Ramakristan drove all the time while I am the navigator & planner incl as a standby driver as well. We had so much fun today at Lake Taupo before we moved to Napier by 5pm.Cache wasnt easy to find but luckily I saw it first & had a good laugh why we missed it in the beginning.A very smart cache, well camouflaged, no wonder we missed it at first.TFTC to Co, we love such fun cache.

One of our travel agenda in New Zealand is to reach Lake Taupo for this coolest iconic Restaurent from McDonalds, we have known & seen this landmark years years ago, my wife said how nice if we can travelled to such places & same time have lunch in this DC3 plane, her dream wish which we finally agreed to take this giant step, in our retirement to travel all on our own & now we are here at Lake Taupo at 2.30 pm on 26th September 2024. Next is Milford Sound, we will be there by next week after we done North Island.Moment we reached McDonalds, we took so many pictures to make sure we have loads to show to our family. Then we ordered some foods, took it into the DC3 plane for a late lunch. We totally enjoyed it very much & with a bonus,there is a cache just under the plane, you definitely cant asked more than that. Lunch done, we walked down & started searching the cache, hint stated shoulder height or could be lower, your guess is as good as mine, checking the 2 giant wheels, never ever seen a plane wheels so close & even a chance to spin it.We have high confidence finding it but after 15 mins, still no cache. We either looking at the wrong place at the right coordinates, so we spread out our search though we found it in the end, its still under the plane. Eyes have to be sharp, it is there, looking at us, we had a good laugh after seeing the cache.TFTC to Co, this is an incredible cache to be under this coolest plane.

Thanks

Very sadly could not find this one today, not for lack of trying, me and 2 of the kids just couldn't figure it out and had to give up

Passing through on the Intercity again and because of the way the timing worked out, we get a 35 minute rest stop in Taup - YAY!! I spent 15 of those minutes searching for this cache and couldn't find it - boo - then 10 minutes going for a leisurely stroll, and then 5 minutes speedwalking to make sure I got back to the bus before it left without me (although of all the places we stop, this is the one I'd prefer to be left in!)

Extreme muggle center of the universe today. Still managed to be sneaky enough to find. Cool plane too

Found it but note that it was not hanging, hint makes me think it should have been

Tftc. Found with Jennyfromthefarm. Quick find

Came by for dinner tonight at Vine eatery which I thoroughly recommend. I saw the plane and immediately said yep theres a cache here we have to get it after dinner. I was reading description and irondale had CIH. Thank goodness because it was about seven degrees and I was so cold. TFTC

Easy found

Wow! This is such a cool cache and an incredible spot for it! Its been awhile since Ive payed the DC plane a visit (I think its a DC-10?). When I found out there was a cache I was really happy! At the start I went blind and then with the help of family I found it. I forgot a pen so I couldnt sign it but I will share a photo of the log as my proof. Tftc its one to remember!FUN FACT:The aircraft was built in 1946 and I believe its a DC-10 (airplane enthusiast please correct me if Im wrong)- MONKSTHATMONKEY / Noah

Whoops heres my photo

Cool find tftc

Helen got this one! On holiday from the UK going to stop for a bite to eat me thinks! TFTC

Found log full and very wet but managed to sign tftc

I found it. Amazing geocache! This is the coolest geocache!!! TFTC

This is my favorite cashe! Yesterday I tried finding it at night but failed. Came back and bingo! I found it. Note: Very nice spot. TFTC!

Awesome cache one of the coolest Ive ever found. Never realised this maccas was world famously cool even though Ive been here for years

Travelled to Taup for the Taupo marathon. So while my crazy partner is running 42kms I grabbed this cache. Took a little bit of hunting, wasnt where I expected. Thanks

TFTCEpic plane!

Today, Macfam41 are traveling back to Waikanae Beach after an overnight stay in Taupo. One of two caches found today. Nice hide & unique container. TFTC.

It is really a extraordinary McDonalds. I had to wait until some muggles took their photos with the airplane, after a cheeseburger the field was clear and it was a very fast find. I was surprised how fast I could find it given some previous logs.TFTC #423

Quick find

Finally found it! First time we looked, had no luck, this time we got it!!

Unlucky for me I had to get back to my bus on travels northbound. Prob easy enough to find amongst brave photographers ducking low flying planes

Visiting from Ohio, USA with @ADFollower. TFTC!!

Visiting from Ohio, USA ???? with BKD1389. TFTC!!! ??

More head hight unless your like really tal i guess

Took a while but was looking in the wrong area .Quick re adjust and easily foundTftc

Tftc. We walked right past this first.

Cool plane and easy find of the cache. Tftc

Heading from Rotorua to Napier via Taupo, I stopped off for a few select caches en route.BlLbo was keen to visit this location & we enjoyed some ice cream after my search. Whilst our order was being prepared I came to look for the cache. It took a short search before I spotted the container although previous logs are a little misleading. The logsheet is now full as I signed in the last space before replacing everything as found. Then we went to sit on board the plane with our desserts.Found at 13:56Cache #10432TFTC Malsdad

Thanks

It's at shoulder height if you're Grace Nweke! But we found it fairly easily enough. Hot tourist spot, with lots of people taking photos. TFTC

A bit higher than shoulder height! Mr 5 and Miss 3 very happy with their find

Found this after a few times visiting. So painfully obvious now that we see it! Found with mrlgrose and eimajesordaman.

New where it must be, but just couldn't see it, spent about 10 minutes looking then spotted it right in front me. Nice camo, well done. TFTC.

Finally able to avenge my previous DNFs here, hide itself pretty cool, definitely more than I was expecting but can see how it often goes missing. As for the plane, obviously as cool as always. Cheers

Found it, TFTC

Well hidden...when they pruned the shrubs they must have nearly come across it! Also thanks to below poster for the tip! My sister lives in NC and every time I visit we do road trips but I will def have the California McDonald's on my hit list now!

Found it

Love the cheeky spot, although I wouldve painted it to match the surrounding area

Found after about 10 mins! Thankyou! Abit higher than shoulder height for me at 5ft 5!

1 of 5 Finds, 0 DNF's on this run2603 Total FindsVisiting the beautiful country of New Zealand from the US on our way to Australia. I've been through Auckland once before on my way to Oz, and decided then it should be on my bucket list. The missus (from Oz) agreed, and this time, we stopped over for 10 days on the North Island along with our granddaughter in tow for some site seeing and exploring.Started our last day of touring the beautiful North Island by coming here to have brekkie, and obviously, to get a cache. Took a minute to spot the cache, but spot it I did, and did the deed. Of particular interest, I have been to another very cool McDonalds in Barstow, CA that is made entirely of train cars. Not only was Barstow on the infamous Route 66, but it was also a central hub for all southern California rail companies for freight and passengers headed east in the US. The McDonalds' store there is constructed completey of dining cars parked on adjacent tracks and joined together, and the kitchen was in another car refit for the kitchen. At least it was in 1994 when I spent 4 months out there. No clue what it is now, though, but at one time, it was the busiest McDonalds' on the planet because it was the half-way point between Las Vegas, NV and Los Angeles, CA. Interstate 40 ends (or begin, depending on which end you're on) at Interstate 15 in Barstow (near the intersection of which the McDonalds' is located) and the other end is 2580 miles away in Charlotte, North Carolina, at Interstate 95, where there is another McDonalds very conveniently located at a very busy interstate intersection. Ray Kroc was pretty good at picking locations for his stores.Just a bit of trivia to add to a bit of trivia.Thanks for placing and maintaining these caches.

Doubled for monetary cover on a rainy day. TFTC!

Good wee hide. TFTC

tftc

Great family fun, easy location

Found again with the fam on a sunny winter avo

This absolutely would have to be hands down the coolest spot for a cache! While visiting NZ this was high on my caching list! TFTC.

Found!

Happy meal

Quick stopover on out way to Napier. Tftc

Couldnt find it

Tftc! It was quite hard but we finally got it on our second go

Cache was in plain sight but fun to find I think someone moved it to a different location so put it nearby but hidden more Very fun walking over to the cache and trying to find it

Fun find!!

Tftc! Found it a few weeks back with family. On a recent trip to Taupo/Rotorua!

This is our fist time geocaching found it in 20 ish minutes

Driving through on our road trip, stopped at this cool McDonalds and grabbed the cache. Took a little longer than it shouldve but still managed to get it after 15 mins. TFTC!

I eat so much McDonalds I almost ate the cache for dessert

Pretty quickly found by my dad. We are visiting Taupo all the way from Texas, USA! TFTC!!

Beautiful day today in Taupo. Thanks for this cache. Greetings from Germany.

Couldn't find it... spent 20 minutes, maybe next time

Been looking forward to this one

Found it! Thanks for the cache #huntingwiththeSis happy mothers day!!

Yaya

Petit arrt devant cet avion

after walking around like lost puppies for 15 mintues we found it, first cache for my sister and i