Utinni! Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, Australia
By
pnja on 15-Nov-15. Waypoint GC66QN0
Cache Details
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This cache is currently listed as Archived in our database.
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Logs
Looked and looked and looked, on a perfect March day. The yellow bellied black snake slept in the sun and we spent hours in the magic dunes, but did not find, looking all along the track
Yes, I found it, or better: I found the spot where the GC should be. On my way up, I did a little research, but I could not find it. Instead, I heard some noise and saw in about 3-4m distance a dark colored cangaroo, probably a wallaby. It showed its tail in my direction, but did not move further.
After visiting the Big Drift, which was so absolutely worth, it is a "must" in Wilsons Prom, I gave it another try. This time, instead of looking from the side under the pile of sticks, I tried to move the sticks from the top to have a closer look.
Suddenly a lake (about 60-100cm long) came out of that pile, luckily in the other direction and moved away very elegant in tail motion towards the bush. That went very fast and I have never seen a snake in that short distance before; it was a brown snake with orange colors underneath.
So from googeling and researching I found out that it might have been either
- king brown snake
- copperhead snake
- red belly snake
It most likely looked the middle one here:
https://daynaa2000.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/parks-victoria-notice-snakes-in-the-park-wilsons-promontory-np.jpg
or like here: http://www.hr-rna.com/RNA/images/Reptiles%20and%20Amphibs/Redbelly%20snake%20belly.jpg
Anywhooo - after that scary moment I decided not to push further into that bush to look for the cache. From what I see is that it is not there, so either the snake or the wallaby has taken it
On any hand, for safety reasons, I would receommend that the owner puts this cache into another location, maybe further towards the dune and not below a tile of sticks.
After visiting the Big Drift, which was so absolutely worth, it is a "must" in Wilsons Prom, I gave it another try. This time, instead of looking from the side under the pile of sticks, I tried to move the sticks from the top to have a closer look.
Suddenly a lake (about 60-100cm long) came out of that pile, luckily in the other direction and moved away very elegant in tail motion towards the bush. That went very fast and I have never seen a snake in that short distance before; it was a brown snake with orange colors underneath.
So from googeling and researching I found out that it might have been either
- king brown snake
- copperhead snake
- red belly snake
It most likely looked the middle one here:
https://daynaa2000.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/parks-victoria-notice-snakes-in-the-park-wilsons-promontory-np.jpg
or like here: http://www.hr-rna.com/RNA/images/Reptiles%20and%20Amphibs/Redbelly%20snake%20belly.jpg
Anywhooo - after that scary moment I decided not to push further into that bush to look for the cache. From what I see is that it is not there, so either the snake or the wallaby has taken it
On any hand, for safety reasons, I would receommend that the owner puts this cache into another location, maybe further towards the dune and not below a tile of sticks.
Spent quite some time scrub bashing but couldn't find the cache... The dunes are moving in on the bush but I can't imagine that they would have gobbled the cache up since it was found 6 months ago. Phone GPS was jumping around, so decided to give up fighting the knarled and prickly vegetation and explore the dunes instead.
Found by Aussie Train Driver 15/07/17, find number 1092.
This was my final find during a holiday at Wilsons Prom with the family. We stopped here on our way out of the park for a walk. It was definitely the worst weather we copped whilst walking as it was blowing a gale and raining, but we persevered and the rain even stopped as we arrived at the dunes which gave us a good chance to explore.
I quickly spotted the cache - great to see an ammo can, which are quite a rarity these days!
Thanks for the cache in a fantastic location!
This was my final find during a holiday at Wilsons Prom with the family. We stopped here on our way out of the park for a walk. It was definitely the worst weather we copped whilst walking as it was blowing a gale and raining, but we persevered and the rain even stopped as we arrived at the dunes which gave us a good chance to explore.
I quickly spotted the cache - great to see an ammo can, which are quite a rarity these days!
Thanks for the cache in a fantastic location!
Easy walk in following lots of animal tracks, Roos and deer(?). Found the cache at 11:00 with not too much difficulty. Tried to scale the dune wall but sand too soft. TFTC
Found this one amongst many others during my holiday with my parents through VIC/SA. TFTC
The path to the cache was nice to do, but a bit further it was beautiful! Felt a bit like home in the Netherlands! We have also a place like this 
TFTC
TFTC
The Big Drift was quite an adventure last time we were here as the original cache location was quite a hike through the fascinating dune landscape. That turned into a DNF so of course we were keen to try again for the new placement. This was very much easier. Thank you!
Having gone this far it was mandatory to still explore the dunes a bit and enjoy the amazing views.
Thanks for the cache and for bringing us here.
Having gone this far it was mandatory to still explore the dunes a bit and enjoy the amazing views.
Thanks for the cache and for bringing us here.
**Find #5037**
**10:30 AM**
**26 January 2017**
After being beaten by the Big Drift dumping a tonne of sand on the cache last year, we mounted a new expedition and this time had immediate success at the new location.
The cache was very exposed, probably only saved from muggles by the distraction of what lay before them in the other direction.
We covered it a little better, but it's still an easy find for those seeking it.
**Thanks for placing this cache pnja**
**10:30 AM**
**26 January 2017**
After being beaten by the Big Drift dumping a tonne of sand on the cache last year, we mounted a new expedition and this time had immediate success at the new location.
The cache was very exposed, probably only saved from muggles by the distraction of what lay before them in the other direction.
We covered it a little better, but it's still an easy find for those seeking it.
**Thanks for placing this cache pnja**
Found it, great hide in an accessible spot. Very windy at the big drift today but a enjoyable time had by all. Tftc
)Had spend the last few days exploring the Prom and thought it was about time to check out the Big Drift. It certainly lives up to it's name. A truely spectacular place to visit. TFTC
Thanks for such quick action. It's a shame there wasn't a good location near the original GZ so that cachers were lead into the dunes for the amazing experience.
Thanks pnja
Thanks pnja
Coordinates changed from:
S 38° 52.321 E 146° 13.820
Coordinates changed to:
S 38° 51.988 E 146° 14.009
Distance from original: 2213.6 feet or 674.7 meters.
Moved at request of owner
S 38° 52.321 E 146° 13.820
Coordinates changed to:
S 38° 51.988 E 146° 14.009
Distance from original: 2213.6 feet or 674.7 meters.
Moved at request of owner
Headed to do maintenance, fearing the worst. We had expected a small amount of sand to blow on to the cache if it went a month or so without a find, however the log entries seemed quite extreme.
Once we arrived at the dunes it was clear that the most severe weather had occurred since the track was washed over with sand 2 years ago (if you aren't aware, the original entrance to the dunes was 500m further on from where it is now). When near GZ we could see that what used to be 6-10ft bushes when the cache was placed (and had been that way for many years) had now been partly covered by 2-3m of sand.
Fortunately the cache wasn't under the worst of it, likely protected by the thicket of large bushes it was next to (it was the smaller tail that was actually buried). Going by the time-stamps on our photos, it was literally 4 minutes until we had found and uncovered the cache (it was actually only under about a couple of inches) - easier when you know where to look.
Searched for a while for a suitable secure location nearby, and while there were a few good high trees we could have secured it to (particular the couple near the dunes entrance), all of these would have been severely damaged/eroded by cachers if used. So we found a new location at the end of the track.
The new location should be free from any sand cover, and should eliminate any frustration of a DNF that even a small amount might have caused. Another advantage of the new location is that it won't force less enthusiastic cachers to cross any dunes at all if they aren't interested in exploring the landscape.
Once we arrived at the dunes it was clear that the most severe weather had occurred since the track was washed over with sand 2 years ago (if you aren't aware, the original entrance to the dunes was 500m further on from where it is now). When near GZ we could see that what used to be 6-10ft bushes when the cache was placed (and had been that way for many years) had now been partly covered by 2-3m of sand.
Fortunately the cache wasn't under the worst of it, likely protected by the thicket of large bushes it was next to (it was the smaller tail that was actually buried). Going by the time-stamps on our photos, it was literally 4 minutes until we had found and uncovered the cache (it was actually only under about a couple of inches) - easier when you know where to look.
Searched for a while for a suitable secure location nearby, and while there were a few good high trees we could have secured it to (particular the couple near the dunes entrance), all of these would have been severely damaged/eroded by cachers if used. So we found a new location at the end of the track.
The new location should be free from any sand cover, and should eliminate any frustration of a DNF that even a small amount might have caused. Another advantage of the new location is that it won't force less enthusiastic cachers to cross any dunes at all if they aren't interested in exploring the landscape.
Not a very smart place to put a cache. It looks like it's already buried under half a meter of sand. High in a solid bush would bave been infinitely better, but even then risky as the sand is moving quite quickly it seems.
An urgent owner visit to try and rectify the situation is urgently needed. We dug for an hour without luck. Pity about the trackables.
Thanks pnja
An urgent owner visit to try and rectify the situation is urgently needed. We dug for an hour without luck. Pity about the trackables.
Thanks pnja
Seeing a tree in the direction of GZ I made a beeline to what i thought was a likely tree, as much as you can in the Dunes over a distance of 500 metres. I was out by more than 100 metres. On finding actual GZ, it has been mostly covered by drifting sand. Digging by hand fruitless. Perhaps a future hide should be high in a substantial tree!
I had been watching a little while for this cache to be set. How did I know, you might ask. The head ranger at The Prom let me know that my application to place a cache at The Big Drift had been thwarted by one day. Thanks pnja for the cache. You did a much better job on the description and history than I would of done. I also dropped of 2 new trackables with the goal to reach Stray Cougar (the person who introduced me to geocaching) going in different directions around the globe.
PS. Thanks for the little gift for FTF. I'll have to think of something for Sydney to do.
PS. Thanks for the little gift for FTF. I'll have to think of something for Sydney to do.
