Melbourne Water #3: Maroondah Thrills & Spills Healesville, Victoria, Australia
By Quasar on 17-Nov-03. Waypoint GCH80P

Great day for a hike! Nice find

Great spot. Climbed from the bottom car park across the dam wall very nice walk. TFTC

Visited this cache today and replaced the container. Despite a cracked lid it was still in fairly good condition, better than about half the caches I find. Not sure why it was flagged for archiving. But good to freshen it up anyway. I've kept the old log books and added a new one. Please ensure lid is sealed up properly when you finish.

I cached while the others park ran. A glorious but chilly morning. Thanks for the new box. TFTC

I expect to get to this by the first weekend of November. It sounds like it just needs a new container - log book is fine, no need to disable.

----------### **OWNER MAINTENANCE REQUESTED PLEASE** ###----------Hi there Quasar,It looks like this cache might need some attention, as one or more seekers have indicated there is some sort of issue. The recent logs may contain more details about what sort of issues are evident.The cache has been [**temporarily disabled**](https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=38&pgid=235), so as to remove it from search listings and discourage people from visiting this location, until the issues/s can be addressed.**You do need to respond in some way within 14 days,** so others know you are on top of it, as well as indicating exactly what is happening with this placement - please don't let a lack of communication scuttle this listing.#What you need to do:-#You have a number of choices so pick the one that applies from this handy list:-- **Check On The Cache** - once checked, place an Owner Maintenance log and then enable the cache.- **Place A Write Note Log** - indicating a date when you expect it will be restored. - **Adopt Out or Archive** - depending on whether you want it kept or for it to disappear.Full details for each of the above choices can be found at [**GEOCACHE MAINTENANCE**]( https://wiki.groundspeak.com/display/GEO/Victoria) on the Regional Policies page.You might wonder what happens if you don't pick one of the above. Well, when the cache is next checked by a Reviewer, if the issue has not been addressed, or there is no acknowledgment as requested above, it will be assumed the cache has been abandoned. It would be far better if you decide, so please do something before then. Please don't send an email but instead follow the information/advice posted above.Thanks for your cooperation,Bunjil (Pete & Helen)Volunteer Reviewers - Australia[3B]

Thanks for the cache (and the hint)!

Found it after briefly looking around, cache and trinkets had seen better days (find #99/100)

Hello quasar, im here to let you know your cache is in bad condition with the cache partially wet, log in relatively good condition, we put the cache back upside-down. When fixed, credit will be appreciated. Here is a pic | V Once again, TFTC.

Tftc Quasar.As part of a Father's Day meet with my two urban sons, we had lunch in Healesville and then hunted out 3 caches for some outdoor fun. The wind is finally abating, the sun shone and a great afternoon had by all.Quick find and sign, and trinket swap.

Nice intro to some geokids. Hopefully got em hooked.

Tftc , certainly helped motivate the kids to walk that little bit up the hill. I love this place. It's so peaceful

Quick find on a walk with mum and dad

So good to grab an oldie! What a magnificent spot. A beautiful and chilly morning.

Found with some little people and friends during a school holiday wander. Bit damp inside tub after recent rain. TFTC!

We've found it! Thanks!

Easy find! The log books are fine however the container is wet

We were in the area on a lovely long weekend and discovered this one nearby on our walk. Thank you so much for bringing us here. Beautiful day happy New Year. Please note the lid of the container has got a crack in it and may need replacing it at some stage.

After a walk at Badger Weir (which is very nice) I had to head into Healesville for a couple of things at the shop and I diverted via Maroondah Dam.Hundreds at the carparkTens on the dam wall Ones at the lookout0 at the cache except meWas heading further down the geotrail before spotting the hide.A nice old one (but no Jasmer hole here).TFTC Quasar

T4TC!

Went on the road together with BJJ from Australia and transferred the lessons from Geocache. Thanks for laying these caches, we also have some in the Netherlands you are very welcome.

Great walk. Good find. TFTC

Great view

nice spot, the hint definitely helped

Nice walk

What a place to be

Today we are on a little countryside road trip to celebrate Fleabag's birthday!We had a ride on the historic train and visit to the bakery before heading up to the reservoir.This is a beautiful location that we may not have visited had it not been for this cache. Thank you for sharing.We collected a few cans on the way back to tidy up the space and hopefully people get more on board with the new recycling program.

Headed out today with Fleabag- and KristysAdventures to enjoy the countryside, go on an old train trip, enjoy the Beechworth Bakery and checkout the reservoir as well.A nice walk up to here with great views and only a bit of drizzle here and there. Nice to see such an old cache still going strong.Thanks Quasar for the cache, the adventure, the hunt and the fun.

Currently trying to finish the year with a streak and so heading out daily, for a cache. Plus there are a few other caches I need for challenges. Today I was out with Spiffy- and KristyAdventures. After lunch and lots of cake for my birthday (thanks chef Kristy) we needed a walk and this provided the option. Quieter than normal as the weather was a little drizzley. Took the hard way to the cache and then found the easy way out.Thanks to Quasar for the fun and the adventure.

thanks!

Beautiful day to be outand stumbled upon lots of fellow South Africans too

Great spot for a hide. TFTC

Beautiful day, nice hide

A lovely park. Found on a beautiful sunny day with the reservoir full. Great views from near the cache. Thanks

Nice quick find. Tftc

TFCT

Thanks for the cache Quasar,
I sure picked a nice day to pick up this one. Every thing green and lush. I was rewarded with a closeup view of a Roo with a Joey in pouch. Too quick for me to get out that Camera though.
I came here early this year when the dam was over 100 % capacity and that Waterfall was roaring, you could hear it from that carpark.
Regards from Victourer

Visited this spot to do a bit of photography practice. Nice quick cache in a beautiful location

Found it!! Beautiful walk amongst the pine trees

There were so many choices. We searched for a while and found the right one in the end.

TFTC

You’ve been here before…

CaptainVimes and I are on a driving holiday through Victoria for the next week. The walk across the dam wall was nice and we made a quick find. Thanks for the fun Quasar

The Quire is the river which descends from the Ramtops and drains the Octarine Grass Country. It is the principal river of Quirm passing through the city of Quirm, and sustains a thriving river trade. While most of the time placid and navigable without risk, it has moods which can make it unpredictably dangerous and in fact it is known colloquially as "Old Treachery".
The Quire... meanders. It has the currant speed of a squashed raisin, so it has a myriad snags and sand bars, and it bad to navigate at night. It also has a population of alligators, and several thousand flies.

Cute hide! Found it with my mum.

on a lil rainy day hike, had to see if there was one around. very cute

Found! Good little detour on our rainy day hike with Lunabic

My first Australian find

First time at the dam. Reminds me of Europe…

Thrills and spills it is today as we visit the Maroondah Reservoir for the first time. Plenty of others enjoying the experience too. There is even a wedding happening in the Lower Car Park and on our walk we met the happy couple and their photographer a couple of times. (Hope we don’t turn up in their wedding photos!) Quite a warm walk across the Wall and through the bush land to GZ. SL at 12.43pm Took: TB Left: frog TB - hope he enjoys his visit near the water. #9667 TFTC Quasar - now time for lunch under a shady tree.

Quick find on this warm day. Lots of people at the reservoir. Scored a lovely Harrowang pathtag as they had visited this cache a short while before I did, and they left a pathtag. A great addition to my collection!

Noice

Found

Today was incredibly mild compared to the last few days so i decided a cruise up into the hills was required, after polishing the wheels on the DUNNYDOORE i expected to be the bogan in the hills while collecting a few smilies
TURNS OUT i didnt think about all the return travellers FLOODING through Healesville and blocking the main street.
No one even noticed my car

Now onto the cache which is the real story, we dropped into the Base of the Dam wall and admired the gardens and the peacefulness.

In amongst gathering the details for a nearby Virtual we went for a wander up the 'rose steps' and along the top of the wall.
WOW Its stunning, meandering along as if id never seen a dam wall before we slowly made our way up to the top lookout and followed my nose.

Nice spot and hide.

TFTC

1Toolman
(& slightly reluctant wife )

Gorgeous spot - tftc. Hint was perfect as our GPS was bouncing a bit.

I think we approached from a different direction so the hint was irrelevant for us. Walking up from the car park below the dam was probably the most exercise I've had for at least a month. Superb views on the way up. We tried to return to the car park via a different route but were (unnecessarily) thwarted by a 'no pedestrians' sign. (The other end of the restricted track joins the path we used to ascend and is signposted as a route to a picnic area). Found after a short search. TNLN. SL. TFTC. FP.

Why is it I always find the longest way to get to a geocache? Anyway, great walk and spectacular view. Lovely clean, dry log. Tftc Quasar and bringing us here - one of the reasons I love geocaching

A fun Birthday find. Beautiful day for a stroll around the dam.

Thanks so much for bringing me here Such a beautiful and interesting place that I was totally unaware of. The reservoir was spilling after the recent rains. An incredible sight to see. The walk across the dam was amazing. Lovely views across the water and down in the gardens. Gets a favourite from me.

Made the Geonieces stretch their legs a little further. Amazing watching the water flow over the wall after all this rain.

Nice walk to top of dam

Wonderful weather for geocaching today. The GPS was a bit grumpy with the trees, but the cache is in excellent condition. Thanks for the cache, Quasar.

I suggested to my mate that we head to Boonie Doon to check out the water level of Lake Eildon and then head onto the Thompson Dam *if* water was spilling which unfortunately it wasn't so at my mates suggestion we stopped by here before traveling to Bonnie Doon (and beyond). It was a good suggestion as water was cascading over the spillway and with not many punters around we were able to enjoy the area pretty much to ourselves!

Anyway we headed up here as my mates missus was keen to find this cache (which I thought I had already found previously - *not so!* ) and find it she did . . well he (my mate) did but the old bat will lay claim to finding it first!

TFTC

On a road trip with our caching buddies to check out the "water levels" - Maroondah Dam and Spillway, Bonne Doon, Lake Eildon and Spillway, and Steavenson Falls - we saw lots of water at these familiar sights as well as plenty in between along the way. Maroondah Dam and Spillway was our first stop for the day, and this was our first cache for the day. Our caching buddies were lagging behind a bit as they were unsure as to whether they had previously found this cache or not so Mrs Pooky was able to make the quick easy find. TFTC TNLN.

Out and about with our caching buddies who found this one first, lovely place for a cache.

TFTC TNLN

Beautiful weather today. Thanks

Nice walk to donelly’s weir and easy find o at back. Tftc!

Quick find in a lovely spot -- thank you!

Found it, wasnt hidden very well. Have done a better job. Good luck. TFTC

Love doing the loop walk over the wall, up to the lookout then back down to the carpark. And love a cache along the way too! Thanks for this

A bit rainy today. We had ventured this far and when I saw the date on this cache, I was keen to get it.
There seems to be some work happening at the base of the dam wall and so the stairs are locked off. I hoped I would not have to take the most direct route straight up (as I have done before elsewhere: it’s not ideal!)
Instead, I followed the alternate path from the carpark, ignoring a no entry sign or two (surely they don’t apply to geocachers), meeting fellow visitors along the way. I counted down the metres until I could leave the track and sure enough there seemed to be a very convenient geotrail heading up.
Great sense of the bush land as you wander up. I scared a big wallaby (or did he scare me) but soon found the cache in very good shape. Left some silica inside.
I went to the lookout but conditions were not great (see pic).
Knowing my family were waiting in the car, I hurried down but sure enough, slipped off a log at one point and was lucky not to break my hand.
TFTC and the experience of being alone in the bush in another state, which is always a bit epic.

Team Baguette found this nice easy cache while on a day trip to the dam.

Visiting the reservoir gardens with Cygnus3333 we initially headed for the virtual (or rather where I thought it was meant to be...) only to discover we were too high. So we switched to going after this one. Near GZ the GPS wasn't being terribly helpful with directions so I set off along one path, then cut across to another only to realise the first was actually the right one. In the end I just followed the distance down to GZ (and checked the hint to make sure this was right) and the cache hide was spotted immediately. A lovely afternoon for a walk and a nice spot to do it in - TFTC

Had to grab this one on a visit to the dam. So many muggles around! Spotted by hubby. Thanks!

I’m having this week off as others at work had the Easter break off so it was my turn and another trip up North to Mildura was planned.
I left Melbourne nice and early on Friday to get a few caches in on the way up to Culgoa.
My main aim of the weekend at Mildura was to finish the Turtle series and to start the Paddle Steamer series so all good on those 2.
So after a great 3 days in Mildura then an over night stop in Boort and then Euroa time to head to Marysville for the weekend to catch up with friends.
I was not taking the most direct route as I wanted to drive through some old towns that are now only dots on the map and I want to take the back roads as well.
7 hours to do what is a 312 kms direct trip then 6 hours to do 211km direct trip I really must be taking the round about way.
After a great weekend away in Marysville with friends and some of them I haven’t seen since pre Covid with 40mm rain Friday night then a great Saturday night around a fire with plenty of laughs and a few drinks it was time to head home and back to reality.
Called in here and parked at the lower carpark and did the Virtual Cache first.
I then huffed and puffed my way up the hill to the top of the dam wall.
A great view from up here and the water is low compared to what it has been before it is sitting at about 39% at the moment going by the web.
Noticed a cache at the lookout and headed up that way.
Soon located the cache down the hill a bit and then decided I need a bit more exercise so I took the Forrest loop back.

Thanks Quasar TFTC.

Great day out, lots of fun for the Kids

01.05.22

Hard to find.look around pine tree

Thanks for the hunt!

Bit of off-road required. Can be reached via either track at the fork. TFTC

What a walk!

Nice walk.

Found by The Empire + H
On our way to collect cache number 16,000! Once we worked out how to walk up here, we thought it was good fun! Hahaha Thanks for the cache Quasar.
- M

I have a little set of draft logs that are not huge in number (22) but date back eight months. I can't remember what I was doing eight days ago let alone eight months, so am going to be efficient or pragmatic or lazy or something and do generic logs. Sorry about that. I do appreciate the efforts of all COs though and can definitely say a big TFTC

The views not so great, but still a nice walk.
Good to see such an old cache still going

*Found on the 12 Mar 2022 @ 10:41 am.*
*Cache find # 12585.*

Passing by this one while on my way to a day of caching further along the road finishing up with an event at Jawbone in the cathedral rangers.
I was down below a bit earlier and had to come back when I realised that this is a first 500 cache so I had to come back and go for another walk.
Made my way up to GZ and was able to make a quick find.

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

Lovely place to explore with the family easy find TFTC

Found it!
The lookout was the spot my husband and I first kissed ! 27 years ago.

A beautiful day for exploring somewhere local. An excellent hide - that only a geocacher would recognise! TFTC

Found this last weekend. Absolutely wonderful surrounds. Tftc

Quick find

Nice easy find. TFTC!

Brilliant find. Been so long since I have been to Maroondah Dam. Think we have avoided the storm too. Thanks

A nice area for a cache TFTC

Found with catnap777 working through a couple of challenge caches.
We were lured here by an old 2003 "Jasmar" cache placed by a hider who's name starts with "Q". This fit a couple of our aspirations nicely but the real treat was the stunning views that greeted us on our walk to GZ. with the lake full and the clouds low in grey skys, the whole scene before us took on a beautiful but eerie Celtic look. I was half expecting to sight Nessie rising from the depths.

TFTC Quasar. Our prize was found, signed and returned in good condition. [^]

Found with dalerious on a Melbourne Jasmar extravaganza. This one covered two challenge caches for me; well covered one, and made a dent in another, and what a glorious spot to visit. We spent way too much time meandering around taking in the view, but it was worth it. Thank you again Quasar for providing all the things I need in life. Favourite given .

Found at 12:25
Out taking advantage of the end of lockdown. A great view from up here. Cache is in good condition.
Thanks Quasar for bringing is here.

Such an awesome place to go for a walk! I haven’t been here for years.
When I approached the cache, I noticed one of the log books in a plastic zip bag on the ground about a metre away.
Not sure why it was there?
I tucked it back in the container and re-hid it.

Found it. It was up a little higher than I was expecting to find it. My son loved it!