Bridge and Arch Of Central Auckland - Bonus Final Onehunga, North Island, New Zealand
By Gorbygorbachov on 18-Oct-22. Waypoint GCA12GR

Seeing that I had collected all the information for the bonus by doing the AdLab I might as well calculate the coords for it.It took a while to figure out where it would be as I couldn't see any rat tail. In the end I looked with my finger tips. Ah, there it is. well in the hole. I had to get a TOTT to extract it.Cheers for the AdLab and bonus, Gorby.

Thank you for more fun around the bridge and a cool final, TFTC!!

A nice quick find after completing the ad lab. The tail was quickly spotted, but managed to push it in rather than pull it out, thankfully we had a tool in the caching kit to assist in the retrieval. We have been meaning to get to the bridge here for a while so took advantage of the long weekend to do so. A very busy bridge with walkers, cyclists, scooters, skateboards, fishers, boats and more - great to see.

Luckily spotted the tail quite quickly. Despite being dark. Tftc

Found quickly even though it was dark. Spotted the tail.

Completed the AdLab so very long ago. The last time I had any attempt at looking for it the area was very busy Today we are on the way to the airport so came this way round because somebody wanted chips and gravy from Mangere Bridge. After eating as much as I wanted I left them in the car whilst I walked up here. Nobody was at GZ so I had a little look at where a cache could possibly hide. Spotted it, retrieved it and when I looked up there was a nurse with some dementia patients waving at me from the bench across the way.

A day in Auckland with rattll, trying to amass some numbers quickly. After completing the adlab, we calculated the final for the bonus. Arriving at GZ, we found it to be exceedingly busy, so decided that discretion was called for, and went off to look for other targets. On our return an hour or so later, the cache was quickly found, although still one or two people nearby, so took care in retrieval. All well in the container. Signed the log, and returned as found. Tftc!

I am targeting getting to 14,000 finds on my anniversary event in a few weeks time, so I'm on a mission today to gain as many smilies as possible - largely with the help of the bountiful supply of ad labs in Auckland. So matagouri and I left Hamilton nice and early.We didn't spot one of the points when we first went past, but finally found it and calculated the final. Unfortunately GZ was a mugglefest so we went away to get some more caches (and some coffee) and came back to this one later.There was still a couple of muggles around, but not too much of a problem. Standing back and surveying the area, the tail was spotted. Thanks for putting this here, and for the ad lab series.

Our second adlab for the day, bumped into Tramyard and had a chat then he helped out with a way point we had missed. Found the missing adlab point and had the solve for this bonus after deciphering the selected font used for the coordinates. Cache was nicely hidden, fav here for the adventure and hide. TFTC!

Down from Whangarei with Lis's crew & yvettetb on a Leap Day mission to get all available cache types and sizes in one day. As it turned out, we managed to achieve our goal and bookend it with FTF's to start and finish the day, with a few more along the way as a real bonus.Had completed the Ad Lab a while ago and visited again today to collect the bonus final. The construction happening at both ends of the bridge might make it awkward to complete one of the ad labs currently. Not sure what they are doing though.A relatively quick find at GZ. TFTC

I'm down with 0B80B8 and Yvettetb to collect a well planned and very specific list of caches to get as many add-ons as we could for our Project GC badges. I'll have to wait a while to get some as I don't have a lot of regular or large sized caches. It's a bit disappointing that there isn't 11 types to collect in Auckland. Anyway, we had a fun and very sucessful day.We came down last night because our main route through the Brenderwyns is closed for maintenance. Mum has an apartment in Parnell so that was a very handy starting point for todays outing. The AdLab was a nice walk along the bridge. One of the team had previously done it so we found the answers quickly. On our way down there were two men settled here chatting. Fortunately on our return they had moved off. A new piece had been added at the final gz but we spotted the rats tail. Thanks for the two Adlabs and bonuses

After me packing a sad because I "couldn't see", and macwatt and Noidz carrying on back to find this bonus, I finally sorted things and went back to join them. They still hadn't fully it. I stood back and spotted it. Noidz retrieved it but had to move out of the way of some dodgy trailer backing manouevre. Thanks for the fun Ad Lab and bonus Gorby

After completing the nice little adlab I selected a nearby seat to do the calculations..nicely thought out method soon had the GZ calculated and locked in..a tricky little hide here that took a few minutes to sniff out pleased that the area was quite quiet today and gave us a free reign to search..thanks Gorbachev great adlab and bonus cache ..appreciate your efforts

A nice walk over the bridge this morning. TFTC

On the way home after dropping off some charity baking and I remembered that I hadn’t cleared out this area so stopped in for a stroll along the bridge. It was chillier than it had been earlier in the day but good to get some fresh air. One WP of the AdLab gave me a bit of a head scratch until I found an alternative option for the answer, but otherwise an enjoyable info hunt. Then it took me a couple of minutes to hunt down the bonus inbetween passing muggles but not too bad! Thanks for the abridged cache!

another great ad lab adventure.took a little to spot cache hide as illegal fishing going on very near.TFTC

With Gap (of Fap and Gap)… It’s the last day of the Iconic Cacher leg of the Wheel of Challenges. We are chasing three different cache types today, and a trip to Auckland should do the trick…

By now, we felt we’d mastered the unusual AdLab format. The water fountain gave us a bit of a serve - It was the last of the locations for us to sort. Interestingly, we spotted some “No Fishing” signs in certain places. These were being ignored… It took a while to spot the tail… Thanks Gorby. TFTP and TFTC.

Loved doing this AL & final. Very few around today so made life a lot easier at GZ. Had a terrific sunrise & enjoyed seeing the bridge lit. TFTC

Visiting from Ohio, USA and spent the afternoon geobiking around Auckland. Couple of tricky lab sets here and an even trickier final, but I got it!

A nice quick find. I have wanted to stop here for a while, and now I have! A cool bridge to explore. Thanks for placing your cache.

Ms_KR and I were in Auckland for a few days visiting family, and now we are starting the trek home. We cruised around a wee bit today in the damp, ifound a few ad labs and bonuses and other caches.

Thanks to all CO's for publishing and maintaining their caches. .

So much to see here as well as a police dive team out and about. A productive morning after the Swanson event. Thanks Gorbygorbachov

Turned up for the ALs and a shower was across. Did what I could from the car and it stopped. Windy as make way across bridge. Got stuck on one then had the doh moment and off to find cache. Once at gz had a fair idea what I was looking for. Sure enough there it was. Great hide. Tftc

It was sneaky alright- I just couldn’t spot it today.

Lots of people about but no problems accessing cache. Tftc

Took about as long to find this bonus as to solve the associated AdLab! Sneaky!! Glad to find it. 2 AdLabs plus 2 bonuses
= done. SL TFTC

Awesome hide, great hint! Just about to call it quits when one of the finer members of CODEHill spies it! Found with PhilBirdBoys. TFTC.

I am out and about for an after work walk around Onehunga this late afternoon/early evening. Doing the two ad labs on this new bridge was a major focus of this outing. The waypoints were relatively straightforward, though I missed one and had to back track for it. No issues getting the coordinates for the final. However, there was a definite muggle presence at GZ and stealth had to be deployed to make the find (and return). Right, time to work out what combunation of public transportation will get me home. Cheers for the bonus hide and for the exercise!

Back over the bridge to look for this one after finally getting the coordinates right. After waiting for some nearby muggles to leave, we could finally have a good search. And there she was. Tricky! FP for this and setting up the Ad Labs. Thanks Gorby.

Checked this today, while I happened to be out here, all OK. There was a shag with one leg, trying to sleep, you don't normally get so close as I did before they fly off. So I hoped he was OK.

Finally...a sneaky one

Up very early this morning to come up and drop off passengers at the airport, so of course we made use of the trip by picking up a few caches before heading off back home. Enjoyed the ALC and this bonus - great hint for this one, TFTC

A quick find after completing the associated Adventure Cache.

Thanks for the placement of the cache - and waypoints.

#7135

M24: after completing the Adventure Lab, I was glad to be on the right side of the bridge where the bonus cache was. Had to wait for a few muggle sightsee-ers to pass, when the coast was clear, I retrieved the cache and signed the log. First, or sixth if you count the waypoints, cache of the year.
TFTC.

Off to Auckland again for the Last day of 2022
Going to a Community Celebration Event at Ambury Park and found with abcdf4 and kaygeedee tftc.

Off to Auckland again for the Last day of 2022
Going to a Community Celebration Event at Ambury Park
After our Event did a detour on the way home with KGD and eyespyben
A walk over the Mangere Bridge to get these 2 Ad Lab and the Bonus
No muggles around so a great time for a nice wee hide
Thanks Gorbgorbachov

On my way to the Community Celebration event held at Ambury Park and had some time beforehand, so decided to return back to this new bridge to complete the second ad lab. Much quieter on the bridge than I was expecting. No issues with the waypoints, and I took a seat at the end to workout the final.

Once at GZ it didn't take too long to find the cache. I was very grateful that there were no muggles around or that I didn't have to wait our anyone.

In Auckland with ABCDF4 and eyespyben for a last caching day of the year.
We had attended a nearby we headed over to complete these 2 Ad Labs. The bridge was busy but not too busy to affect us. Thank you for the placement.

A sneaky wee find in amongst the muggles around. T4tc

Another great cache!
Well put together with a familiar end so to speak!
FP added
Thanks!!

#11,974. I have been up in Auckland for a few days and now making my way back to the airport. I had done the adventure lab on the last trip to Auckland but didn't have time to work out the finals for the two labs. So came back to collect those today. Had another nice walk over the bridge. A lot quieter here today than my last visit. Soon tracked down the hiding spot. Signed the logbook and replaced as found. Thanks gorby for an interesting adventure lab highlighting a feature I hadn't walked over previously.

A solo caching day today while the other is busy working. We had both done the first set of Ad Labs here, and the second one was nice and easy, despite being by myself. Not so easy for the final though. There were a couple of people in the vicinity, so I had to be discrete in my hunting. I had just spied the cache when a bystander asked me about the fishing here. I couldn't help him, but he was quite chatty. Finally he headed off to talk to some boaties and I could get down to the real business I was here for. Nicely hidden here, thanks.

I had a sighting of a big rat at a bbq at some hot pools yesterday. Yikes! I have no problems with spiders and wetas so will happily put my hand in a hole caching but rats !No thanks. Yesterday I screamed and jumped on a table...... Anyway no problems with the rat here. Loved both of the ad labs and the bonuses here. A fp from me. Many thanks!

Thank you for the nice comments Jethro, I hope you and Pauline have a safe journey back to the USA and France then good luck with work in the Caribbean - Saba awaits you!

Noticed the CO had put out this new AL and we had plans to meet up with him today anyway, so I called and said we should just meet down by the bridge!

He agreed and we wandered the bridge with him getting all sorts of extra facts and even noticing the little baby Pohutukawa they have planted!!

Great to catch up and see you again during the out short stop here.

It’s been fantastic to get to know you and you’ve really make our time in NZ special.

See you again! Maybe here, maybe Seattle, maybe ???

Take care!!

Thanks Gorby for this ad lab.

**#16,469**
Last of the Ad Lab bonus caches and we enjoyed doing them as well as having a good look at the fantastic bridge.
Thanks Gorby for the cache placements.

We did the Ad Lab last Sunday but after a fruitless search I contacted the CO who confirmed we were looking in the right spot but no cache was to be found. We were told we could log the cache as found but seeing it was replaced during the week we headed here after the Oakley Creek Cito to add our names to the log.

Bridge will be closed: 10am on Monday 28 November to 7pm on Friday 9 December.

Follow this link for more : https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/old-mangere-bridge-replacement-project

Fixed.

We did the AdLab for this & thought we'd try & find this Bonus even though it's disabled since we were here. Had an idea what we thought it might be, but no sign if it today.....

I did tuck this one away after finding, I hope I didn't tuck it away too well, not sure how it would have gone, apologies if I was responsible.

According to my sources, this cache might have gone. Not really an issue, will replace it when I get back this week.

After doing both the adventure labs we decided to take a look for the bonus caches. Unfortunately no luck for us here tonight.

2nd time back to the bridge but first time for Mr TW. We were meeting family out at Ambury park and had some time to fill in so this was perfect. No problems with any of the wps and the final was nicely hidden but readily located. Thanks for another excuse to come back here, cheers

Enjoyed the ad lab and then the fun of the bonus started….went up and down….had the right idea but couldn’t spot it. Finally managed to get a glimpse of it aha there you are but sooooo far in your little hole…..went to car to see what tools I had on me today, not many. Tried a couple of things which didn’t work and I think I’ve made it a little harder .

Will have to return with another type of tool that should have it out in no time!

I’ll be back

I've been here on my bike before, and I've done an Ad Lab here before, but it was nice just the same to come back again today. The weather was absolutely perfect. I had a little issue finding the info for the orca question, but no trouble with the rest of the stages.

I also had a recommendation to visit the bakery nearby, so after doing the Ad Lab I went over and got something to eat while figuring out where the bonus was. (It was delicious - I would recommend it too!) It was only 20 meters from where I was sitting, so I wandered over to have a look. No luck. Texted Tramyard for some extra help, and luckily he was close by and came over to help me out. It was nice to catch up, but the cache wasn't where he thought it had been so we wondered if it had been washed away. I was about to log the DNF when he spotted it just a bit further along. And there it was... not missing at all! The hint had confused me but on seeing the container I understood what it meant.

All good with the container, and I'm glad to have found it since as the CO said it's always nice to have a bonus after an Ad Lab. Thanks for setting this one up and giving me another reason to come back! And thanks Tramyard for your help too

(#1692)

After a very wet and wild evening, the morning skies cleared a little and so a plan was made to meet up with Supernannny to do this new ad lab and bonus.
Having done the other ad lab on this bridge, we knew the best place to park. Very few muggles out on the bridge and it was nice to wander over the bridge in the very light mist - almost spooky, but then it's nearly Halloween! One of the waypoints was a little challenging as we couldn't see the answer as it was covered in rain drops - but we wiped it dry and were soon away laughing!
After collecting the relevant information, we returned to the car to work out where the final bonus cache was. Fortunately it was very close to where the car was parked, and S/N soon spotted the hint item. We needed a TOTT to extract the log and soon had our names signed in for second to find.
Thanks Gorby for the excuse to get out on a wet day to find this cache.

We were here three weeks ago to complete the first Adventure Lab and Bonus and didn't expect to be back here so soon but we enjoyed our first visit so much that when the new Adventure Lab came out we were very keen to come back.
This new bridge is awesome and full of so many interesting things to see and learn. We thought we had seen everything on our first visit but today we were proved wrong. The Adventure Lab took us to some great locations and the cache description was very interesting to read.
We arrived as the sun was going down and the light was amazing.
After parking at the Mangere end of the bridge we walked over to the other side collecting the information as we went and looking at the beautiful views. There were a few muggles around but a lot fewer than on our last visit so we could properly appreciate the bridge and its architecture.
Once we had all of the information we sat down and worked out the co-ordinates for the final then headed to GZ to look for the cache.
Once there we read the hint and were pretty sure what the rats tail meant but had a good look around and had no luck.
During our search we saw an actual rat and a huge one at that, not one we would want to grab by the tail, or mess with in any way for that matter. But an amazing sight to see, not sure we have ever seen a rat that big anywhere but in the movies.
Once the rat had headed on its way we continued our search and still had little success but perseverance paid off and the sneaky little hide was eventually located. In our defense the rat was hiding a little bit further in his hole than we expected and the light was fading.....although that would never stand up in geocourt and in reality we just weren't looking hard enough.
But the main thing is we got there in the end and were very pleased to sign the log and end our second visit on a high.
Thanks Gorby for another great adventure Lab and Bonus. Very interesting and we learned a lot. The perfect end to our day.

Surprised to hear of a second Gorby Ad Lab here!
Today was my first chance to go caching this week ; so was pleased to meet up with Mrs Jag to start off with this one!

Pretty easy except for Water Fountain Question ; as others have noted.
That problem was weather related!

Anyway Mrs Jag soon worked out where the French word was hiding!

Phew!
Short stroll to the final which was in an obvious kind of place.
Cheers for your new Ad Lab Gorby!

I was at the Airport doing maintenance on my International Departure hide when New Lab notification came through. Decided to give it a try {FTF} despite the rain.I was heading off to Mangere Bridge anyway to replace a missing container on one of my hides there between the bridges ....Questions collected and answers solved during basicallyhorizontalrain Thank goodness I had an umbrella with me.The Final location was a big surprise for me as I thoughtthere is not enough room for it over here!Squeezedvery well The rain was actually on my side as I was able to retrieve a well placed container without any trouble as the bridge was empty. I was there by myself.Good hint makes it easy too!Many thanks for anotherpleasant Lab plus the bonus at the Mangere Bridge.#9779 at 15:55

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