Oh Christmas Tree (Canterbury) Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand
By Injeanious on 16-Dec-16. Waypoint GC6Y65B

A lot has changed around GZ and the tree has grown too big and crowded in to be a good hiding spot.

Hi, it's still there but difficult to access since there are so many thorny things around. I still intend to find a new spot and change coordinates.

I'm going to temporarily disable this one as the area has become quite overgrown and the cache needs to be relocated. It's currently still in place, but you'll need hardy clothes to get in there! Hopefully I can find a nearby bramble free zone.

GPS said 9m away when we found it. I was 'hanging for a cone', and this turned out to be exactly what I needed. Kids: erm, NO! They will be killed by the BlackBerry. Good luck.

Always fun pushing into blackberry and other undergrowth for a small container. Luckily found quite quickly. Tftc.

This has to be my fav so far bit of a mission but loved it

Gps told us a metre but nothing fancied us a a special Christmas tree within a couple of metres.
Difficulty might be a 4 or 5 as you will come back covered in scratches.this is certainly not one to do with children or if you like to introduce someone new to geocaching.
Suggest some maintenance or move the cache, plenty of Christmas trees around I should say

We went in on a bad track and came out on a better track, not overgrown. Its by the pine tree on a lean. Also didnt find the geocahche

Hi I think this needs to be moved or come serious chopping of black berry done. This is no longer geocacher friendly as blackberry is so vicious. I wouldn't take any children in here as it could tear them to pieces. I headed in and thankfully had long pants on but got holes in my new pants, puffer jacket and ended up quitting. It's nice and close to the carpark and like how you did the extra waypoints. Cheers

Unfortunately no luck for us as the 4yr wasnt such a fan of the Bush bashing

Our last (successful) find of the day, what a mission. There's ~kinda- a rough track into it, if you look for gaps between the broom and blackberry, from memory there was a 'bit of a gap' on the northern-er area where you choose where to turn off the track to start you off... Certainly not much risk of being muggled in here.. We were looking out for decorations but not quite that kind of decoration, nice one! With three of us there came the call eventually and soon I was signing the precious log. Thanks for the bush bash around, nice to have another smiley.

Sorry unable to locate

What a mission! Found it

That's not a very friendly introduction to Canterbury geocaching! But find the obviously beaten path and you will be rewarded TFTC

Lots of scratches getting to the GZ, and then lots more trying to find the right tree. Love the Xmas tree decorations!

There are many sort-of Christmas trees, but only one of them is a proper one. There are also blackberries to eat

Wasn't wearing my blackberry proof armour suit today. Thanks to the previous finder for their gardening, but wasn't quite enough for me to venture too far in my shorts and normal caching footwear (aka jandals).

Well what can I say??? We found a possible way in to find this one, and we were faced with a wall of broom and blackberry. I suggested to GK that we leave it as I was not really interested in getting scratched to pieces, but would he listen? NOOOOOO!!!!! At one stage he could not find a way through so he rolled on top of some broom to make a way past it. I had secateurs so I was taking a more delicate and deliberate path through the blackberry. So for anyone thinking about finding this one now would be an ideal time as there is now a sort of track to GZ.
So we eventually got close enough to start looking for the right tree, we went around in circles stuffing our faces in and around a few trees, increasing the hayfever that I already had. After a while GK who was only about two meters from me (I could not see him) says that he has found a tree of interest and next minute he has the cache in his hand.
Was this one of my more enjoyable experiences - ummmm no. Would I do it again - ummm no (thank fully we do not need to). Am I pleased to have found it - yes.
Thanks for placing this cache, I am sure when it was placed it was not the same over growth as it is now.

It was hard work getting to GZ and certainly do not want to do this once the blackberries grow even more. But we soon spotted the Christmas Tree and were happy to sign the log. Believe it or not, the way back to the track was even harder - we must have missed one turn... TFTC

That was a bit of an effort. Prob deserves higher D rating. Followed a few half-trails through the scrub, getting rather scratched. Checked a few different trees and circling round getting a bit frustrated. Finally stumbled on correct tree. Yes, the brambles are definitely a problem. Good to tick the bugger off. Wouldn't want to have to try again. Thanks to all cache owners for taking the time to place and maintain your caches. Team Broadbent (signed TB on micros). Find # 1813

Found on a nice walk with my beautiful beginner cacher Sezzles! TFTC! Thunderboltnz1

Not sure why this has so many favourites but I found it. Maybe prickles are some sort of thing here?

Navigated this with the little. Decided half way in that we were both mad. Scouted around for an age until I spotted something out of place. Then little spotted the prize!!! Phew! Worth the prickles! Tftc

A very freezing morning!! As I was bush bashing in between the vegetation in the frozen wonderland, I was glad I had gloves and reasonably warm clothing! Eventually I stumbled upon the right tree and and yes, you know when you have found it! TFTC!!!

I headed out for a bike ride around the park today and wanted to clean up the caches. I had the morning to play with and headed out. I found a few caches and DNFed one. Had a great time looping here and there around the park. All done I ended up biking 20km. Good fun.
Took a bit to find GZ here. I had my bike and left it nearby. As I was searching for the tree amongst the forest a couple of walkers stumbled upon my bike and they were wondeing if the bike was stolen or the rider was S@#$ing in the bushes! I piped up "I'm not S@#$ing in the bushes". It took a bit of circling around when something caught my eye! Great one, fav from me. I did get a bit cut up by the blackberries in my shorts.

Thanks for the cache Injeanious.
#5427

Second time having a hunt for this cache. I'm each time there's more blackberry! Will return with thicker pants and shoes!

9:39
FITW GreenMenace
Found on a dog walk.
Too many Christmas trees, to many, man!
I stumbled and prickled, onwards and sideways through the berry bushes, and finally I found the tree that had the presents! But it wasn't an easy quest. And I imagine, the D/T will only get higher as the time goes by!

TFTC!
#5913

That's my kind of Christmas tree
Present found and I'm lucky enough to have a berry container on me. Sadly I did not bring a replacement log which is needed

DNF
Oh, gee, christmas tree! Couldn't find the cachee!
I guess I will have to come back better prepared than shorts&sandals.

Searched around for a while, couldn't locate, GPS was all over the place, stumbled not a blackberry bush then found by luck more than anything.

Did a full circuit of the Apple/20th block to figure out where to head in. Got to the first marked waypoint and then “ploughed through” the vegetation to reach the area of GZ. Couldn’t avoid a few scratches along the way. Took a few minutes to locate the right tree. Yes, worth the effort of making it to this one! #1610. TFTC.

A reasonably quick find once I got to the right area.

After a couple of DNFs I visited GZ to see if the cache was still in place. I'm happy to say it's still there, but the undergrowth sure has sprung up! JD and I gave GZ a bit of a spruce up, so it should be easier to find.

I have added an additional waypoint so that people can find the entry point from the path that we tend to use. I have also added more information in the description to guide people in and I have increased the terrain rating.

Sensible footwear and pants will give you protection against prickly things, but JD managed to get in without getting scratched while wearing shorts and sandals. I have also made an elephant path which should help anyone looking this summer.

Bugger

Nope

Tried finding it with my geobuddy and no luck. Got scratched by everything:(

Had no luck at all finding this! Went full bush mode too.. might have to try again at some point!

Too much spikes around.

TFTC. Just enough time for a brief wander in the light drizzle. Cute cache.
Favourite point.
Thanks for creating this cache for others to enjoy.

#2,830: X-Mas Smiley!
This was the last one I visited on my walk around the "forest" today. Happy to make the find, as I found the container on the ground. Replaced it in the obvious tree. Nice one!!
SL/TFTC!!

3892
Nice one.
Tftc!!

T

I took the hard way to get to this cache so got a bit scratched. Finally got there and had a wee hunt before I found the right place. Nicely placed cache. TFTC

Yay the sun came out. What a novel idea. A nice idea.

Find out more about New Zealand's next big event [Oamaru Geofest](http://oamarugeofest2017.wixsite.com/geocachingevent)

Thanks. Injeanious and Jess.daphne for putting in the effort to hide this geocache. This was find 4885 for me.

Out walking on a winters afternoon with my geobuddy Nosynel and my wee geodoggies some areas hard to get to currently due to logging in the area this was not one of those so cool. Love the gz. Can have a fav I love Christmas Cheers for the smile.

28 May 2017 4:58 PM. Sunset is about 10 mins away so I was just about to give up hope of finding the right Christmas tree before abandoning caching for the day. Due to roads being closed off for tree felling it was a 50m cross country scramble but as I had been hauling wood for the rest of the day I was dressed appropriately. Bellbirds were singing and I clocked up well over my 10,000 steps for the day and found the cache so all is good! TFTC Injeanious and Jess.daphne 6:36 PM

Booya

Found with 2wombles while out for a walk. Soon had cache in hand. Thanks Injeanious for the cache.

Out in the area for a few caches, with my father in law Popmac. Had to go off the beaten track a little as there was a running race on. Had to find our way though a few piles of blackberries to get to the GZ. Quickly spotted something a bit out of place. Thanks for the cache.

Very clever! Took a lot longer to find than it should have! TFTC

Christmas seems such a long time ago but to find a wee decorated tree brought back memories,of that day.Typical for us...We took the most difficult route but got there without to many scratches from the brambles..TFTH

Found after a short search of appropriate trees. No cuts or scratches. Thanks. Rodney

Didn't take us too long to home in on the correct place. Like your creativity here. TFTC.

Like others we first took the hard route, but gave that up fairly quickly. Took ages to find the right tree, but all smiles when we did, love it.

A smile at GZ deserves a favaourite point! Nicely done. I even managed to get to GZ from Apple Road without a scratch, very unlike me. A fun hide, and a nice wee walk. Cheers.

Not much planned for the weekend. Should have travelled to Hokitika or Kaikoura. Cleaned up a few caches around Christchurch instead.

Thanks to the CO's for the hides. Cheers.

A bit late logging. Found with Mporokosa. TFTC

Walked on over to this one and found the likely spot, but no it wasn't there. Tried another spot and bingo. TFTC.

StreetWalker and I had made a start on the large multi "Tour de Forest" last month so we were keen to get the info for a few more WPs, and pick up some caches along the way.
Had to get off the bikes and push them along this pathway. Lots of blackberry here and should be ripening up nicely in a few weeks time. We did sample a few, but still a bit early. Took a few minutes to spot the cache as my GPSr took me to lots of Christmas trees - but when I saw the right one, it was obvious. Enjoyed the experience, even though I am a Christmas grinch!
Using the "New logging experience" to log my find - good big font for these aging eyes and I do like the Yes / No option to the Did you find it? Should reduce the number of DNF logs I inadvertently make by a slip of the finger.
Thanks for the effort with this hide and TFTC.

#13931. I was lagging behind a bit (partly due to blackberry sampling) and Troodles had the log book ready to sign by the time I got to GZ. Liked the dectorations! TFTC.

Love the cache. Tftc

Super cute cache. Merry Christmas

Nice hide, cute cache

Over in the Bottle Lake Forest Park for a MTB ride. Was great until my bike had a puncture and we had to walk back around 4-5 km's to the car! Then it started drizzling just after we got back - not our day! Went to look for a couple of caches as a consolation prize for missing out on the MTB ride! Love this one - scores a favourite from me for the decorations..., TFTC

Afternoon excursion on a splendid day

Nice gift wrapping
Tftc

Enjoying a long and sunny weekend in Christchurch . Had to do some grocery shopping with CeeZeeWees and deferred the task to start with some good ol geocaching. Nice wrapping! TFTC

Cool cache took a little off roading and a few scratches. Easy when you know what you are looking for!

Left a present as it is all about giving!

Cool cache. Nice effort

I was at the original placement with Injeanious but came back today to sign the log.

05/01/2017 5:27:00 PM
7792
A gorgeous day, but I'd been busy the rest of the day, and hadn't had much of a chance to leave the house - so before dinner, decided that it was time to head out for a walk & find some caches - these are some of the just over 10 caches within 10km of home! (Soooo nice to clear that out!! ) So it didn't take long to decide where we were going!

Grabbed the baby in the front wrap, and started the walk.

Made the mistake here of just deciding to cut through... OUCH OUCH OUCH!!!!! Glad noone saw me bush bashing through blackberries with a baby tied to me! Must've looked terrible!! But I drew oh so much blood from legs & hands... I was wondering if I'd ever get to the cache!! But I did... and then I saw which way one was meant to come from... oh duh!!

TFTC!!

Fairly easy to find, bit prickly

I would certainly recommend taking the time to find the track to GZ, instead of cutting straight across... that was a painful experience. So needless to say the walk out was much easier than the walk in! Very cute cache! TFTC (3349)

Wandered about until we found one of the tracks and it was such a simple stroll after that. Found the dell and a few minutes later the prize!!! What a wonderful presentation. Mind you we had to re- build it the wind had done it's worst, but it was all there. A loud and unheard chuckle from us and a fav. Thanks.

Tried to bush bash but the gorse and Blackberry soon stopped that. Found a much easier route and after inspecting several likely trees found the right one. TFTC

A busy busy day but managed to squeeze in a bikeride during the morning. Came out this way to grab this Cache then detour homewards via the Event at Brighton Beach. Biked to a spot perpendicular, ditched the bike then bee lined it straight to the cache via shortest direct route.....Blackberry et al not toooooo much trouble! Cheers for a cool cache! Onwards!!

Very ho ho ho

Stumbled around a bit, taking possibly the hardest route to the GZ of course! But it soon paid off.And found the easier way back to the main road. Gets a fav from us. TFTC

When I received the publication notice last night I thought, "Goodie, I now know where I will be going on tomorrow's cyclocache ride." As I rode down through the forest from Spencer Park I came across a decorated tree(?) but I'll think everyone will agree it is nothing like as good as that of the CO's. I rode to as near as I was allowed before resorting to "Shank's Pony" to reach GZ. Thanks for the ride excuse. [^] Merry Christmas.

Very cool cache. Well done.

Published

Woohoo a ftf. Saw this cache pop into my inbox so thought it prudent not to wait around. Came to gz from a slightly different trajectory, but found the cache without too many issues. Thanks for the enjoyable cache, merry Christmas!

Love it. Unfortunately 2nd TF but it was worth the trip. Thanks, ladies! 8.20pm.