Ohakune Ballast Pit Tragedy Ohakune, North Island, New Zealand
By
radionut50 on 16-May-21. Waypoint GC9BBRB
Cache Details
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By visiting the external cache listing you are leaving the Geocaching Australia website.
Geocaching Australia is not affiliated with the original listing site for this cache.
Please click here to view the caches listing.
If you wish to log this cache, you will need to log it on the external site.
This will require a separate user account on that site. (More Details)
Logs
Took the detour to come and find the cache with rebel98. Interesting memorial, a sad story, of going to work, and not coming home [;(]Thanks again for the history and the hide radionut50
A nice quick find, though a sad start to the day. Thanks for placing your cache. Ms_KR and I are heading North again to visit family. Today we cruised up to Hamilton.. The day started with showers and heaviy overcast, but got better the further north we got..Occassionally signed MK+KR on cache logs, and apologies for the generic logs.Thanks to all CO's for publishing and maintaining their caches.
A day of sunshowers that didn't stop us picking up a few caches on the way from Ohakune to Tamahere. Ohakune is often a convenient stop on our road trips north, from the S Island, but we'd never stopped here before. Seemed such a simple pillar but so powerful for all that.Thank you radionut50
Quick and easy find here while on a trip away with tmann421.Weather getting worse as the morning progressed so only stopped at a few cachesLog signed tm/ww NZTFTC
woolwood9 & I returned home via the National Park to visit an old cache ww9 had not found yet.*We picked up some good caches along the way - like this one!* SL *tm/ww NZ*Thanks for adding to our fun geocaching trip.Very nice memorial.
10 February 2024 17:21 TFTC radionut50 for placing this cache. Wow. An unexpected bit of history. Thanks for letting me know about it. Cache is all good.
I some how missed this cache on my last visit to Rangitau but today while the others went for a walk up to the tarn ...blythe hut area i went and visited this cache . the monument is what eye catching and very well looked after . I enjoyed reading the info on the plaque and felt sorry for the railway workers families at their loss with this disaster . I did play with idea of placing a multi cache here as there are no other caches in the surrounding area - maybe on my next visit up to Rangitau . The cache was quickly located thanks to the excellent hint , retrieved , signed and replaced . I did take a couple of photos also. I took nothing and left nothing .Thank you for this cache .
After years on our bucket list and three cancellations due to Covid, we are thrilled to finally be here. Following several cruises we flew from Sydney, Australia to Wellington, New Zealand to begin our next adventure. Picked up our rental vehicle and will be driving, exploring, hiking, and caching both islands for 3.5 weeks. We located the cache and added our ink to the log before reflecting on the memorial. Now on to the next smiley.Thanks for adding to our adventure today, Nukeworker and Racquetball Girl, Arkansas, USA
I had parked my snail shell up at the Ohakune Club yesterday and before the rin came today I decided to get a couple or so caches this morning.The cache page has an interesting bit of local history.In: TB.Cheers for the cache, radionut50.
Awesome history lesson attached to this one.
@thatyellowleagecy has found a new home
@thatyellowleagecy has found a new home
Nice to get another cache in this area, and another great view of the mighty whitey (Ruapehu covered in snow). Really enjoy the write-ups from this CO, nice to get the well researched back-story and understand the 'why' FP here and a sombre memorial.
Having a few days off work after some time away overseas, and a chance to hang out with mrs c. A blue-bird day weather forecast for Central Plateau meant that a trip up to Ohakune and the mount was on the cards. A modest couple of caches was on the list, and hope to avenge a 12 year old DNF! Yep, managed that one at George's Reserve.
Having a few days off work after some time away overseas, and a chance to hang out with mrs c. A blue-bird day weather forecast for Central Plateau meant that a trip up to Ohakune and the mount was on the cards. A modest couple of caches was on the list, and hope to avenge a 12 year old DNF! Yep, managed that one at George's Reserve.
**17,647**
Passing through the area collecting up a few caches on our way home. This one was a super quick find. TFTC
Passing through the area collecting up a few caches on our way home. This one was a super quick find. TFTC
What a sad story. Nice to have a sunny day after all the rain. A quick find and TFTC
What a sad story. We found the cache and then took it up to the cemetery to log. The rain on the hot fields were making significant amounts of steam rise which added to the atmosphere. TFTC.
Found with Nutty Nora. Lovely tranquil spot to remember those lost in such a tragic accident
Being from a family of quarry men and further back miners the history here is most poignant and touched me deeply. While it would be good to move the memorial - I guess adjacent to the cemetery is a lovely peaceful spot. Found on our exploration of a Ohakune with Piwaka54 on our journey south to Petone. TFTC for the history in information of all the caches we have found today.
A quick owner's check on New Year's Day - all in order and ready for the next search.
Bit of a squeeze with the motorhome, but turned around nearby and parked nice and close. Nice quick find, all good here, TFTC
Found with bkj97. Have to confess I let him retrieve and bring it back to the car as it was bucketting down.
Another interesting slice of history. Judging by the quantity of explosive material it must have been an enormous bang. T4tcsl
Another interesting slice of history. Judging by the quantity of explosive material it must have been an enormous bang. T4tcsl
Another sad bit of history. We always try and detour for these slices of history. Absolutely pelting down so quick grab and sign in the car. Thanks for bringing us here.
Noted the Did Not Find log, so checked the hide out, and it is sitting in the correct place, as described in the very detailed hint.
Thank you to the Cache owners for their work in making the history of the region known. I have been to Ohakune many times and know a bit of our rail history but never knew of this little piece of local drama. TFTC and bringing me here.
Many thanks for the history around the area
I have been here many times and never knew any of this
I have been here many times and never knew any of this
First find on a weekend with friends, staying in Raetihi. Interesting history of a tragedy during the building of the main trunk line. TFTC.
A very quiet location hidden away from most visitors to the town. I had a quick visit to the cemetary further up the hill - a few people there paying their respects so obviously not hidden away from the residents! I wanted to visit the other cache nearby but time was short and I had an appointment to keep in Waiouru so I'll save that one for another day. Everything was good here. TFTC.
Interesting history here and reminding that while far away in Europe WW1 is in full swing that on the home front young men are still losing their lives in mines and quarries. TFTC
Almost forgot this one. Wasn't expecting to see what I saw when I drove to this one. I definitely wouldn't of come here if it wasn't for the cache. Tftc.
Interesting history, I wonder if any remains of the quarry are still visible in town. The cemetery was very quiet today. TFTC 
Found by Blenheim Bear on a wee day out working on bridges around Ohakune, could not resist a side trip on 22/2/22 to grab this one. Tried for the other nearby but too far to walk… Thanks for the cache all good today. Blenheim Bear
Have visited the Lakes at Ohakune lots of times but we never came along the road to this, never knew about it, never heard the history, thanks for more interesting local history of this area. We will come back again when we have more time. TFTC.
A nice quick find here as expected and another interesting historical spot. I'm not sure I remember learning anything about this from when I visited here(ish) a long time ago for the other cache. Vaguely knew something about this but nice to grab this cache and learn more. TFTC!!!
With Gap (of Fap and Gap)… On a road trip caching our way through Taupo, Turangi and Tongariro. This roadie has been a few weeks in the making, and marks our first real mission in a little while.
The described incident was interesting and unknown to us. Therefore, the scale of the memorial caught us by surprise. Was the monument meant to commemorate the incident, or was someone feeling guilt? That sure is a grand edifice… As always, we appreciate these historic railway related hides. Thanks radionut50 and TFTC.
The described incident was interesting and unknown to us. Therefore, the scale of the memorial caught us by surprise. Was the monument meant to commemorate the incident, or was someone feeling guilt? That sure is a grand edifice… As always, we appreciate these historic railway related hides. Thanks radionut50 and TFTC.
no problems to find this cache today.
hint spot on
had a couple of ladies on cycles stop when we were there.
had to tell them about this monument.
tftc
hint spot on
had a couple of ladies on cycles stop when we were there.
had to tell them about this monument.
tftc
Thanks radionut50 for the cache. It’s #1590 for us. We found your cache on 2 January 2022. Great spot and a very sad story. Thanks for bringing us here.
An impressive memorial for a most unfortunate event, and a quick easy find of the cache. TFTC
I never realized this was here so sad. A story I have now read. A lovely spot even though sad. Beautiful view of the mountain. TFTC.
This was another interesting little piece of history we did not know about.
It's quite an impressive monument for such a sad event - very fitting!
Thanks for setting this up and showing us this spot
It's quite an impressive monument for such a sad event - very fitting!
Thanks for setting this up and showing us this spot
Thanks for the history. I suppose the mystery if what caused the accident will never be solved. A nice monument for those lost. TFTC
Quick side trip while working nearby. Just the 3rd/4th to find. Left a peace badge as i always find cemeteries very peaceful and spiritual, not spooky at all. Thank you for bringing us here to pay our respects and find another cache.
A grim piece of history, and indeed strange to have the memorial up here - but then maybe the original site is not suitable. Made for sad reading. TFTC
Joint 2TF with Tramper Ted. Thanks radionut50 we are both enjoying exploring the historical locations you have been taking us to around Ohakune. Thanks too for the information you have provided, a little known and sad tragedy indeed. This is a peaceful memorial with a sweeping view of the countryside, a favourite added for bringing us here.
