Orokawa Bay (Bay of Plenty) Waihi Beach, North Island, New Zealand
By The Elves on 23-Jun-02. Waypoint GC6939

No response from owner. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the current guidelines, we'll be happy to unarchive it.

My goodness - what a waste of time and energy this turned out to be. We battled [B)] our way through a virtually non existant track ... cutty grass and gorse is not a pleasant combination [B)] - and we couldn't see where we were putting our feet most of the time.

We didn't even reach GZ or the BBQ table ... they must have been up there somewhere, but we don't think we came remotely close to where we were supposed to be. We won't be back to try for this one again.

The cache appears to be in need of owner intervention. I'm temporarily disabling it, to give the owner an opportunity to check on the cache, and take whatever action is necessary. Please respond to this situation in a timely manner (i.e., within 21 days) to prevent the cache from being archived for non-responsiveness.

Please see my last log.

At cache site today and found after a long look in the bush.
CACHED MOVED NEARER TO THE TABLE

SIT AT TABLE LOOKING AT OROKAWA BEACH.

CACHE IS UNDER GRASS BESIDE TEA TREE 6 TO 8M FROM YOU, 45DEG TO YOUR LEFT SITTING AT TABLE.
TREE WITH FORK AT SHOULDER HIGHT.

LOG WET. CONTAINER NEEDS REPLACEMENT.

This entry was edited by willbuild on Wednesday, 27 April 2011 at 04:20:47 UTC.

Cache owners have not done any maintenace for a long time and have not logged in for almost a year.
Cache log wet. Container needs replacement.
Track very over grown and large slip below track on way in so track may slip away in next storm.
Not a place I want to go again.
I have moved cached to make it easier to find (see my last log) but cache wet.

This entry was edited by willbuild on Wednesday, 27 April 2011 at 04:21:33 UTC.

After a walk, came completly red and scratched up at the barbeque table. 25 passes, what is that? big/small and what direction. I tried everything. Did go to 25 meters all way but don't believe the cache is still there. Than the way back and get more scratches

Next time I'm down this way, I'll get an accurate fix on the cache and share that info. I managed to find it by going about 40m in the direction mentioned, then heading back to the bbq table. The Possum trappers track is more obvious on the return than it is on the way in.

Must have been on the wrong track

Very frustrating cache this one is. Found the "BBQ" table no probs, but finding the right "possum trappers track" is almost impossible. I suspect it is no longer a "light track". 4 of us spent 45 mins searching, net result lots of cuts and scratches and no cache. Hint is not helpful.

A very interesting cache location. The trick for us was finding the access track - which we did on the second go.

Found on my second attempt. This time it was much drier. Track very overgrown. Cache a bit damp from recent rain, so I dried things out as much as I could. Triple-bagged the logbook. Would be good if the next person could donate a pencil sharpener. If you're feeling REALLY generous, a new cache container would be good. Very rewarding find.

This entry was edited by stretch.kerr on Tuesday, 11 January 2011 at 23:08:20.

This cache seems to no longer be maintained - the owners last activity was back in 2002. Perhaps a local cacher could adopt this one? Needs a new container.

Was a bit disappointed with this cache. Only DNF of the day. Found the BBQ table, and the possum trappers track. Wasn't sure how far to go along the track to go. How far is 25 paces? Very subjective, dependent on stride, especially over rough terrain. A distance in meters would be nice. Assumed the 235 bearing from the table was a magnetic bearing. I guess it doesn't really matter over a distance of "25 paces". Searched every bush from about 15m to 35m from the table. No joy. Will give it another go in drier weather.

the legs are a bit of a mess cut 2 bits lol

log getting a bit damp you have trouble writeing on it TKs

Track too overgrown and too much cutty grass to rumage through with a 3 and 5 yr old!! Maybe try another time...

What an adventure cache is wet

Found after a bit of a scramble. Track from table is overgrown. Cache and log are wet.

The track is totally overgrown, was hard to find even the table. Took a long time to find in the rain and was really a very difficult cache. Contents wet. TFTC

Great wee track over the top. Cache found quickly along the possum trail. Thanks.

Think I found the possum trail??

Quick cache after dinner. Nice night for a walk after such a wet weekend.
Once at GZ, took about 6 attempts to find cache, but finally got it.
TFTCSL TNLN

Haha.. got us scratching our heads for a bit. Missed on the way out to other two caches but found the afore mentioned wooden structure on our way back. From the GZ the cache was exactly as described. Cache log and contents were a bit wet and munted but hey who cares we found it and that's what counts. NINO TFTC.

Found the table but guess my paces are to short coz i didnt find the cache, Got scratched and stabbed by gorse not the best idea to go in shorts, jandles and singlet, lol.
Better luck next time i hope.

Gorse, cutty grass, bring a ladder if you want a view. Cache is broken. Signed wet log. TFTC I think ....

Got stabbed by nearby foliage quite a few times, and had to go way more than 25 paces. But had the cache in hand in the end. Log damp.

Yeah! Got it. TFTC MacBanger

Got to the table OK But it took a bit of a search from there. 25 Paces is correct if they are large ones. Maybe the angle should be 265 degrees ?

Needs new container. Top breaking up. Unfortunatly not water proof.

A big day caching with Dad, the wookie and a muggle (callum). we did alot of caches today because Dad wouldn't stop. we found all of the and wrote in the log book as dad was teaching us to find them on our own. he viewed the caches to make sure we were not cheating.
awesome day until it started raining

TFTC

found on a caching expedition with the mortis and tribe of 4. we had a muggle with us to try his luck also. he did we finding some of the harder ones and they had fun filling in the logs.
TNLNSL

I was here with Boges who had found it earlier.
Just as well cause I dont think I would have found it myself.
On the route for several other caches in the area.
I tried the degree Paces clue and was nowhere near the clue.
Cheers Boges

Took sister in law for 1st cache, didn't realise it was going to be so hard to find, but we got it along with some good laughs. Thanks

We took the first hiking trail at the end of the beach, not realizing there was another further along. We ended up bushwacking through a lot of rainforest before realizing we were on the wrong track. Went back to the beach and got on the right track, gorgeous views and Orokawa Beach was great. Our GPS kept jumping around with the tree cover and we never did find the cache. It was a great walk but sorry we missed it after all the work.

#578

[Where to start, Reading back the logs I find out this is one of those epic cache hunts, for me it was no exception!! with GPS in hand i ran off from the waihi beach carpark, "its only 800mtrs away" i go in jandals as in our haste to leave yesterday i threw in 2 Left pair of running shoes, so imagine bush bashing in jandals if you might!! to make matter worse i had to run the whole way as half way along the track i noticed the "battery low" appearing!! "after the bridge follow the GPS" it states..... so thats what i did, i got to within 48mtrs of the cache then it started to get further away again, surely the track must curve around!!! i realised it was not going to when it was going down towards the beach and the cache was behind me at 330mtrs!! I turned back and found a little side track going against the direction of the arrow, again it wasnt going the way of the cache, and the cutty grass and sticks poking me didnt make it any more enjoyable, back to the track, i knew i was close at the 48mtr mark!! so i back tracked back towards waihi beach, looking closely for a track from the nearest point back, finally i found one!! it even went in the right direction towards the cache spot!! I found the BBQ table which was the Ground Zero, then using the Colorado Compass function I got the direction to the cache sorted and walked untill i was 25mtrs away from the table, checked 2 bushes and found it straight away!!

With the dry weather the contents were dry-ish, but the logbook was safe as it was quadrupal bagged!! TNLN TFTC!!!!!]

Turn off at S three seven two three point three four five
E one seven five fifty six point three one three
For the track turn off co-ords.

Nice spot, good to get off the main track where all the people were. If you are taking any kids with you, watchout for the bait station, its white about the size of a shoe box and looks like a miniature factory with a big chimney. Just the sort of thing that kids would be curious about while in the area searching for this hard to find cache. Its looking very sad an unloved, but a nice spot. thanks.

The Freezer Mice strike again!!!
Wow... now this was a mission.
To begin with had to figure out the hint... yay found the table.
Then had to locate the right track... and the right piece of grass. Bugger!
After about 45 minutes of solid searching through all the cutty grass in the area (thanks!), finally decided to try a last ditch effort in a slightly different location.
Wouldnt you know it, sucess.
Cache still needs replacing, as all the contents are still pretty damp.
Awesome views from up there, thanks.

Didn't find it but it was a lovely walke to Orokawa Bay where we did some skinny-dipping. But we were interupted by some schoolchildren. Their teacher had a good laugh

what a mission in hot sun! a lovely beach at the end made up for a long search... congrats to bobo for the perseverance to make the find.

Cool spot, took a while to locate the actual cache.

Nice walk to bay, took a bit of snooping to find in shrubery, but all good - cache needs new container, full of water, left upside down to keep water out! Cheers Muzy Man

Cache full of water, need new lid.

Jambo Habari
Saa tatu unusu asubuhi
Ninaweza kuserma kiswahill
Rahisi
Cache full of water,
Track from table very over grown
Hakuna matata
Asante sana
Kwaheri

had an idea where this one was from many walks over the hill over the years -wasnt as easy as i thought once i got there -had to count my way in a few times and try different tracks but found it in the end -lot of water in it but log still dry -needs a new lid TNLN

The lid is cracked and its filling with water. Memo remember to believe the gps

heaps of water in container.

Probably should either change container or remove the cache.

Well, it was a beautiful day for a walk, and the extended family came along. Unfortunately there was a high tide & we all got caught in a freak wave which knocked us all off our feet along with another couple of groups of walkers. It seems that GPS devices don't like salt water emersion (and neither do cell phones & cameras), so even though we got to the bay, we did not find the cache...

Our first ever geocache - very exciting and we have passed this spot many a time without knowing we were walking within 25 meters of a treasure chest!

A great find with Pete's new Christmas present. Great views and heard some interesting stories from the locals about the park bench in question. Scary stuff.

The Phonebox Crew

This cache needs help! Container lets in heaps of water and contents were submerged. Luckly the logbook has survived. Maybe try a different container? Great area though.

This was one of those epic caches. Started off by taking the wrong track. By the time we realised this we decided to hope that it would lead us over to the correct track, but no. Then we decided to bush bash - well what a mistake. Thick, muddy, and wet (plus it started to rain). Half an hour later we burst out on the right track, whew.

Now on to the cache. Then went right past the 'right' way to the BBQ table, oh well, its that sort of day. Then a hunt for the cache. The faint track has sort of been re-routed and so the instructions didn't make sense. Widened the search area and finally found it.

Container had at least 4 cms of water inside. Needs replacing and contents drying out. Double bagged the logbook. Finally slid our way back to the car - oh by the way its a nice coastline!!! TFTC

Not a nice place to go for a walk after the storm, Very wet and muddy

Not a bad day for a walk. Took the wrong track at first but then the GPS wasn't on at that stage. Back tracked and found the correct one to follow. Watching the GPS the track was not going any where near the top but I soon saw some muggles dive of onto a smaller track and so I followed. Found the table. Hunted for the cache for 10 minutes or so and then remembered that I have all this technology in my hand so used the GPS to get me on line and distance and got straight onto the cache. The container was rather wet. I tipped out the water and resealed the bags. The log bag was reasonably dry. Thanks for a nice trip.

Nice walk on a beautiful easter monday! Found the picnic table but 4 of us could not find the cache. Great part of the country.

This has to be the hardest cache for us so far. We had all sorts of problems finding the right area to search, and then having established the correct place still had problems with overgrown vegetation. After many attempts we were about to give up, but decided to have one last go, and finally success! We did enjoy the shady walk and the views. TNLN

This one was nearly the death of me, the walk was great with excellent scenic views. Found location with ease but couldn't find cache for the life of me. Was pretty much given up when an eager nztails came up with the prize.

+ Enviro-coin

Thanks for a really great cache

Loved this walk. Have done it many a time before in my young years. I enjoyed it much more this time around I think and it didn't seem to take as long.
Spent a long time looking and getting attacked by mean grass and I was on the verge of giving up when I found the right area and easily came up with it. So pleased to walk down with a victory.
Thank you for the cache!!!

A nice ride back to Waihi Beach on Xena... First time I came here on her was a test ride before purchase...
This time TechnoKitten was in company on her Suzuki Splat..
We beat the rain here but clouds were gathering... decided to go anyway. Dialed up cache.. reading 880 metres in a straight line. We set off and I am sure we walked 3km to GZ.. Mumble mumble... puff puff.. Found the table mentioned but path to offset was overgrown but we got close then the heavens opened up.. Hail and rain.. (why are we here again!!??) We were so close but still couldn't find... I hate being so close... so didn't give up.. TK went one way.. I went the other and slowly moved back towards table.. after thinking we had looked everywhere TK came up with the goods.. Whew thank god.!
Contents were wet...
Signed Log and logged thru travelling bugs and coins I had in possession...
Because of the downpour it was hell getting back and ended up with mud all over bike gear..! mumble..
TFTC #237

On a day trip supposedly to hunt Tuatuas but any excuse will do to jump on the bikes and hunt caches.
Riding my own bike today for a change .. do prefer pillion though (shhhh dont tell XC)
Walkies ... walkies ... walkies and more walkies..... found the table.... but where is the cache ?????? Lots of bush bashing and cutty grass cursing we had our filthy paws on a very soggy cache... time for maintenance and replacemet with a nice new sitema box.
THe hail arrived along with the rain so this made the clay track very slimy ... XC making some awesome recovery moves to avoid "cheeky" landings.... his motorbike boots have almost smooth soles.... eeek
THere are some fantastic views from various parts of this coastal walk, we will return someday I hope.

Track has now been cleared to BBQ Table. Quick find, the Cache had 3in of water in it!! Cleaned it out Took TB then carried on to Homunga Bay . Takes 1.5 hrs from carpark , well worth the walk.TFTC. It needs a new container .

They say it is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all. As I returned to Waihi Beach in the late afternoon cut, bleeding, without my sunnies, exhausted and gutted, I reminded myself of this saying several times.

The previous log (from February 26!) made it clear, but I took no notice. If you missed it, here it is again: don't come to this site using the track (a word to be used in its loosest possible sense) from the North. It was a hell trip bush bashing and blundering during which time I lost my sunglasses off the top of my head. That pi**ed me off!

Got to GZ and started the hunt for the offset. I spent a good 40 minutes here, searching the track. No, I could not find the cache.

My desire to liberate Frannie's Chip (?) had to be quelled. A gathering storm and falling light of day drove me back to the main track.

It pays to read the clues here very carefully and do not hurry on by when you should be more closely examining your surrounds.

It is a great place, well worth the visit and the walking. I will back, one day, and hope to find this one.

TFTC and the experience (both good, not so good and bad!)

The Turtle does NOT strike again!

What a bugger of a walk off the main track
Found after a while, do not use track from the north.
In TB Frannie's chip

Found this one after a nice walk. Dryed contend in evening sun. Took TB. Nice location. TFTC

Very challenging cache. Thought we were so clever to at least find the table, and then to find the cache also, was very exciting. Great views but were slightly put off our sandwhiches after Syrius Black's previous exposure on the BBQ table. glass beeds out gel pin in, Thanks

revisited to drop off TB and enjoy the views and enjoy that table on a lovely sunny day. Got sunburnt in some unusual places too

A good find on a pleasent day. Got to the cache from the other direction so the clue was not any help. Got cut to shreds getting there too. The BBQ table is really a very pleasent spot. Contents of the cache were a little wet so dried them out a little in the sun.

Great walk to an idalic whit sand beach although the cache was a mission to get to...arms cut to ribbons by cutty grass. Thanks

Also enjoyed the clues - something of a challenge but we persevered. TNLNSL

Got cut to ribbons finding this but worth it for the view.
The cache was full of water and some items were beyond repair. Did some drying as we had a nice day and time to sit at the table. Replaced ziplock bags and added some.
Also removed lots of rubbish from the site....!!!
In- 4 packets of chewies to sustain next visitors. Sunblock and a squidgey face.
Out- Soaked and ruined paper rubbish. Rusty waterlogged light. body lotion.a coin. (Found with Dobbee and Headwig...)
Great place for a cache and had fun finding it and seeing the great views and scenery. Thanks.

Long slippery track, had to read the clues very well.
found with Syrius Black and Headwig. Great views, too much cutty grass[:(!]

This was the hardest one of the day, very slippery and too much grass[:(!] but great views from the top. Had fun with the clues!
found with Syrius and Dobbee.

well what a mission pouring down wet almost unreadable cache sheet and not reading the clue correctly the first time, but hey the beah is nice. found the clue on the way back so all's well. the track up to the picnic table is overgrown

CACHE CONTENTS ARE VERY WET BUT LOG BOOK IN GOOD CONDITION SORRY WEATHER WAS AGAINST ME REPLACING THIS WILL NEED TO BE DONE COULD NOT DRY CONTAINER ENOUGH UE TO THE HEAVY RAIN

TNLNSL

A reasonably clear day but there was a howling cold SWly blowing. Thankfully you are pretty sheltered from this direction on the track and we still got the incredible views. The cache proved to be more difficult than expected given the previous logs and it seems we made the same mistake as all the others. Spent about an hour in the general vicinity following false trails before finally realising what we had to do. Most satisfying to get there in the end. A well designed cache! Thanks. TNLN

Found it at 12.00 hrs.
Nice and sunny(hot!).First wrong table, and on the way back I understood the hint!Sneaky!
Out: TB
In: White pick-up truck
Thanks
Meryl( from Holland)

Very nice wet walk to the beach, then back seaching for the right route, ignoring the arrows. Left TB Digger

Great bush walk. Was fairly wet and miserable
weekend, but that gave great sense of wild/
isolation, good views of the swells coming in.
No swimming for me today! TNLN. Regards.

Found this on a caching trip with the Sallies
Thanks

A lovely day - hot and sunny. Came up with friends - it is good to come with people who know the area. David found it!
+ can sleeve - Travel Bug ( Trundler Coin)
Thanks
Iris & Rodney

Found it !!!
My first real cache at the other side off the world.
An amazing beautiful walk and surrounding. And an even greater view from this spot. After the cache we have been swimming on this beautiful beach.

Out: Nothing
In : Travel Bug "Trundler Coin"

Thanks.
Dutch Kiwi.

This one took me some time to find, and had to do it the old fashioned way. GPS battery went flat. Great location and I did get heaps of good photos. Cheers.

Day 1 of a week long kayak trip from Whagamata to Te Kaha, and stopped here for lunch. Just had to log my visit . Log book is missing pages (including my original) up to HLD's entry. Fantastic coastline from here, all the way up the Coromandel coast. But for me now, it's just days of long sandy beaches (and surf landings ).
Cheers, M@

[This is another great cache site. The instructions are very clear and accurate. Spoiler follows,] A word of warning. The track to Orakawa bay has been changed to a lower level around a point. It also has a seat/table. The old section of track which contains the cache is now largely disused, but still accessible.
[Nil in
Penny out
Sorry, set off for this cache in such a rush, that I left my treasure and camera behind in the car. Will call again some time.]


[This entry was edited by da_snoop on Saturday, October 18, 2003 at 10:22:23 AM.]

25 BIG steps.
Don't be put of by a bit of scrub.
The bulldozers (pigs) haven't been around for awhile.
Nothing in and Nothing out.

Well it was a race, the sun was going down the GPS batteries were getting low and we were doing a lot of back tracking.
However we found it. A great cache. The pigs are still rooting. We had forgotten to bring anything so nil in and nil out.
Managed to get one shot of the view before the camers batteries died.
Thanks Elves.

A nice walk and marvelous beach but this was our fourth try and second failure today.

We found the Table but the GPS still had us 50 meters or so from the waypoint and the track seemed to be heading SE not SW

We walked up 25 paces and searched about but had serious doubts as to our position and with daylight running out we abandoned the quest.

The bay at the start of the walk was littered with literally millions of Ostrich Foot shells (I'm talking banks of them 18 deep for the length of the bay). Irritated a jogger by keeping pace with him with my powerful Dwarf sized strides, he turned back fairly quickly - I'm not sure if it was embarrasment of if he was threatened by this figure stalking him Anyway followed the path until I realised I wasn't getting any closer. Backtracked and discovered the secret. Cache was dry. Something out, Something in.

Added logbook too.

A good exercise in route choice (if you don't decrypt the clue). Heaps of people this sunny Waitangi Day.

In: Reader's book light
Out: DAMART watch

Note: There is no paper left to log any more visits (didn't think it would be that popular, eh ). Needs a logbook.

Thanks, M@

[last edit: 2/8/2003 9:16:52 PM PST]

Had a lovely walk over the hill to Orokawa Bay first. Had a swim before heading back. With the easterly winds there was some good waves.

I must learn to bend a little lower when going under branches. Haven't got much padding left on top.

Took the dice and medal and left some body lotion.


[last edit: 1/13/2003 12:49:56 AM PST]

Awesum spot....not a cloud in the sky....took heaps of piccys....again first time for me up there and was most enjoyable....also heaps of pig sign too....pay not to put anything edible in this cache as pigs have a extremely keen sence of smell.

Took cd's and left medal.

took scenic route to cache, guessed its location from the surf club. been many years since I have done this walk, good scenic views, took wife and daughter to find this one, found ok. spotted pig rooting. took hamburglar and 5c USA coin, left pen and some 'precious gems'.

Nice day. Cache in good nick, hasn't been attacked by anyone or thing since last logged. The BBQ table is in a bit of disrepair.

The cache also contains a pencil, which is just as well as we forgot to bring a new pen.

According to an unreliable source there's a rock down by the water called Suicide Rock just down from this point where you can catch John Dory ! I don't believe it though and aren't game to try fishing off there ..You shouldn't either!

In: Watch that Willbuild left in another cache and 2 x CDs (TUMONZ 14 day evaluation - www.tumonz.co.nz - and Lycoris 4.6 - a great free Linux OS)

Out: Nasty Boot Scooters CD to give to someone as a present and 2 x AAs


[last edit: 12/30/2002 11:38:45 PM PST]

Lovely first day of spring, Pam and I found this @ about 27 paces in. We were surprised the piggies have not plundered the cache. Still some moisture in the container. Took the Poncho and left a pass for two to the Ngatea water gardens.

P.S when going in there please take a pen as I found the cache pen in my pocket on arrival home. Duh!

Found this cache with a little difficulty today. Pigs have severly rooted up the area. I moved the cache slightly from it's original position, just so it was a little better concealed from one direction after the pigs had cleared the adjacent undergrowth. Took nothing and left 4x AA Batteries. A little moisture was obvious in the bottom of the container, nothing serious, and as all the contents are in a plastic bag everything is dry. I didn't notice the lid loose when I opened it, not sure how the moisture got in there, made sure the lid was on ok. Thanks

Willbuild.
Found it in the end. Walked over to Orowawa Bay first then did not follow the arrows on the return, great view up the beach. I think I got there before TGSNOOPY as there were no batteries in it at the time. Pigs have rooted around the area, and tree down, container wet inside (dryed it out) contents all dry. Took the fishing rod cover , left a emergency poncho and pen,
Merv the Mamakuman was here.

[last edit: 8/10/2002 8:34:18 PM PST]

What better to do on another very wet day. Raced the waves at high tide to the path, dry feet at that stage and then on to splash our way through puddles to the cache. Then onto Orokawa bay, one of our favourite places, fantastic today shrouded in mist and of course no one to be seen. A great day with wild surf!
Took the tabacco tin and left a fishing rod cover.
A beautiful place to go in any weather!