Bridge to Nowhere (West Coast) Ross, South Island, New Zealand
By Moneydork on 16-Apr-05. Waypoint GCNGTB

As this cache has been out of action for too long and the cache owner has not responded or performed any maintenance, I'm archiving it to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the guidelines, we'll be happy to un-archive it.
 
Regards,
Status Quo
Geocaching.com Volunteer Cache Reviewer.

This cache appears to be in need of owner intervention. I'm temporarily disabling it, to give you, the owner an opportunity to check on the cache, and take whatever action is necessary http://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx#cachemaintenance

Please respond to this situation in a timely manner (i.e., within 30 days) to prevent the cache from being archived for non-responsiveness.

What an awesome spot. We looked for this for ages searching everywhere we thought it could be as GPS all over the place. Alas cache eluded us. Disappointment short lived as our 4 legged companion loved cooling off in the river below. Would love to know if this cache is still here.

After completing the Wilderness cycle trail to Ross we drove out to look at this old bridge. Didn't attempt the challenging walk too far along it to find a cache with so many DNFs. Hope this one will get some maintenance, especially once the new cycle trail is finished and opened here.

Pretty sure I was in the right area, lots suitably sized hidey holes but all empty. Next time...

Looked around on the third pier from south. No luck, maybe should have tried the next one.

Crawled about on the structure for a while, but no luck today.

TFTC.

No luck today. Sacmpered and crawled all over the place. Next time.......

We visited this cache, found our way to the start of the bridge, and started towards the cache, but after about 5 metres, we decided this cache wasn’t for us. We go caching for our enjoyment, which doesn’t include terrorizing ourselves. Maybe we’ll try again when the new trail has been built over it.

That was a cache to my taste! In Europe, it would be forbidden to enter, here they built wooden rail to secure visitor - I love NZ. When we realised we have to climb up there, I took the straight way, while Blu007 found the path. On GZ we did not find anything, the box was 20 metres further. Still no logbook. Favorite.

Found this one on the way back from Franz Josef. After arriving at GZ managed to find a way onto the bridge and gingerly made our way to GZ. Co-ords wouldn't yield anything and it didn't look likely to be there so ventured to the most likely spot. No joy there so ventured to the next most likely spot and made an instant find. As there was no log we have signed on one of the silica gel sachets. TFTC, #5838

I don't believe it!! After coming all the way from Hokitika specially for this I couldn't find the #$^%^ thing! No problems finding the route and getting to GZ on the bridge, it wouldn't have worried me even if there hadn't been a handrail. I searched all the possible hiding spots near GZ and no luck at all. Given that it's over 6 months since it was last found, I wonder if it's still there? This should have been easy, especially with the container size specified...

Are you crazy???!!!
What a hide!!!
I loved it. Nearly s**t in my pants, but I loved it.
Had trouble finding gz... Roads not too obvious, and once there, I couldn't believe where you his the frigging thing!
Enjoyed the cache.
Favorite coming.

Took a while to find it - mainly because the dirt road leading to it did not appear on my car's GPS map and I had the unusual experience of driving on what appeared to be a field - but then located the bridge. Very freaky walking along it, as there are supports for the two tracks but nothing between them, but eventually made it and located the object.
Tftc

TFTC. Nice spot for some free camping?!?!

Day 17 of our NZ tour for the MEGA, currently travelling from Franz Josef to Hokitika giving the West Coast a 2nd chance after our earlier visit being rained out! What magnificent weather was turned on for us today. The best we have had in our 17 days and it got up to 17degrees which was positively WARM in the car.

Managed to find the track to the cache. Parked the car and were beginning to wonder if we could look with all the Whitebaiters around when a Policeman in his Plain Patrol car pulled up and asked if anyone had seen a Canoe/Kayak? Apparently one was lost upstream and believed to be in this area.

So wouldn't you know it Mr Felix wandered off to GZ in company with the Policeman. Cache quickly spotted whilst Mr policeman went off in search of the watercraft, Mr Felix tagged along afterwards but nil was sighted.

TFTC Moneydork

This took some doing! I have no fear of heights (or widths) but this was a challenge. Nicely done.

I gave it to my sister and she brought it from Germany to New Zealand. Good travel little shark.

I was too chicken to get to this one, so James the Brave ventured across and soon the prize was in hand! Lovely day, with lots of whitebaiters. On a magic drive back from Franz Joseph to Christchurch.
- TB Sharky
+ lamb keyring

Really cool spot, just a bit scary if you're afraid of heights. We had to go twice because there were too many whitebaiters around the first time. Second time no one there though.

We had been in and out of showers all day today, but luckily it stayed dry while we were out on the bridge. There is still no sign of action on the cycleway/walkway.

fun to get across the bridge and nice and dry

Getting older! It was harder than it would have been 10 years ago....

That was interesting but fun.Good hide.TFTC

#98

fantastic cache

Once we found the track up to the start of the very sturdy structure, which was pretty overgrown and not marked, this was very straightforward. One step at a time and with a good solid hand rail the whole way. Nice dry spot for the cache. Doubly rewarding to get the smiley in such a foul wet day. TFTC.

... schoener Ort, auch wenn etwas gefaehrlich.

Found with the help of daughter and friend,TFTC

Well I gave it a try !!! Just on dark and trying to follow long legged Stretch0 that left me in his wake - I got slower and slower till finally after 30 odd metres my bravery ran out and I headed back to the safety of solid ground - in the limited light and with my fear of heights this one was beyond me today - maybe on another day and in better light - Stretch0 did put my name in the log book but put halfway by my name it is a fascinating place and looked great in the evening light thanks for a challenge that to me was terrain 300 lol

Was kind of fascinating to think it was only a few minutes ago i was taking pictures of this structure and now here i was walking on it. I became so focused on getting the cache i failed to notice that Niteowlnz was no longer behind me and by the time she had traveled about 1/2 way and saw me moving across the bridge her fear of heights got the better of her and she headed back! She did so well getting that far and if i had paid more attention to support her in the crossing she maybe would have completed this one as well. I enjoyed this cache so thanks for placing it.

Yikes!!! We both made it across, but very slowly. TGC LN What a challenge! TFTC!

Not for the faint hearted t4tc.

Found with pipsternz. Got some lovely photos. Thanks for bringing us to this site. TFTC

Arrived with my wet shoes on. At least it rained on the way back so they weren't wasted! . I'm not going to brag, that was out of my comfort zone. But I did it! . Awesome! Thanks for placing it. TFTC

Wow, thanks for the challenge! I admit to holding the handrail. All the way.

Hairy walk for mr d to locate the cache. TFTC

Gumboots and wet timber do not mix. I chickened out part way across, but liked the structure.

Cool bridge! Liked this one very much! Found the cache together with Flossmonsters. Put the GC in the cache and took the safety hook. Thanks and greetings from Latvia!

o well next time

That was a nice walk enjoying the sunset till we reached the bridge where the walk turns into something more adventurous.
Thank you for this cache

Chipolini

Decided that the kids were expendable and sent them out first to find the cache. NEVER would have let them on it if it wasn't for geocaching. Found the cache after some searching - cool fun. TNLN TFTC.

Great view to the sea and hills.
TNLN SL TFTC

few days after our visit to this cache, we bumped into a guy from the trust doing the relic north of Hoki. Apparently this bridge, he called it the Totara, is to have a board walkway put on as part of the walkway being done between Hoki and Ross.

came in from the south. within 60m and worker is admiring the view. so bum heads on with gps, last bit of the track is quite narrow. but then from the cache, the track is similar from the other way. good one!

This was our last cahe of the day. once we got into the bridge it was just about staying on. Walking the beam was equal parts of fun and scary, I was more nervous walking above the shingle parts than over the water! A quick sign and grabbed the TB and then it was a race to get off as it was getting dark really quickly. TFTC

MRS no.13 slowly crept across while Senior and Junor no.13 hid in the bushes !!!!! Just joking
MR no.13 was the brave one and soon had the cache in his hand while the rest of team cheered him on.
really cool cache great adrenaline rush was had by all .
TFTC

[This entry was edited by no.13 on Tuesday, March 02, 2010 at 9:38:56 PM.]

Cool. Today it is cloudy so the view isn't so far. TFTC MacBanger

After finding a suitable parking spot for the caravan, we set off on our bikes. Took off shoes and waded out to middle of bridge, then realised we were looking too low. So back across the river, shoes on this time (very tender feet) and up on the bridge. Unfortunately we still didn't find. Still it was an adventure. Thanks for taking us here.

Drove around for quite a while trying to find the other end then we realised that it wouldn't have helped. Conquered my heights problem enough to get out there and find the box. Almost got stuck wandering around the riverbed downstream further. It's pretty solid until where the sand meets the river gravel, then it just looks solid [B)]. Thankfully, we got out ok!

Cool spot for a cache but unfortunately couldn't log it because of all the muggels with dogs! Anyway, thanks for showing!

Hey what a great place and great bridge, bit foggy today

found with ribsc, mongyspeed and houza. great spot

This was a fun cache to find i really enjoyed the walk especially the company -houza, ribsc and bluejean and also left red eye sam tb as we all thought he could do with a swim here

beautiful day found with mongyspeed, houza, and bluejean TFTC

Cool walk along the bridge. TFTC

Great adventure getting this cache. We came in from the riverbed and Mr PN manged to gain the required altitude to get to GZ. Quite precarious! All the time figuring, "I Still have to get down from here, which will be a challenge" Upon finding the container, noticed the easier access option, complete with a hand-rail. Very good cache thanks. TFTC

Found by McAdies on our holiday around the South Island.
This was one of the COOLEST and most nerve wracking caches we have done. Just as we got to within 7 meters of the cache the GPSr's battery died and we weren't going back for new ones so we found the cache luckily. Admired the view from here and made our way back to safety.
TFTC

What a thrill. Thank you for that. no trade.

Well, THIS is quite a place for a cache! It was very interesting, to see this bridge from close up.

Time: 3:30pm.
TNLN, TFTC, Worlddiver from Switzerland

Been here before, always a good spot Went down the track, it doesn't quite go to nowhere -- it leads to a LOT of gorse! Suggestion for anyone thinking of going down this road... don't!! And if you do take a chainsaw and be prepared to spend a lot of time clearing the track! Spent an "interesting" day getting out of this one lol.

Did this one with Madleech.
This cache was the beginning of a major adventure. Found the cache quickly and was very impressed by the bridge, kind of eerie feeling standing there while the wind and rain beat down on us.
However my father had told me about the 4wd track that follows along the old railway track, of course I couldn't resist. Long story short, the track is VERY over grown with gorse and about 2km from the end (8km from the start) I got stuck in the gorse, had to walk out, find a phone and call in my dad to come and pull me out. I was 300m short of being clear of the gorse.

The cache was the highlight of the day, the gorse was the low point.
Thanks for the cache.

An excellent hide. Surefooted Mr TT had raced out and grabbed the cache whilst Mrs TT was still pussyfooting on the way. Very cool cache. TFTC

A fun end to our afternoon (well, half the team thought it was fun and the other half isn't quite so sure! ) We inadvertently walked all the way to the end due to not looking at our GPS and then realised that we were well past GZ, so back we went. Annie performed the extraction and PB was the photographer. Cache is safe and dry and in good condition. An excellent location and a good little adventure (tho' we did think that Modor was at least a little crazy to have done it in the rain!!!!) Returned to Ross for a celebratory icecream and then headed home. TNLN TFTC

What a scary one. But we did have a nice conversation we a lady who fished on whitebait.

One of the best caches I've found. I'll remember it, and the bridge 4eva. Cheers.

Brilliant spot for a cache. I started looking at the wrong altitude then figured it out. Mrs S.t wouldnt go anywhere near it tough.
I liked the mechanical methods for keeping it in place.
A few years ago we were checking out this really straight 4wd track near Ruatapu. After a few scary bridges that the truck only just fitted over, and a couple of fords, one of which we spent an hour digging ourselves out of, we popped out by this bridge.
Thanks, S.t.

Difficulty only 3! This was scary as for this old girl. The things we do to get a cache. Mr didn't seem to be having any trouble and was only too willing to climb over to reach the cache at GZ while I held on for all I was worth at the side. Wouldn't do it again for anything. TNLN but a shudder Relieved to be back on solid ground.

This was a fun cache, and not the only one I ended up doing a bit of high wire work today to find a cache! Glad it wasn't too windy and the wood was nice and dry. That cache certainly wasn't got to move from its resting spot either. Cheers Gav [1888]

This was the best one of the trip I reckon. Luckily, no rain or wind or fishermen about. A fun walk thanks.

cut myself up a bit on this one but all good!
TNLN

** Coordinates Changed From **
S 42° 52.720 E 170° 48.646
Distance From Old: 87 feet
Cache replaced (now tied in place so that it won't get blown or knocked away).

Cache replaced.

That explains why we couldn't find it...! So relieved it wasn't our poor hunting skills...!

Having downloaded a whole host of caches onto our Palm back in mid December before we left the UK, we hadn't been able to check if this was still online.

LOVE the bridge. Jon enjoyed it, more of a challenge for Pepsi. In fact, we loved the bridge so much that finding a cache would only have been a bonus!!

A recent newspaper article indicates that a muggle found the cache washed up on a beach at or near the river mouth - so I can only assume that it is missing.

Drat! My GPS led me to the WRONG side of the river. And that bridge looked REALLY scary. Had to pretend I was a professional photopgrapher at this place, since the whitebaiters were eyeing me suspiciously. - I didn't look like a whitebait!

So, here's a photo.

Found this one in the river, 1 flood and it would have ended up in greymouth. Placed back on bridge. Thanks Bitsprayer.

Scoped this out in the dark last night and decided to return this morning - good plan. Enjoyed the last 50m to the cache and found fairly quickly. Thanks heaps.

WOW. Mrs Long-John photographed Long-John while he enjoyed his amble along the bridge. He REALLY enjoyed it and even went back with slide film in his camera. Coordinates didn't quite find the spot. Track was in good condition. TNLN TFTC.

Woohoo! That was interesting. The first time that finding the cache wasn't as satisfying as returning to the car! Even for a hang glider pilot, it was a bit of a challenge. TNLN, Thanks.

Whoa! This one left us dizzy. TIP: Do not do this if you have vertigo or have a fear of heights! Mr Rizer brought out his machete (doesn't everyone travel with one??) and tried to tidy up the path heading up to the railway trail to the bridge. We walked gingerly toward the cache and had no trouble finding it, but I was glad to get back to our vehicle!
- whistle keyring
+ elephant
TFTC

Hardest part was walking through the wet grass. Awesome cache location. SL TFTC From Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, but living in Suzhou, China.

Great spot for a cache! Loved it! TFTC

An excellent bridge with no purpose at all. Sure it was used for something in the past - still looks and feels strong. Nice walk out to the cache and tried not to drop anything. Thanks heaps for a very interesting cache. Enjoyed this one. TNLN. Cheers.

Hmmm, this took a little bit of searching at first and a couple of trips on the tightrope. However with one of us braving it and the other throwing stones we had success.
- Bird in the Hand TB
TFTC

1064. We were glad to find this cache at the beginning of our trip after finding that it was actually missing when we were hunting for it on our last trip. There was a fresh wind that was very welcome as we all made our way to the cache sit.e
- pantene shampoo + figurine
We left the Bird in Hand TB.
This cache was our 1000th New Zealand find (We also had finds in other countries.)
We are on a southerly tour with our friends.
Thanks
Iris & Rodney

Found this on a South Island Caching trip with the Sallies.
Thanks
David & Noeline

Was quite surprised to find that the cache was indeed missing (didn't think that it would be). Have replaced it with a new one.

Like the Sallies spent quite a while looking but alas to no avail, Hope someone finds it as I note it has a TB in it
Cheers
Conton

Somehow this one eluded us! We stopped on our way to Fox and couldn't find it so went back on our return trip. By this time the rain had set in but we searched anyway. Spent quite a lot of time here but never found it!
Thanks
Iris & Rodney

Approached on wrong sde of the river and water too deep to wade. Short on time to find the entry point to the other side of the river.

Great location! Only a few had found this site. Tried Gates of H... and had no luck. This was a wonderful exhiliration feeling. Left a George travel bug, took nothing.

Great , A must do. Thanks Moneydork.

Great cache, Great fun a must do cach...

Many Thanks Bitsprayer

Adding Fishing Buddy Travel Bug.