Plumber's Crack Little River, Victoria, Australia
By jrandombob on 17-Jun-17. Waypoint GC77FFM

It is with heavy hearts we must archive this cache.

At the time this cache was originally placed the Northern Ranges Trail was relatively unknown in the park. We stumbled across it largely by accident, and thereafter regularly walked it, but very rarely did we see another person on it. The first time we saw this spot we immediately thought that it was a great place for a cache, and might help some people find the beautiful area we'd discovered (as many of the caches we've found have lead us to other beautiful places we would have never otherwise known existed). Over the years it's become a much more well known and popular trail, and it's been quite some time since we've seen less than three or four (sometimes many more) groups of other people on it when we've gone out.

We first fell in love with the trail for its serenity and rugged beauty (not so enamoured with that hard slog up from Branding Yard Track but hey, it's good exercise and I only did an ankle once going down it ). With its growing popularity that serenity is now (to a degree) lost, but there is still plenty of time and space for quiet contemplation while walking the trail. On the other hand, we hope the increasing awareness of the trail will lead to more people being willing to work to preserve and protect it (We'd love to see some Boneseed management operations out on this side of the park, it was rather sad to see how badly it had spread last time we were there), so this is something of a bittersweet development for us.

This was originally intended to be one of a number of placements along the Northern Ranges Trail but sadly the Coronavirus Pandemic and some personal health issues prevented us from getting out there to get solid coords for the new hides and place them (though the containers which were painted for them look pretty damn good if I say so myself ).

We hope one (or more) of the many wonderful cachers in the local area will consider new placements along this trail.

Thanks to all who took the time to explore this wonderful corner of the You Yangs Regional Park, we hope it bought you as much enjoyment as it did us in the years we spent in Geelong.

Went through area on a trail run a few days ago. Appears mugged unfortunately.

Confirmed muggled by somebody familiar with the cache.

I'll see if anybody is willing to adopt it but if not I will have to archive it at the end of the month.

Located a likely spot, with what looked like natural camo, but no cache. As this hasn't been logged in over a month, I'm not sure whether it's gone, or I'm just not looking hard enough.

First time in a while I've had a chance to get out here (insert remark about the frailty of the human condition here )

Glad to see the cache is still in good condition and has remained well camouflaged. Thanks to all who have found this cache.

I was rather surprised to find the log book is about half full, I never realised so many cachers didn't log their finds here on the site.

In bittersweet news, we'll be relocating intestate some time around mid 2021 and as such we will either need to archive this cache or find somebody local to adopt it. If you are in the Geelong region and interested in adopting this cache please get in touch with us (We'll also throw a post up on the Geocaching Geelong Facebook group at some point).

*Found on the 28 Dec 2020 @ 4:13 pm.*
*Cache find # 11209.*

My plans for today had to change so what was I to do, head to the You Yangs was an idea so I did.
I have gone by the turn off to this one so many times and I always say that I have got to find this one, one day but I haven’t until today, I made sure that I stopped this time and I headed off on foot.
I think I know why I have been avoiding this one as that was steeper than I was expecting but up and on I went until I reached GZ after walking through the crack I turned around and there it was.

**Thanks to jrandombob for placing this cache.**

Thank goodness we found this one after logging the 4th DNF on “Where Australian Eagles Dare”.
We really deserved this one.
We enjoyed the climb and were grateful there was a track to zig zag up on where we could continue to see the views of Geelong and surrounds.
All the while we could hear the sound of voices traveling from the Flinders Oeak Trail
TFTC

TFTC

Thanks, first time at the you yangs!

Finally got this one! I have been past here so many times and either the cache was missing or I didn't have a pen. Went for a walk with the GeoFamily on the weekend and lo and behold the cache was there but I had no pen. The youngest GeoKid came to the rescue with a selection of pens in her backpack. Yay!

Log signed and all replaced as found.

TFTC!

Nice quick find whilst taking a different route around the You Yangs today. Thanks!

Thought the You Yangs might be a nice quiet walk in this era of social distancing but no the car parks were full and a lot of effort was made to keep at least 1.5m away from passing hikers. Stayed hygienic while logging this cache. Hand sanitiser before and after.

This is my first time out in the You Yangs, and it's a certainly a worthwhile walk. I've wanted to get out here for a while, and I'm really glad I did today. Great weather; awesome views; lovely path. Spotted the cache immediately as I was approaching GZ. I was surprised to find that someone had left a jelly snake in there, but equally relieved to find that ants hadn't come crawling into the container. TFTC

Found at 2.00pm whilst out walking some of the "untracked" ridges in this park. We were returning to our car at this point. We were down for the weekend at my sisters for an early Christmas. A pleasant walk along the track for an easy find. My sister, a non cacher, spotted it from 10m away.
TNLN
Thanks
K&M

Spotted the cache from a fair way up the path and made a quick find. Nice spot! Tftc

Out for my morning run I past this one all the time. Today I stopped to have a look for it. This is my favorite trail in the You Yangs.

Clearing out the you yangs bit by bit. Not sure how I’ll go with all the hard puzzles out here but nearly through all the trads and multis. A fun afternoon spent wandering in the rain with geowhippet Reggie. A quick find here. Tftc

Thanks for replacing

New cache container placed, hopefully being painted it will be less likely noticed by muggles in the even that the camo isn't returned properly.

New container has been painted and prepared, so long as my knee and the weather cooperate this one should be ready for reactivation this coming weekend.

Dnf. I think its gone.

Hmm, two DNFs running, might be time for a health check.

UPDATE: MeAndDe kindly checked this one for me on their way past today, and have confirmed that it is in fact missing, I'll get out sometime in the next couple of weeks to replace it.

I'm not saying it isn't there, just saying I couldn't find it. I'll be back for another look when I have time.
Thanks

With some great weather on the cards today we headed off to the You Yangs for a new walk and cache. It took 45 minutes from Toynes road with a meandering 4 year old, but we got there in the end. It was nice when we got out of the wind and even spotted a mob of wallabies along with plenty of fitness warriors jogging the trail. We looked at the other crack first before locating the cache behind the familiar camo pile. TFTC and walk.

I've been travelling back and forth to Geelong in recent times, and, when time and circumstance permits, have been nibbling away at caches around these parts.
I walked in from the nearby car park and headed out to the cache. Easily found and signed, before heading back for the somewhat easier downhill walk..

Found up on the hill. Lovely view! thanks

Fun find - thanks for placing!!

I was well in need of a hike in the You Yangs today to get some fresh air in the lungs and refresh the brain after a few trying days at work. I parked the geo wheels about 1km away and took my supplies for the walk. It was nice seeing many wallabies along the journey before my attention turned to the bush and making a beeline for the cache. Some steep hills in this area got the legs working. I finally made it up to this cache and saw the location of the hide very quickly. As I had a drink and took in the views, I signed in and rested for a short while before taking off back to the car.

**Thanks for hiding this cache jrandombob for us to find and enjoy**

Found by accident as it was uncovered. Signed log and placed it back out of sight.

Picking up a few caches on a quick hike around the park today. This was #3 of 4. TFTC.

Found on a Kokoda track training hike. TFTC!

Out for a walk and not looking for caches, just had a "that would be a good spot for a cache" as I walked past the hiding spot
Thanks for the cache

While the wife and kids are at the cinema I have come to the You Yangs to find some of the caches where you have to do a bit of walking. So this is the cache I was most after today as it fills in one spot on my D/T graph. I parked at the Eastern Epic and walked in. There were a few other people walking around today, the hill climb was a bit tuff as i'm not the fittest bloke (glad there was a seat at the top). The Plumber Crack was a great sight to behold, it's all downhill from here. It's also been 7 months of unlove for this cache. Thanks for the adventure.

With an entourage of cachers we made our way along the well worn path to seek the plumbers crack and find what was hidden in its depths. The walk was relatively easy but when we hit the steep sections we had to slow down for a breather, before continuing on our way. The cache was found and plenty of team names were added to the logbook on this sunny afternoon.
Thanks jrandombob for the placement here in the magnificent You Yangs.

Great to chat to you today after returning to the car park after the event and I now know a face to a cacher that I have only known as a name.
The convey of cachers arrived at Toynes Rd and the fittest headed off up the track and then off onto the side track and then the T rating started to cut in and there are a couple of very steep climbs but the ageing Bushfire made it to GZ and then the hunt was on to find the container. While we or most of us we checking out the larger tradies crack Helen checked elsewhere and came up with the goods.
Well done.
Thanks jrandombob for placing this guy but you could maybe advise future hunters that this guy can also be accessed from Toynes Rd and the terrain rating remain the same.

I'd intended to add a bit about Toynes Rd when I got back from the event but I got tied up doing work and forgot, thanks for the nudge Bushfire.

Out and about with Sorceysal, and 6Hinemoa2 + Tag-a1ong. The weather was outstanding for time we were there. Found with Phetlern, Bushfire, Sorseysal and 6Hinemoa2 + Tag-a1on. TFTC. Cheers

In the company of 6hinemoa2, tag along and 08151605 for a pleasant day in the You Yangs attending the International Caching day, we noticed several cachers cars parked along the side of the road. Whilst the fitter walkers headed off, 6hinemoa2 and I plodded along at our own pace. A great day to be out caching. Congrats jrandombob on your first cache placement.

14:34
After meeting the CO at the International Geocaching Day 2017, Bushfire encouraged us to join a search party of cachers to find the plumbers crack!! Thanks to Bushfire's local knowledge, we followed a cleared track all the way, steep at times, but a good workout after a week hibernating from the cold weather.

Thanks jrandombob for placing this cache, hopefully there will be many more.
19536

On the way to a nearby event when a few cars stopped. It was decided that your cache was to be found. Those who were faster and fitter headed off while srceysal and I stumbled along with behind .
It was a perfect day to get out and stretch the legs. The sun was shining and there was no wind.
Thanks for the chance to get out and about today jrandombob

Found in the company of Phetlern, bushfire, 08151605, sorseysal and 6Hinemoa2 on a perfect winters day. Enjoyed the walk there and back to the car.
TFTC jrandombob

Found by Mary & David at 1528. We've been watching this cache since it was published, but wanted a suitable day to go there. The weather was reasonable today, so M gave D leave to head off to keep our streak going at Day 411. Parked at the end of Toynes Rd at the park gate and set off. The path was pretty flat at first, but got steeper after a while, but not too bad. Arrived at the "crack" and spied the hide almost immediately. A couple of photos to record the occasion, then back to the car park. D managed the 3.4km round trip from the gate and back in about 50 minutes. Our thanks to jrandombob.

Seeing as I was in the area for an event this evening, I thought I would grab this hide. Having walked this track many times, I was 99% sure where this was going to be. I chose the scenic route to get here today, I was in no hurry and time was of no concern. I would rather enjoy the scenery and take in the atmosphere than worry about the clock. I parked the car at the Avalon views car park and walked up to the turntable.

From there I took the east west walk until I reached the turn off for the Northern Ranges walk. Then it was a pleasant stroll to the cache. Once I had added my name to the logbook, ( yes it was hidden where I thought !! ) I returned to the turntable via the Branding Yard trail. A beautiful stroll through bushland, a perfect way to stretch the legs. Thanks for placing this cache in one of my favourite places to walk. TFTC jrandombob

I wasn't able to rush out for the first to find on this one even though we live close by. It's so annoying how work gets in the way of caching but without the paycheck there would be no caching I suppose
Anyway with an event in the You Yangs tonight Neville_devil and myself took the time to make our way to this little guy before heading to the even. We have never really way this track before so it was a good excuse to walk it for the first time.
Taking the creat circle drive all the way round to near Toynes Rd we took of from there. Not a long walk to the cache by any means but there are a few steep bits that got the blood pumping and a little seat even on such a cold afternoon.
After making our way to the plumbers crack we found the cheeky thing in it hidey hole. Even with an event here tonight we still managed third to find.

Thank you jrandombob for the hide and congratulations on your first hide

Nice find

Published- Congratulations on your first cache placement.

If you haven't already done so, please make sure you have a look at this item on the Geocaching Blog titled; [9 Tips for responsible cache maintenance](https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2017/06/9-tips-for-responsible-cache-maintenance/) and have a read of the following Help Centre articles:

- [Managing Your Geocache Listing](http://support.groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=234) regarding looking after your cache page.

- [Edit a Listing After Publication](http://support.groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=201) as to what you can change on your cache page.

I'm no plumber, but I thought I'd have a crack at this one.
I recall when I placed the first series in the You Yangs 4 years ago, there were only 3 caches in the You Yangs and the Northern Range trail wasn't even established yet. Now the You Yangs is(are?) a geocaching playground. Just last week I had 'cleared' my finds map around here. The very next day another cache had been published - things move fast around here .
Got 'new-geo' notification this morning, drove from Geelong, stopped for breakfast en-route, and was at the cache before 9am.
TFTC.