watercatcher (Nelson/Marlborough) Stoke, South Island, New Zealand
By eraserman on 21-Jul-05. Waypoint GCPTGC

This cache:Quick find thanks to clear hint, tftc!Today:I have had my eye on the Roding area for quite a while. It's within the Nelson district limits but you have to drive a long way around to reach it. Furthermore, some caches are on the top of summits. So all in all it will take quite some time and effort to claim them. Not something to do over a lunch break Now I was supposed to fly to Sydney today but my flight was cancelled because of last minute airplane maintenance. I guess for the better then that I was not in it. No other options available until 24h later because of the Coldplay concert in layover city Auckland. But from this disappointment, I chose to select this day to do all the Roding area caches! And what a treat it was: great nature, nice trails, challenging area, no DNFs! Such a good day to compensate for my missed flight I left home very early and started by climbing to the Malita summit, mainly by MTB. Very nice views from the top at the still early morning. Then down again and onto the Roding 4WD road, picking up caches along the way. At the first river crossing, it became clear cycling was no longer an option. Because of the heavy rains of yesterday, the crossing was a challenge on foot, let along including the bike. With a big branch in my hands for extra balance, some careful route finding and good 'water shoes' for grip I made it to the other side. Continued the journey on foot, checking off each cache I encountered. So good that all of them are still out there to be found! A few more river crossings towards the end of the road, each easier than the last, and then up to the mines. Oh my, what a steep trail that is! All the way to the top with a cache and a great view as a reward. So cool to see the regular forested hills next to the 'desert' style hills because of the poisenous minerals.I did somehow thing I would be able to cross from there towards Meares but I did not read the logs properly and realised everyone approached from either Mailta summit or from the Rocks/Browning side. Luckily I quickly realised it's really not possible / way too dangerous to attempt from the mines. Will have to come back for that one some day, probably while doing a multi day walk from Rocks Hut. Took the other trail down back to the 4WD road, which was a much more enjoyable experience than having to go down the super steep section again. Also, made me get back closer to my starting point. After the same river crossing, which was much easier after a few hours of no rain, I picked up my MTB again and rode back to the car. Great area, nice experience, all finds, happy cacher!

Lovely walk with kids

Tftc

A day in the hills with Agazo. Had a yarn at a recent event and arranged a day out to a remote area neither of us had cached before. This was it. Arrived at the Roding River carpark and was pleased to see a new bridge over the river. No wet feet straight out of the car - a bonus. A short walk had us at GZ and after checking a few area's Agazo suggested a spot that needed further investigation and we soon had the cache in hand. Agazo did the honours, cache replaced and on up the valley. River still up a little bit so a good amount of water coming over the top of the dam today.

TFTC eraserman

#6691

I went out today with andy.gail. We were very surprised to see that the new bridge is complete over the river at the parking area. No need to cross at the ford any longer.

Finding the cache meant getting into a compromising position and reaching in. TFTC.

Despite having parked at the car park a few times now I’d never taken the opportunity to cross the ford and explore further into the reserve. So that was my plan for today: to walk the United Mine loop.

My first stop was at this short deviation of the main track. The water looks quite refreshing but not for me today.

I over complicated my search by thinking the cache would be hidden in a harder-to-get-to location so after discounting those options I went back to basics and soon had the container found.

Thanks eraserman
#3873

Logged using Cachly.

Out for a ride on my bike, feeling very bike unfit, it uses a totally different set of muscles to what I've been using lately. Passed the caretaker at the turnoff to the dam, I was already pushing the bike by that point. The cache was in the first place I looked however I didnt remove enough rocks so after looking everywhere else I went back and had another look. Thanks for placing eraserman

#11866

Back in May I had ventured only as far as what used to be the swing bridge but today I returned. I met the caretaker and had a good conversation. He told me the swing bridge was taken out by felled logs that smashed down the river during a flood in February 2018. A new vehicle bridge is being planned to accommodate the logging trucks that will arrive in the near future but for now the only access is by wading across the ford. So it was gumboots on and cross the river, sign the intentions book and take the tour he suggested.

I really like it out here and explored across the second ford where the caretaker had recommended I check out the painted 1985 flood line on the building opposite GZ. That puts things in perspective!

Amazing to see the pipe tunnel too. If only I could walk through it. The dam / weir about a 100m up the river definitely distracted me for a while.

This is a great location for a cache! Thanks eraserman, definitely a favourite point worthy caching experience and somewhere I will return to. Left a new logbook but didn't have a plastic bag with me.

#10364. Last time we'd driven up Aniseed Valley we'd only gone as far as the Hackett car park. We were keen to explore further up the valley, and enjoyed the short walk to the dam; most interesting (especially the tunnel through to Marsden Valley). I made a bit of a navigation bungle as the map on my GPSr showed the cache on the other side of the river, so we went over the foot bridge, and then along the pipeline to the ford, only to find the cache was on the other side of the ford. We waded through the ford, and then made a pretty quick find once we got to GZ. TFTC.

The road from the Hackett car park took ages to drive and was pretty pleased not to meet any oncoming traffic as it was mostly rather narrow. There were already a few cars in the car park but we met a few groups of people as we walked up the road. They looked as though they had been swimming at the water hole (which we didn't make it to).
Once we got close to GZ, I followed StreetWalker as he seemed to know where he was going and we crossed the river on the bridge across the dam then walked on the board walk above the pipe to where we thought GZ was. Ooops, we are now on the wrong side of the river. Took the opportunity to check out the pipe tunnel, then waded back across the river. An interesting wee detour .
Didn't take long for SW to track down the cache at the obvious place. Hurried through the paperwork as the sandflies had found us and headed back to the car.
Enjoyed the walk and the location of the cache, thank you for bringing me here and TFTC.

Have never been here before. Quick find. Will come up here again on a couple of weeks to get some more

Signed the intentions book over the swing bridge and enjoyed the short walk to GZ. Got mobbed by sandflies... TFTC and greetings from England!

Just a short walk in and out today to pick up the one cache. Caching with my nephew one dude who is visiting from the uk.

We decided a trip to Aniseed Valley was on the cards today, but it was only as we approached the usual carpark I suggested we continue and explore higher up the valley....plus i knew there were more caches to find.

We did not go too far today, but it was a good intro to the area and I think we will return with bikes to venture further. TFTC

Never been here before, such a neat spot. Pleased to see cache is doing fine since last being found. Thanks.

Oooo another old cache and great to see that this one has had a few more finds than the other one. So pleased you brought us off the main track and ensured that we took a look at the water-catcher. Thanks!!!

Returned here for a walk to the smelter. Last trip we got caught by heavy rain. TFTC.

Finally... after 7 years we crossed the swing bridge and this was one of the two caches we were after. An afternoon visit to get us out of the garden and to check out the area for a future longer visit. Last time we stopped at the sign and realised we were too late for 'opening' hours.
The caches in the area were on the plan for last summer - until the whole area was closed. We plan to be back to go to Coppertop - hopefully within the next 7 weeks rather than 7 years.
Another of the caches we have found this year that have not been found for over a year. Cache did have a damp smell, but the log was fine so not problems to sign.
A peaceful area today - until we met about 20 mini cyclists with a few adults - going happily back to their campsite near the bridge.
Thanks.

Saved this one for last. Hadn't expected such a substantial structure. A quick find to finish our 7 hour day doing the loop of the mines.

TFTC

nice quick find. tftc

Interesting to see how they have changed the water intake as the dam has been filled in. I wonder how much life this old girl has left in her?

Another interesting stop on the way down. No worries drying off the bit of damp in the log with the hot hot rocks today. Unfortunately I forgot about the public hours so no time left to get up Malita and back like planned. However maybe it was just as well in this heat - so I need to come back to this very lovely, historical and interesting area. It will be an absolute pleasure. TFTC #1954

Decided I needed a good walk, so why not up the Barnicoat from Richmond and beyond. Great day to be out and an enjoyable cache. Back another time on the bike to get the rest up this valley. TFTC

Found with some of the Enner Glynn Scouts while on a weekend camp at the Scout owned 'Roding Hut'. Had a touch of cabin fever after much rain on Saturday so I was glad for the short walk. I have been here a few times with Scout camps but this is the most water I've seen spilling over the dam. The Scouts enjoyed exploring the area and searching out the cache. I think I may have hooked a few on Geocaching! TFTC

Quick find on way to copper top . Great day for a mtb ride

Family walk to Smelter, Champion mine and back for swim at Hackett picnic area.
We were going to find Coppertop but had got to the mine when we realised it was back down the track.
Took steep way back to river so will get that one on another trip.
Next time plan to take bikes and go to the other mine.
Fabulous day. Great area. More beautiful than we had imagined.

we have been here last year with out even thinking to check for caches!! we did the cruisie bike ride option. Dam nice and deep today, last time it was chocker with gravel. cheers

Great spot! Really enjoyable little trip. Many thanks.

found with team teapot.
thanks

An easy find with Kwaka40. Some beautiful frost formations.
TFTC

Easy find with Wilson#41. We were going to head up to Coppertop but decided that wet feet amongst thick frost was not such a pleasant thought so we will return for that cache in the summer.
TNLN

Went off with intentions of a good walk up to coppertop but the weather closed in and on the advice of the caretaker, restricted myself to a short (wet) walk up to the dam. Nice one. I'll be back on a better day to do the further ones. TFTC, Biggles.

A great day for a ride out to the Coppertop cache and then back to this one, which we couldn't find 2 years ago when last up here.

To get to our third closest on the "nearest" list, we had to do a significant drive to close 7.8km as the crow flies. Junior B and Mr B enjoyed the walk in, and while Mr B negotiated the natural obstacles at the cache site, Junior B was having a ball on the ford. Great way to start a caching day which ended up also doing one in Cable Bay! Must be the only person to do these two in the same day . Weird. Thanks for brining us here. Knocking these off before the weather gets too hot again.

Went for a nice lunchtime walk with friends from Wellies. Great spot. Stunning crystal clear water. Had more meaning to it having already done the Italian Connection cache. Eyed up Coppertop for next time.
TFTC

Stopped to find this one on the way back from Copper Top. Interesting spot, enjoyed biking across the ford, had to do it twice! TFTC.

Great river and the start of a nice walk - easy find

Had a bit of hunt but found okay. It's really hot, we won't be going any further up the valley today. Came up here over ten years ago when they were thinking of increasing the size of the dam to make the water supply better. It's the same as it was, and we just rembered we left our sprinkler going on the vege garden, oops! TFTC

Beautiful spot with a lovely swimming hole, and history to boot Thanks E-man

Found on the way to the coppertop cache, TNLN

Mountain biked in, I needed the clue to confirm I was in the right place, cool and shady this morning.

Rode up and over from Barnicote hill with a mate from work.Good work out!Another interesting Cache.Thanks Stamps and Smiley.

Nice place poped in on the way to coppertop, had a little bit of trouble finding cache till I found it was a small one, you get spoiled by all the big caches The dam looks great.

Walked up here on a crisp morning but a lovely day threatening.
Nice spot

Nice ride to this one. Easy find. Cheers

Still cycling (my legs starting to tire and puffing somewhat) we found this cache easily enough and was nice to complete the connection with the "Itialian Connection"
TFTC


[This entry was edited by samy! on Sunday, April 02, 2006 at 5:21:01 PM.]

Thanks Captain_S & co for moving it back to its original position.

Beautiful Sunny Saturday Morning with the Tuis singing and the track to ourselves. My son Ben and I dropped in here on the way up to the Coppertop Cache expecting a quick find. After a long search the cache was located well out of arms reach, so reverting back to monkey techniques we fashioned a tool from a stick and retrieved it. It is now a lot more accesible, and probably where it started out.
Great spot though, and was one on my list of places to cache. Interesting history in the building of the tunnel too. Thanks Eraserman

Reasonably quick find, although a conversation with jf2004 confirmed that this is now hidden much deeper than it was originally. Perhaps the next to find can make it a little more accessible for people who don't have long arms?

BTW, I lost my wallet sometime around the time I made this trip. If you find one out here, let me know!

TFTC

A good MTB ride.
TNLN

very hard to find even with the clue.almost gave up(would be easier with 6 foot long arms)
TNLN

Nice One!!!!!!! Great history lesson. Never knew so much took place in this valley. Must return and spend more time. Only one problem, it took longer to clean the car than to walk up and find the cache. However, well well worth it. Silver on this one. Thanks

FTF, thanks for leading me up this valley, my car got pretty dirty too! And, the camouflage paint was already coming off the container - you need to change your paint/container/painter or something Eraserman! TNLN, Jane