Saint Nick's Grotto (Napier) Napier, North Island, New Zealand
By nickhbnz on 20-Nov-15. Waypoint GC674WV

Sadly archiving this as it sounds like it has been destroyed.

We were on holiday for Grandma's birthday and Dad was visiting a friend at a business nearby. We got bored so Mum bought us here to find this cache. It would have been awesome, but someone's destroyed it. Mum logged needs maintenance. TFTC

Found the remains of the container with the contents spread everywhere. The marker pen provided is is dried up and we didn't bring our own sp couldnt sign log. Have sent pic to CO
TFTC and a fav point for the idea behind it.

Needs new container. Only the lid of this one remains intact.

Having been up in the hawkes Bay for several days enjoying the coastal scenery, i am Travelling home and i finally got to go and look for this cache as i have past it several times but never stopped. Crossing the road was not as bad as i had thought it might be as , of course , the traffic is only one way ! I found my way into the grotto and every thing seemed 'alight' Christmas time was still there! I quickly located the cache, completed the signing etc etc and them returned to cross the road again and back to the car to continue my journey back towards home and stop for lunch some where along the way.
thank you for this illuminating cache

What a neat spot, signed the paper will need another log by the looks of it, TFTC

Since I was already into these roundabouts, with not many people around on a rather earl;y Sunday morning, I decided to get onto this one too! And a perfect day to find as all my friends post about their Christmas trees! TFTC!!

This was the first stop on a mini-vacation with my Muggle wife. I had an interminable wait while she was in a yarn shop, so afterwards, I went to get this cache while she had a very brief wait in the car. TFTC.

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Planning for the [NZ Mega 2020](http://nzmega.com) event is well underway. It will be held in Auckland over Labour Weekend, 23 to 26 October 2020. It's going to be a massive celebration of geocaching:

* 20 years of geocaching worldwide.
* 20 years since New Zealand had the very first geocache hidden outside of USA.
* And it's 2020 - all the 20s!

Talk to your geo-friends and start planning to be part of [this event](http://nzmega.com) - you won't want to miss it! You can also join the Facebook group NZ Mega 2020 to keep up with all the news.

Found with a sister during our expedition to NZ (from CZ), where we explored part of the North Island and could visit our classmates and friends that we have not seen for several years, as it is here, in Auckland and Napier live ... Thank you for cache ...

So pretty! Tftc

I'm sorry I am very behind in my logs having recently lost a finger which makes typing very painful. Apologies as my logs won't be as complete as usual.

On a weekend to Napier with Bennett24 came and looked for quite a few caches and this was one of them.

Thanks for the cache. I'm sorry about the cut and paste logs but hand is getting super sore.

Parked up the sleigh a km or so down the road while we searched for a nearby puzzle final. Drawing an arctic white blank while walking back to the reindeer we decided to indulge some Xmas cheer by checking out this cache.

I can only speculate what kind of nutcasery leads someone to think this cache would be a good idea. whatever you're on, I want some! I was most jealous of this hilarious hide. Great stuff.

After spending quite a while trying to find a solved puzzle nearby that had gone missing, Tuolei and I were walking back to Mrs B in the car when he spotted this cache and saw it was high on the favourites list. We had completed one on the other similar caches on our previous visits and knew if it was anything like that one it would be a great cache.

This cache did not disappoint and we enjoyed the mini celebration that was going on here. Cache is still in good condition, FP added. TFTC.

#916. Day 2 of a mini Hawke’s Bay holiday. Snuck across 2 lanes of traffic to get this one in the middle of this grotto/copse. Very clever cache - lots of stuff to look at. Merry Christmas Saint Nick, and thanks for the cache.

Have been planning these caches for a few weeks in conjunction with HKCB for a mad dash and effectively a 24 hour run (so that we could spend time with our respective families) for the rest of the ensuing weekend. Signed most/all caches as HKCD or some such other that we could fit in
Leaving Hamilton at 7pm Friday and getting home midnight on Saturday so that at least 6hours quality sleep was acheived, sleeping in the car is always a bonus (2 hours) and the remainder of the time caching around part of the country we hadn't previousley done a whole lot, but have left plenty for the next trip across the hill.

This was the ninty third of the100+ that we acheived in that time we were over here.
Thanks to all the CO's for the effort and giving some great caches, sorry about the repetitive logs but then 100 is a few to cover off.
Last Roundabout cache for the day
Thanks for the placement, thanks for the cache

We had been talking about cache bash in Napier for a while, and when Cats&Dragons mentioned a trip down here this weekend I couldn't say no. The plan was to head down Friday night (leaving Hamilton about 7pm) and then cache til we can then grab a few hours sleep and then cache through til late afternoon and then head home. The plan worked well, with about 110 caches found over the 24 hour caching period.

It was the first time we had visited Napier to do a caching mission, and we were both impressed with the genius hides (some we hadn't seen before, I'll give a special mention to those ones). A big thanks to all the CO's whose caches we found, for placing and maintaining them. A great trip and looking forward to a revisit.

A great idea for a cache, very cool.

Taken me ages to get enough courage to attempt this one-was worried MOT might spy me heading into the bushes!What a great cache-wish I had done it at Xmas time-deserves a fav-tftc

Challenging to get near, challenging to get into and challenging to get away. Fortunately, easy to spot. We crawled across and signed. We would have completed the next task but the tool has passed its useful life and wouldn't cooperate. All good fun. Thanks nickhbnz.

Good stuff, we pretended we were in the armed forces training.
Took some know-how to cross the road too.
Love the cache contents, though pen not useable, but all looks great around the spot.
TFTC

** This is a log from an account split. Logged as YetiNZ **

An early morning visit where the traffic was light. I managed to make my way over without raising any suspicion (at least I believed so). Making my way through the vegetation I spied the tell-tale signs of the secrets lying within, and soon came across the sufficiently large cache. Signed the log and attempted to continue with the second part, but couldn't make my mark. I did complete the task, however. TFTC+Fav

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Planning is now well underway for a major Event in the Wellington region later this year. Check out the details on the [Wellington Event NZ (WENZ) Website](http://www.wenz2018.nz/). The official cache page is live [GC78NMQ - WENZ Event 2018](https://coord.info/GC78NMQ). You can also visit the event’s page on [FaceBook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/590545297801072/). If you are planning to attend, please ensure you register each planned attendees geocaching name on the official page and also on our WENZ website.

Very cool cache! Unfortunately the pen didn't work so we couldn't participate in the activity. TFTC

Brought the rest of the tribe back here and tidied up as much as we could.

http://www.stellography.com

Magical

Thank you.

http://www.stellography.com

Visiting a friend who stays very close by to this cache so decided to give this one a go. What a great idea for a cache! Awesome! TFTC and fun find. Cheers

Just missed Christmas but thankfully Santa was still there. Great cache. Done early morning so no issue with traffic or muggles. TFTC

Found with Mum as 'Jess & Caro'. She is now Carø and I now have my own geocaching profile so we are sorting my logs for caches we found together. TFTC!

We are staying in Napier for a week in the middle of our two weeks over from Aus, catching up with family and friends and doing a bit of sight-seeing. Today I have my Mum and nephew and we are off to find a couple of caches and see a few of the sights in Napier. As the day went on we had lunch together and found several caches together and then dropped mum home for a snooze and the three of us set of and found a stack more caches. I think we have converted Jess's cousin, there was some frivolity, healthy competition, and a lot of laughs and chat all day.

This was on the top two of my 'must do' geocaches in the region and I wondered how I would get to it. Well after a wickedly fun day out with Jess, my Mum, and my nephew MooMoo, then dropping Mum home and continuing just the three of us... when I dropped MooMoo home I thought that was the end of the caches for today. But no, my muggle sister was almost gobsmacked at how much the 15yr old had enjoyed himself, and upon hearing about these two incredibly important geocaches and their whereabouts on roundabouts (hehe) she offered to be the driver.

We parked around the corner and made our way to cross over safely when there was a nice lull in the traffic. All four of us dove into the centre and all four of us then grinned from ear to ear! How absolutely delightful! What a great cache idea and what a great time of year for us to be visiting. We signed, contributed, I left a few little gifts, and after playing a little while, we set off back to our sleigh... I mean, car.

Thank you for one of the best geocaches I've had the joy of finding, nickhbnz. A well earned favourite point from us!

Tftc loved it especially near Christmas. Marker in cache needs replacing.

A bit behind with the logging - on a 3 day caching adventure with rustynz and gorby

Made our way to the secret place, cool hide

We parked up away from the round about and ventured here. A little time was spent trying to get across but without endangering ourselves we did it. Then it was a matter of trying to get in the bush, did that successfully and finally to the cache! rusty and I both had pens but only one managed to work on the paper. Funny that me and rusty somehow got the idea to do this at night...

With a group of Westies finding caches around the Hawkes Bay, day 3.

For some reason I had it in my head that visiting this cache at night, would be a more magical experience. When chatting to the other Westies was toldna daytime visit would be fine.

So with gorby and rebel98 we made our way to the centre, into this fantasyland

Unfortunately the pen was not working, and the pen that I had barely scratched my name. Never mind, a fun find for this Westie crew.

Log later

We had made up a group of 7 Westies and flown down to Napier for a few days of caching. Came here with Merlot58 and Adien29 earlyish and enjoyed this cache. It gets a favourite from us so close to Christmas. Had a coffee locally.

In Napier with a group of Westies for a caching weekend. This cache was one of the highlights. We followed the sparkle and were dazzled. A very cool cache that is well worth a fp

Down with some Westies for the weekend. We had our driver drop us off and raced across to visit the Grotto. It was well worth the trip. Love this, fav point.

Awesome loved it, theme and cache very well done, thank you for this, A FP from us, easy find, signed log but not other as tool was not working and we didn't bring one TFTC

wow this round about is even busier, I am hoping wearing a high viz jacket and taking photos I am way to boring to watch, quick duck in and I notice the sparkle made me smile and I even manged to sign both, thanks for another well put together cache, gets another fav from me .. now how to leave without being seen..

#9277. Interesting to navigate our way to Saint Nick’s grotto in Pirimai on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Once past the outer moat, the grotto was all quiet when we visited. Quick find. Although we did not see the plastic bag, the cache was in excellent condition, all nice and dry inside. Took nothing, left nothing, signed log (both versions).

Thanks for the placement and for bringing us to this site, and …

.T h a n k s. .f o r. .t h e. .c a c h e.
.M a u r u u r u. .k o e. .n u i. .a t u. .h o k i. .t e. .k e t e r o k i.

Wow, just wow!
Took nothing, left a little heart and here comes another one (a fav point).
Could only sign 'Kat' then the permanent marker was empty, but also signed the log.
Very cool!!!!

In this area for a Dahlia Show, now it is time to find some caches before tea. Thanks for the cache.

Day 13 of our North Is trip, and today we are based in Havelock North. And after days of warm, sunny weather, we experienced drizzle today, but we didn't let that dampen our caching activities too much.
We lived to tell the tale of a visit to Saint Nick's Grotto - it was heart in mouth stuff getting to and from GZ. Loved the log book. TFTC.

#13842. I wonder if the roundabout landscapers deliberately created cache-friendly plantings. Only trouble is you get rather wet getting to GZ after morning rain. Quick find once we had penetrated the outer defences. Great cache. TFTC.

Wow! What a fantastic idea for a cache! I found the right time and ducked into the grotto, not knowing quite what to expect. I wasn't disappointed. Santa kindly had a little gift for me in exchange for signing the log. Seems a few finders have signed the 'alternative log' before finding the real one (which is what I did).

I found it much harder to leave the grotto than to enter...but I got to repeat the performance after returning to my car and realising I had left my keys with Santa. Sigh.

TFTC

CZECH
tak to je perfektní tato keška stojí za to a hledání není složité

Early morning start after farewelling 2016 to pick up Mr HowOnEarth at the airport so seemed like a good quiet time and a great start to the new year to brave the traffic island. Very little traffic around so spotted a gap in the flax and headed in. What a lovely surprise and a really nice thing to do for your fellow caches. Happy New Year.

We weren't exactly delighted when we saw where this cache was located, but we were certainly absolutely delighted when we reached this superb cache. Well worth risking life and limb to get there, and a favourite from us. TFTC

LOVED the appropriately themed hide for the logbook. After searching for a long time to find the logbook at the Secret Island Hideaway, this one was easy to find - in a relative way. I very much enjoyed this hide, and wish I could give it two favourite points. Awesome! Thank goodness for St Nick!

What a great theme for this time of you! I had to dodge traffic and then get in low. I signed the logbook and then an ornament to hang on the tree. I had forgotten my sunnies so I had to go back and retrieve them. TFTC

12.30 our first in Napier. That's awesome. We were about to give up when we found a way in. From outside you would never know this was here. nickbnz, you are a genius.

????

Day 10 of our Mega Roadtrip. Luv It! Would really have liked to see it in its original state. Lots of broken baubles on the ground but we found a whole one in the cache and tried to write on it. Unfortunately the marker was quite dry so its not really that readable unless you know what it says. A favourite from us. Thanks for the smilie

I just love these secret cool oasis's hidden amongst suburban chaos. a great little spot for my TB. I couldn't find a log book in this grotto, so i just signed a decoration and dropped off a tb.

this was another amazing roundabout cache, thanks for the time and effort it took to make these

I think the best bit about these roundabout caches is the stealthy moves performed under darkness trying to get in and out without being seen. Tftc

Christmas has come early. Traffic seemed relatively light so I made a dash for the North Pole. I'd heard rumours about the roundabout caches in Napier and this doesn't disappoint. Now to get back off the roundabout. TFTC

We were recommended these 'round-a-bout' caches and this would be our second one in a row. What a treat, a little tight for space and the log took a little bit to find but we loved this idea as well. Cheers again Nick, a great function for an otherwise boring round-a-bout.

We've had this Tauranga to Hawkes Bay trip planned for a couple of months now and this was our 10th stop. TNXPro, DavidsonClan and myself have signed the logs T3A, an acronym from our messenger chat 'The 3 Amigos'. TNLNSL

I'll also use this log to mention the [New Zealand Geocaching Adventure 2016](http://www.nzgeocachingadventure.nz/) which is being held 21-24 October 2016 (Labour Weekend) in Turangi. Please log your attendance at [GC63PZN](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC63PZN_new-zealand-geocaching-adventure-2016) to ensure this event achieves its [MEGA](https://support.groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=86) classification. Can't wait to see everyone there!

We had planned a trip from Tauranga to Napier area for weeks now, and this weekend was the time to get as many caches as we could find.

We called ourselves "The Three Amigos" (and logged as 'T3A'), comprising of myself, Philip.Perry and Davidsonclan. Leaving at 5am Saturday morning, we knew we had a long weekend ahead of us.

We now had more of a plan for our caching today. High on the priority, were the Roundabout caches by nickhbnz and this one was also a really fun one to do. I havent come across anything to like this before.

Thanks for a fun and enjoyable cache. Just as well I have a few fav points stocked up, as nickhbnz will be getting a few this weekend - this included.

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**Addicted to Geocaching? Log a WILL ATTEND at the [GC63PZN New Zealand Geocaching Adventure 2016](https://coord.info/GC63PZN) and help make it a MEGA event.**

Wow, night time makes this one really sparkle, tftc

Find #3 on our geocaching night out, we parked safely nearby and made the mad dash across to GZ when the timing was right. Had no idea what to expect here, felt a bit like kids again as we searched and made our way to the cache. Loved the whole concept and can't wait to see how your next roundabout cache tops this (no pressure ). Tftc

A long time in the planning but this "once in a lifetime" holiday has finally come to fruition and will see us travelling around as much of New Zealand as we can manage in six weeks. This is not a caching trip, Yvonne doesn't participate but she does tolerate, so I hope to pick up a few here and there. And it's great to get away from the English Winter!

Day 29
Just a short expedition this morning to gather up three LARGE caches, of which there are too few in the world and which I chase after at every opportunity. This afternoon will be taken up with the art deco tour.

Took due care getting to GZ where the cache was quickly found - it took longer to find the log to sign! Definitely a fav point for this one!

BaSHful.

Wow what a really cool well thought out cache. I parked across the road by Palmers and walked across towards GZ and was really surprised at what I found. I think I found the log sheet on my 5th attempt. Completed the formalities then I was out of there back to the Van.
Another FP awarded.
Tftc

Thanks St Nick, a fantastic cache and loads of fun so definitely a FP. Tftc

Had been forced to stay the night for work but after arriving at site was told that the upstream equipment had failed overnight meaning that I had a lot of spare time today. I even got to leave site early stating that I would try to get an earlier flight home, unfortunately the only other flight was full giving me an extra couple of hours of caching YAY!

I had noted this cache driving in and having already found the other roundabout cache by this CO knew I was in for a treat on this one.

Using the same technique as before the cloak of invisibility (ie Hi Viz Vest) I made my way to the grotto. Approaching GZ was a little difficult as I had to circumnavigate the island to find an appropriate entry point.

Even than I ended up on my knees as the foliage did NOT support a 6ft 4in guy. I found the appropriate decorations and soon had the cache in hand.

But that wasn't the end of it I still had to sign the log a mini adventure in its self!!!!

Took the opportunity to sign a Ballball and hang it.

Another awesome island cache and brilliant theme. I have tried looking for an equivalent Island in Auckland to place a similar hide but they don't tend to lend themselves to this sort of hide

Gets a favourite from me again.

TFTC

Just on a short visit to Napier but we were keen to fit this cache in. So glad we did. We left it until Sunday evening and it was fairly quiet here. We also used the old hi-viz vest and clipboard trick just in case.
What a magical experience from the moment you step inside the flaxes and spot the sparkles, then soon the grotto... How lovely to be transported back to childhood innocence. Thanks so much for the total experience nickhbnz. Gets a favourite point (wish we could give two). TFTC

Found it a couple of weeks ago. Upgraded membership.

I wasn't expecting that. What a great setup.
Didn't have any problem crossing the road.
+rubix TB
Thanks

Another amazing hide. Thanks Nick

BEST CACHE EVER!!!!!!! Love your Geocaches Nick Amber took a little star coz she likes the nursery rhyme twinkle twinkle little star !!!!!!!!!!! TFTC Nick!!!!!!!!!!! can not wait to do another Roundabout cache!!!!

How can you not give this a favourite!! Jordis will talk about this for days and every time we drive passed it too haha Her eyes were so wide with excitement it's like it was Christmas morning! Amber thought it was awesome too, she has taken away a little treasure as she loves "Twinkle twinkle little star". Thanks Saint Nick

last cache find for 2015 now heading off for a drink and an event aroha and happy caching fav pint from me

On a bit of a geocaching trip away with Just-Lookin & Princess Emily.
We soon found the cache - very nice effort put into this one.

SL Thanks for the fun find!

Heading North with tmann421 and Princess-Emily.

What a great cache. Princess=Emily enjoyed this one.

TFTC and adding to the fun of our trip nickhbnz

On a road trip with Just-Lookin and tmann421.

Ooh this one was exciting. I loved the contents of the cache and we added our decoration

TFTC and the fun.

Absolutely loved this cache!!!!! One of the best I have ever done. From the moment I got to GZ I was amazed. Thank you for this wonderful creation.

We went looking for this just on dark tonight so there was not much traffic. We loved the theme, followed the instructions once we located the cache, signed and replaced as found. Cache is dry and in good condition. We spotted the Rubik TB but left it there, as neither of us is good at solving that kind of puzzle and we have limited time this trip anyway. We did have a scarey moment when we thought we heard someone else coming, but must have been imagining it. Thanks for a fun cache Nick and a belated Merry Christmas to you! A fave from us.

Oh my gosh what an awesome cache! Very well thought out and really cool. I really wish I could give this more than one fav point! Thank you for creating this! This was also my 200th find, yay!

Greetings from Wellington. Interesting cache to get to. Felt very exposed until I got passed the flax and then it was actually a very private spot. Bit of a struggle to get to for a tall guy like me, but the cache was certainly easy to spot. Came to visit the Rubix TB, but this was a great cache! Very well themed and one of the biggest containers that I have come across. TFTC.

TB Drop.

Had to wait until a bit later to try to find this cache for fear of muggles. We returned at 7, which is a recommended time for others.

What an amazing cache! So much festive cheer and a fabulous idea. Loved it so much. Don't want to give too much away but definitely a fave point from us.

Everyone needs to do this cache.

Merry Christmas Fav point from us because we love Christmas and art and this combined the two. We definitely went in the most difficult way and struggled through the harakeke. Did find a much easier exit! Thanks for adding Christmas cheer to the geocaching world love and happiness to all xxx

Screaming up the road on the trusty old scooter. Singing jingle bells. Ok wasn't singing but the thought was there. Met a couple of fellow cacher a along the way. Merry Christmas all. Super cache idea Nick. Thanks for the fun and adventures. Thought I might almost have found an elusive FRF but it was not my turn.

What a great cache. Thanks for all the effort.

Yay FTF !! Awesome large cache, it was perfect having two kids as an excuse to go and find this one. A huge amount of effort and thought has gone into creating this Grotto. We all had so much fun signing the log. Lets hope it doesn't get muggled ! Pen was a little hard to write with and may need replacing soon. Many thanks for the "sparkle" TB dropped off too. A fav point from us

As we were approaching the roundabout some mad woman lol on a scooter beeped her horn at us and waved ........ Was she a fellow geocacher or was she wondering what we were up to?? Finding a spot to get into gz was the first challenge and we did a full circle before entering. Quickly followed our way to the cache as we were joined by scooter lady who was indeed another cacher. Thanks for a fun Xmas cache. Merry Xmas to all. Tftc (Ltd lol)

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