MADAK Island (North Otago) Benmore, South Island, New Zealand
By Swanny, Emantee on 01-Jan-03. Waypoint GCC0F1

Ouch. I should have taken shoes with me on the takacat

Found with KJR after a wee boat ride. TFTC

In Twizel for New Years with AlpiSteve and then off to Ohau C Camping Ground to see Tithonian. An afternoon in the boat out on the Lake and after finding our target cache of the day we were too close not to get this one...hence just one more (twice over haha) on the first day of the year...caching with my bestie fun fun fun. Was a bit of a climb to get this one and the long grass was very dry and full of biddy bids which soon covered our shoes. Cache all good and high fives all around when finally found TFTCMake your way to Dunedin for New Zealands next large multi-day event. GCA7ZHD Geo Toroa will be held on NZs Labour Day long weekend 26-27th October 2024

After a mornings successful fishing Karma and I went here thanks

OP44 and I went for a wee fishing trip at short notice down to Twizel. After getting our quota of fishies, we had some time to head down to this island for a cache, which was quickly found near the top of the hill. There was a nice landing spot to run the boat up on to, and the walk through the trees was cool. So many cones!


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

What a fantastic spot! Found on our tiki tour around the lake looking at all the spots to camp. Found with Conbat. TFTC!

First time exploring Lake Benmore and happened to stop on the island to visit some friends. A beautiful spot that we’ll definitely be back to.
Found with Ice Diva
TftC

Well worth the hike

Well worth the climb!

Found about a week ago, whilst holidaying in a nearby bay! Was a really fun adventure to get this one, had a romantic picnic on the deserted island beach after the find!

Nice day for a jet ski ride. TFTC

Fun cache to do inbetween waterskiing!! Thanks a lot we all enjoyed this one!

Couldn't have asked for a better day for a paddle around the lake (well not the whole lake ) . Dragging rayzr along for the adventure we had a good 5 km to the island picking up a cache along the way .
Had this on the radar for a long time waiting until I had the means to get there . Ray needed it for a d/t square so we were definitely getting this one .
After reaching the island we scrambled up the bank and through the trees we made it to gz and I spotted the cache on our approach so no trouble with this one ,good to tick this one off

I was asked by mr bcd if i wanted to do some caching on lake benmore and of course i without hesitation accepted. After finding the cache across the lake it was time to finally set foot on this island this cache is on various lists i have made over the years and I was very happy to finally be able to sign my name in the log. Getting up the bank was a bit tricky from where we chose to park but we had thatvlittle problem sorted. A scramble up the hill a few looks at the gps and mike made the announcement he had found the prize. Sigbed sealed and replaced with a high 5. it was back to the kayaks. Tftc a DT for me and a cache ticked off a few of my lists and as i found out Mikes as well 2 happy cachers here today

It was a long drive on the shingle road to get to our launch site, but a beautiful calm day for a paddle on the lake. Nice hide too. This was worth the effort!

A good trip, and walk! A lovely view too.

One of these days I'll finally get to tick this off. For a while it was my nearest unfound to my bach, but a few more have been placed since. I've driven a madder cacher than myself here previously, who paddled across in the dark and a few days ago paddled past after finding a few others. I decided to leave it for perhaps with a few other people to make it more of an occasion.

Boated down from Ohau C
Flat calm. Tftc

great sunny day took a while a find but cool place once we found the spot, went for a swim after. I love this place:)

Madak Island

Took the boat out for a ski and while we headed up to the top of Lake Benmore I instructed to be dropped off this Island for this Cache. My son came with me and found his first Cache. Lovely day to grab this one. TFTC
Unfortunately some muggles had frond this cache and noted on the log that they thought they found money. TB was not in the cache.

Cool island!!

With the cache in mind, I managed to scrounge a boat towards the end of a fantastic week camping at Benmore. I had a short window in which to scale the hill, find the cache, and return to the beach to grab a ride back with another passing vessel. Manged the first two on my list, despite my choice of footwear (jandals seemed like a good idea in the boat). However, on return to my pack (hidden in a tree at the base of the hill) I came to the realisation that I had forgotten about a certain TB I had brought camping! So up the hill it was again. Surprisingly made it back to the campsite, only to be told that the multitude of children with our group wanted to walk around the island anyway! Back on the island, with 6 boys in tow, we discovered that the track circumnavigating the island was not quite all there, so instead of calling it quits and heading home, we would swim around. This was definitely way more exercise than I had planned to do on holiday, but, needless to say, I slept very well that night. Thank you very much for such a wonderful cache!

NB: Owing to the time that's passed, I can't remember the exact date I signed the log, so it was somewhere between 10/1 and 18/1. And owing to the distance I now am away from the cache, I won't be able to check anytime in the near future!

First grandad filled the boat with $200 petrol. Drinks and togs at the ready on a 30 degree day. Sped up the gorge, up the lake and pulled up at the island. Mum and kids jumped off the boat and raced up the hill, through the matagari bushes and pine trees to locate the cache and save the wee trackable. Woohoo moment! Raced back down the hill to find Nana grandad and the dog waiting patiently in the heat. The other people picnicking must have wondered what the heck are they up too. Sped back to another island to have a well earned dip, tftc, grandad used half his petrol,

Boated over on a rainy day with the kids, and the cache owner .

Rather a long drive in on a very dusty road but we persevered and kayaked over to the island. Cache was quickly found and we decided to camp the night here as a great area. TFTC

TFTC How good it is to see this island called by its correct name - and by locals as well. It was named by John and Robyn Armstrong and family of Dunedin. They were the pioneer yachties on this lake thirty or so years ago, and for a lot of summers this island was their home. Their boat was called MADAK (Mum And Dad And Kids). One of those kids went on to win an Olympic Games Yachting Gold Medal in Sydney. They submitted the name MADAK ISLAND to the Royal NZ Geographic Board (a PC mob if ever there was one!!) who refused the name and instead imposed the name Whanau Island. But only on maps it would seem. Wonder how many finds were made under sail all the way from Sailors Cutting in the Ahuriri Arm which we did in our 6m trailer sailer?? LONG LIVE MADAK ISLAND AND ITS NAME!!!

This entry was edited by MATUKITUKI on Friday, 13 April 2012 at 08:03:03 UTC.

This entry was edited by MATUKITUKI on Friday, 27 April 2012 at 23:43:28 UTC.

TFTC

Found it. Out picnicking on the lake with Doully and relatives when we decided to find this cache. Nice climb to top and beautiful views. Took photos and back down again. Doully has been there before in 2008 so had an idea where to look.

18/36 finds while in Sailors Cutting for a few days

It looked as though this one hadn't been found for 3 years and its probably the only terrain 5 I'll ever get so had planned this trip from Wellington before I came down. Managed to convince my dad to take the boat for a long spin up this way on Xmas Day, beautiful day to be out on the lake.

Pulled up at the island after an awesome trip up from Sailors Cutting. Gave the dogs a quick drink then up the hill we slogged. Got there in the end after lots of huffing and puffing (as it was stinking hot!) and what beautiful views (will post pics later). Someone else (can't remember who) had been here in January 2011 and also some muggles had visited on 4/12/11 and left some unsavory remarks in the logbook, I have ripped the 2 pages out they wrote on and will email the comments to the cache owner... its a family show after all!

Took mini compass and the snacklog that shouldn't have been there as food is a no-no and left a Phoenix Football pin, red Canterbury EQ fundraiser wrist band, marbles, plastic flute SL TFTC and Merry Christmas. After we got back down we gave the dogs another drink then back into the boat to head further up the lake for a look around at the abandoned structures from a movie set then back towards Sailor's Cutting to a bay just in the gorge for a swim. Perfect day and a favorite point from me.

nice day for a paddle

Found with Jemnz and Jasenz. Found during a nice cruise down the lake. Good climb up the hill - found the "normal" route after we had finished our descent! but the view was worth it.

What a great cache! Travelled to the island in the SS Bungzin. Gorgeous spring day and views from the top. Found with SargeNZ and JaseNZ. A and G waited at bottom of the hill while the men did the climbing.
+ Whistle
- Baby Kermit

[This entry was edited by JemNZ on Sunday, November 09, 2008 at 4:32:35 PM.]

[This entry was edited by JemNZ on Sunday, November 09, 2008 at 4:33:23 PM.]

What a great view from the top. On the day I found the cache there was no wind on the lake nor a cloud in the sky.I suggest the reference to a small tree should be more like a small bush

Decided to fit this one in with a spot of fishing. No luck with the fish but eldest kid found after getting sick of dad looking. Great spot, meaning to do this one for a while.
Thanks Tonz TNLN SL

It is pleasing to note the successful location of this cache by Moneydork. We must, however, condemn his action of doing so in darkness. There are no visual navigation aids whatsoever on this lake. During 20 or so years of camping beside the lake, it is very rare for any boat to be seen/heard on the water after dark and any occurrence would be limited to fishermen returning home after getting over involved in the pass time. ATTEMPT THIS CACHE ONLY DURING DAYLIGHT AND THEN ONLY WHEN WATER AND WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE SUITABLE.

What a HOOT!!!

I was staying with the Kiwi Legend family at their batch in Omarama. As they had kayaks, it seemed only logical that I should give this one a crack.

I haven't paddled a kayak in the last 20 years, so I was fairly wobbly. I set out in the dark at about 10:30pm, with Mr Kiwi Legend was shore support. Eventually made it to the Island (11:15pm) and then fond the cache location - quite a task in itself at night.
Found the cache (11:30pm) returned to the kayak and paddled back to shore (12:15am). - Loved the adventure.

- Cachoids geocoin.

This is a cool location for Cache. We took my brothers new jetski to the island, what a lot of fun and neat place to just relax and take in the moment. Dropped off a Geocoin. TFTC. Kiwi Extreme

Found with assistance from Al (Boat owner). Excellent day.
+ Hair Ties
- Mini Clip
Al & Sam

Called in with the cache owner and another geocacher yesterday after dragging a certain waterskier 8kms down the lake! What a brilliant cache site! Great views from up there - plenty of sun and we enjoyed just sitting about on the rocks soaking up the last of summer while Swanny took a new averaged GPS reading with his new toy. Many thanks

Sailed up from Easter Island in fantastic weather (rather contrary to the forcast for easter!). Found the cache without too much trouble and enjoyed the views from the top. Thanks for the cache.

- puzzle
+ snak log

Still here....

Omarama for Christmas break so we did this cache, put the boat in at Otematata, and it was 11kms back up the lake,
enjoyed the ride it was a nice day, excellent views from the cache site.
Thanks

Beautiful day for boating. On our way back to Ohau C after a long weekend on the lake. (South Canterbury Anniversary) Took fishing lure and left a pack of cards so that if you were stranded you would have something to do. Great place for a cache. Thanks Swanny & Emantee.

Challenge to find. Sunblock day. Exchanged Allen Keys for a very successful Tasmanian Devil fishing lure. May need it if your boat leaves the island without you.

Checked the cache today, Alice, Dave and Malcom along for the visit. It's still here. Jandals aren't the best footwear for this cache hunt, still it beats bare feet .

[last edit: 3/23/2003 2:23:14 AM PST]