Dam it! (Central Otago) Bridge Hill, South Island, New Zealand
By hamsterman on 29-Apr-05. Waypoint GCNNMZ

On my way to Queenstown to attend an AGM and getting some caches on the way. This was one of my target caches. All good with the cache.

Climbing over it multiple times and not realising it! Well hid! TFTC

Container is damaged. Needs replacing

A nice walk in an area I would otherwise not have ventured into. Great to see the historic remains of the dam and races and wonderful views of Alexandra and the mountains TFTC

Took longer than it should have as it was totally unclear to us whether we needed to follow Teviot Rd (which seemed to initially be the way to go as it was mentioned in the description) or take the track off to the left about 10 metres before reading the info sign 30 sec from the road.So ended up doing a massive loop on our bikes but found it in the end.It would be nice if there were better directions to help those who are not familiar with the error.

What a brilliant spot!! Would never have know this here if it wasnt for geocaching. Have been wanting to do this one for a long time. Finally got my way on mothers day
Great views and history behind it. Nice family outing.
Thanks so much for the cache.

Biked out here tonight. Wasnt confident enough to bike down the track, but got it in the end. Tftc

Find #7999. Would have been great to get it at 8000 but never mind. Should have turned off before info panel so had to do a little bush bash. Fine dam but dry. Cache ok if a little tired. Left a couple of penguins. Hot!!!

Yay back into it and caching is back on the table so a work trip to central and my old stomping ground.
I spent 12 years living in Alexandra and miss this place every day.
So a trip up to Alex and in to little valley was a welcome trip down memory lane and brought back the yering to live here again.
A quick stop and I tracked this one down in no time .
Now back on the road and heading south unfortunately but I will be back as soon as I can I just love this place.


Getting out and about int the out doors is my happy place so any excuse to go caching.

Life is short. Live one foot step at a time.Never say" I'm gonna "- Just do it!!
Thanks for the hide
tftc

Since MrF played hookie from work, we decided to go for a stroll in the hills since the afternoon was clear and pleasant....
No gates to be opened as there is a lovely stile to climb. Following the GPS we went off the main track to follow the animal trail. The dam was soon in sight. MrF went the hard way down to the dam, no elephant track for him! With directions from above and 'something plastic has been here' no cache for him, so now time for me to nimble foot it down to GZ....and on the other side of the rock from the plastic bits cache was found .... maybe because he has a headcold there won't be too much teasing
Log signed and cache replaced, even though container a little battered everything was dry.
Thanks for the exercise, views and the smell of thyme

Really good place

Too late to come here and searched this area properly, but probably nothing in radius 5 m from the dam. I rather returned to my car (getting dark + me alone + bad shoes) which unfortunately locked with my key inside. Everything inside - phone, wallet. Interesting evening followed .

Jammed my thumb in the van at work so a few extra days off work so back up this way for a few more days and some more caching. This was a nice walk but there was no wind and the heat for this time of the year was very hot. Lot a bit to find as I tried to take a direct path to it and didn't work out to well. TFTC

beautiful early morning walk to the dam, and the smell of thyme - divine!! Thank you for bringing me here!! TFTC!!

A lovely walk and scramble to an interesting spot that I would never have discovered without geocaching. Thank you.

After two games of football had to walk to this cache but I didn't complain too much

Been meaning to do this one for a long long time so great to get here today with RowenaD after soccer. Bit of a hike to it from car parking but enjoyed. Would most certainly not have come here if it was not for my crazy addiction!

Have wanted to get to this cache for years - but either we've been just passing through, or the last holiday we had in Alex the vehicle bridge was closed for repairs. The Edwards Gully Dams are one of the historic sites in the Otago Goldfields Alexandra Tour One, but the description of how to get there isn't particularly helpful. But this cache gives the parking coordinates, yay!

There's no sign on the gate but obviously the Old Coach Road is a well-used biking route. We walked down the road, read the sign about the Coach Road history, and continued down the road past the part where where tracks have been cut into the rock to stop the coach wheels slipping. By this time we were past GZ but we knew there must be an easy way there without going through the briars. Yes, there was - we - we turned off onto a track at S45 15.195 E169 25.972. Along that track a short way, we left the track and walked down a gentle slope without prickly plants to the water race in the gully. Then followed the track along the water race upstream to the top dam.

Read the information sign, admired the dam and found the cache - so nice to have a proper regular cache in good condition! Then kept going up the mountain bike track which came out onto the coach road at S45 15.390 E169 25.922.

Ah yes - a nice walk and we got shown a place we wouldn't have got to without caching - this is what caching is all about! Thank you hamsterman!

A bit of a hike to find this cache but well worth it in the end. Amazing views!! TFTC!!

Out and about Easter weekend exploring the hills in Central. Parked by the gate and headed down hill to the left thinking I could get straight to GZ. UH OH - bad move! Back tracked up and headed along the track and down. Ended up going more to the right and when I made it to GZ it was a scramble down then up and more of a search than I hoped. Cache soon located safe and sound then back up and off along a different track which was much easier and less time. Definitely need to follow the orange markers! Really enjoyed the challenge of this one. TFTC

Found this one while on a holiday from our home in Whangamata. This one took a while as there no information on the posts to tell about the turn off to the dam. On the way back I found that I should have followed the orange sign posts. TFTC

Tvmftc. What an adventure. Made a rookie mistake and followed the road for too long. Nice scenery though so no issue. Bit of a hike but worth it.

We had our eye on this one for some time and only ever got as far as the gate. Required a great deal more exertion that we anticipated. Mrs Guzzi struggled on the climb back. Nice solid log book. Found all dry and in good condition. Thank you for placing a decent sized container and log book.

We think this cache should have a higher terrain rating as there is some rock scrambling required and quite a steep climb back up the track. Parts of the track are quite eroded from rain and no more than a sheep track. Enjoyed it despite this.

Love the smell of wild thyme in the morning.
Great views this morning I can hear orcs in the valley bellow.
Quick find.
Down in omakau for a mates wedding so had to grab a few caches before the party starts tftc

Amazing place for a cache and a nice stroll to get it. Great cache

Despite a thorough search of the area we didn't find. Dam it!

#300

Having found the Rock'N' Roll geocache we decided to make this the next target since the car was already dirty. Thanks for taking me to a new remote and scenic spot, a fitting location for my 300th find.

Challenging but fun. We are also glad we went in the morning while it was a bit cooler. Not troubles with the path too the cache.

Very cool cach! Thanks for it!

wow never knew this was here. great cache, taking us to places never been

I grew up in the area and never knew this was here. It was a beautiful sunny day, I got some bird-watching done too TFTC

Found with us04 and spydude13. TFTC

Nerise found it again!!!!

Took the long way there but found the short way back. Found with Spydude13, Lollipopcat, and annetteanddale. Kia ora for the cache hamsterman.

Found with us04 and Lollipopcat. TFTC

Did not attempt as we got to the top of the road and a gate and found it was lambing season and no admittance permitted until after 30 November. Will come back.

Well that has to be cache of the day! First we took the wrong track and had to double back, so no ten minute walk for us. Then a half hour search. I had given up actually but we knew it must be there. Who would muggle it? So gave it another go and found it in two minutes. I think it deserves a favourite point for making us work so hard. A higher terrain rating perhaps? TFTC

Like TheLittleBothaFamily we also took the wrong track and spent ages looking for this one and we were already short of time. Luckily we spied it just before giving up - it was well hidden. TFTC

TFTC, found with Polargirl. A ten minute run when taking the correct path perhaps? Finally found the cache

A well hidden hide! We were glad we chose an early morning start to find this cache as the walk in took a while and we were fair scorching by the time we got back to the car. A great spot for a cache. TFTC [^]

A better puffing track than most, joined Roo&barb for this one.

Found with macrodiz. Well he found after I'd walked past it a few times!

Lived in this area for 20 past years and never knew this was here TFTC

dan it...We got you. For a while there I had a slightly different name for you?????

Dam it is right. I searched for so long but too many rocks and just ended up very frustrated after all the effort.

Lovely day for a wander

Took awhile to find tracks to get us to the cache. The route we took was from the suggested parking spot down the 4wd track past the info board to S45 15.391 E169 25.922 where we found track on the LHS that took us down and around to the dam. There was no water there today. Found cache with Old Boots TFTC

The 65th find of 150 in 5 days on road trip with Ingidayna. Didn't find the easy way to this cache, tried a 4WD track and went too far, had a stop on the way back and then realised it should be a walk down to find, went too far down but soon spotted where it should be, and soon enough log was signed. TFTC

66/155 in 5 days, found with wethreefourdices. TFTC
Not sure if we went in the right gate, greatful for the $x$ cache mobile

awesome spot, we used the old marked walkway one way so got all the info boards, and MTB track the other. all good fun in steady rain,

Hot!, hot!.hot! but well worth the effort. It is unbelieveable what is in some of these hills.
Thanks
erninz

We used the marked route one way and then some went back by the mtb track. Great spot and never would have come this way if the cache hadn't been here. TFTC.

Easy find in a difficult area. TFTC.

Got to gate - closed for lambing!! Darn!!

Good fun, great walk... not a muggle in sight!

TFTC

Had walked from Alex via the rail trail and then the old coach road so left daddy muffin to find this while we laboured up the hill to find the unexpected explanitory panel. Daddy muffin was glad to find it as he thought it may be further off. TFTC

Were starting to think we were lost but found the dam. Great spot. Great history. TFTC.

This was one of the most enjoyable caches I have done for quite a while. Came here late on a fine, moonless, mild and dead calm evening - parked the car at the gate and walked in by torchlight and starlight. Absolutely magical with all the rock formations and the scent of wild thyme all around. Had a good topo map on the GPS and no problems finding the tracks. Located cache after about 10 minutes of searching amongst the myriad of possible places - all dry and in good condition. Retraced my steps using the inwards GPS track to keep me on the path. Signed log, TFTC and for a Central Otago experience I'll remember for a long time.

A really neat cache to walk to in the late afternoon. Thanks, hamsterman.

What an absolute gem! Loved the history of the old coaching road and the dam, plus the fact that the area is still used as a mountain bike course. I overshot the turnoff from the track, but went back and followed the red trail as it wound down to the dam. Found cache and signed log, left a RexTrex 'dini dropping' for the next lucky person to collect.

Thanks hamsterman - a neat cache.

(I suspect kiddzin should change their smiley to a DNF frowny since they failed to find the cache.)

Failed "Dam IT" after a very hot walk really wanted this one but wasn't to be. Too many rocks. Thanks.

Nice walk in must have missed part of in track but came back on it OK. Nice neat stone work on the face of the old dam. TFTC

Dam it was right walked for ages in wrong directions since we non gps'ers, 2 time round easy as after reading logs 4 extra clues lol and go google earth!!!!

This area is certainly a dirt biker's paradise though none around today.

Cheers for the cache.

3rd of day, added metallic gem. We ended up off the track going up and down the gully's wasn't the best idea with my Mum with us, we were all knackered by time we got back to car.

placed (speedracer bug) in cache

[This entry was edited by mcmanis1 on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 1:27:49 AM.]

We bumbled around a bit looking for the track down off the road above the dam, a passing MTBer set us right and a scramble round the hillside saw us in the right spot. +fluffy mouse, -cuff link. Another interesting spot. TFTC

Headed up the main track towards the cache but seemed to overshoot GZ so attempted to take a short cut down the gully. Encountered many plants/bushes/other vegetation, all of which were extremely hostile! Located the cache and then took a short cut back to the car. Plants up that track are also mean.

dropped in here because thats where i found it. Will be moving it on soon.

Nice walk in here. Checked out the lower dam too. TFTC

Nice spot for a cache thanks for bringing me here!:smile:

Did this one the cross country way. Went in the wrong gate. A nice walk though easy find once at GZ. TFTC.

Took a bit of a roundabout route and got some scratched legs but nice walk from Alex.

Found 16/11/08.Enjoyed this cache at historic site and on historic road,even though it was blowing a gale and rain set in as I went back a second time to retrieve a gpsr left at the info plaque!I can well imagine Cobb & co coaches lurching along this road.T suitcase lock/L aeroplane broach.TFTC

Got lost a few times, GPS led us in the right direction on the wrong trail! Took us a while, but we enjoyed the hunt, TFTC!

Last for the day and just on darkness as I arrived back at the car. Nice evening walk plus enjoyed the learning, truely amazing how much infrastructure was created in an age with virtually no mechanisation.
TNLNSL TFTC

I forgot to log the visit of A train TB... but the TB wanted to keep chugging along.

Well, well that fooled us won't say anymore 'cause it may spoil it for others. Very interesting spot. Love the history. Nice hide. Took nothing and sorry I didn't have anything to leave. Thank for the cache.

found with nz_3rds very hot day took a bit of hunting down TFTC TNLN

Found with max.corboy on a 36 degree C day - could almost see the vultures circling. Interesting spot, full of fascinating history. TNLN - TFTC.

great spot for a cache I am thinking that the dam may be a little bit leaky.
TFTC

What a walk on a hot hot muggy day. Neat history. Just dodged thunder storm.

Wow a spot I didn't know about in the area. GPSr managed have flat batteries very close to GZ, so I had to use the hint. Thanks and cheers.

Great cache.

Found with "The Moor we Hunt..."

TNLN TFTC

We managed to drive the camper right up the newly graded track to the gateway to start the walk. A very lunar landscape and we missed the track to the dam on the way down, but found it on the way back. Interesting history. Took $1 and left a sheet of butterfly stickers. SL. TFTC.

Also logging in and out our England Geocoin.

Out for a ride on a steamy Central Otago day......

Chose a route into the cache resembling an assault course. Picked up a few scratches on the way in.

Great spot just oozing with history.

Have ridden past on a mountain bike several times but never even noticed the information board. Too busy hanging on the steep trail. TFTC

Nice walk on a beautiful evening, after a weekend Cross Country Skiing.

A reasonably quick find even if I walked further than necessary

An interesting walk - definitely not one we would have done if we weren't geocaching. There was a car at the gate so we thought we might find some geocahcers but just missed tham.

Forgot about the gate coordinates. Needn't bothered. For the second time today decided on the long way round, a quick cache before dinner. Amazing what you find in them there hills! Thought it was going to be difficult to find the right rock, but found first up. Thanks for the cache.

---(2007-02-10, 18: 7:39)---
No chance of a cool down in the dam - water would be very appreciated. We found getting to the right location involved a lot of guess work. We stumbled upon the descriptive board about the dam. It took us well over 10 mins getting in. If you know the right track it may well be possible. TNLN, cheers.

Took two kids of our friends for this walk and on hindsight, shouldn't have taken the "shortcuts" we did Let the kids hunt for it and it took them about 15 seconds once we got to GZ. Took candle, left dragon and some silica gel. Love finding bits of history like this around the place. Thanks.

Took a while to check all the possible hidey holes (well all the ones I had to check before finding it - there were plenty more!). Really enjoyed the walk and the smell of thyme - reminds of holidays in the area as a kid. Thanks.

My first cache for the new year.
Slept the night up here in the car.
Great spot.
TNLNSL.

Found with my dad (Moneydork).

Our toughest find yet, but Dhuges tracked it down as always. Left the grandparents in the car, which was not a bad move as it was quite a rough walk in places. Great outing and a lovely drive through new country for us.
TFTC

Parked by the gate, but walked a bit further than we should have and finished up going through the thyme to get on to the mountain bike track.A good cache and well worth the visit to see the dam site.
TN. Left $1.00
Cheers
Pipedream,