Mount Tauhara ( Taupo ) Waipahihi, North Island, New Zealand
By secretsquirrelnz on 23-Nov-06. Waypoint GCZG7P

As there's been no cache to find for some time, 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 unarchive it.

Although we have asked the owner to confirm the existence of the cache here we have received no response, and it appears after an exhaustive search and even PAF that the cache is not where it was placed. This spot needs to be opended up for a new cache placement so that others can enjoy this awesome spot. If a local is unable to place one we would be happy to, and hopefully would make a better job of maintaning it. This is far too good a spot to be wasted, we respectfully ask for this cache to be archived to make room for a new placment.

Search stop after 40 minutes by arrival of a class of 35 childrens at summit.

Like others ... I inspect all the sector with no chance. Is it realy there?

Time to let it go........

Had yet another look today, after having spoken to the owner some time ago. It has now been over a year since last found so I think it should be archived. Also worth mentioning that Mt. Tauhara is not public land and access is via the generosity of the owners.

"Tauhara Holds it's Secret"

Cloudy but fine morning and determined to find Cache as leaving district in 3 weeks and it's the only cache not found.

Did'nt start confident given last successful log October 08. 48 Minutes from Carpark to top. Passed within 20 meters of GZ on track up that then curls back on itself. Cloud lifting. GPS +-3m but did'nt find on first search. Rang Colorado Kiwi's to re check website for size, co-ordinates clue etc etc. Had been suggested that I take laptop and BB aircard with me. That's a bit techno. All details confirmed. Reset GPS and repeatedly came back to same location. Did a 30 meter radius grid search in cold windy damp conditions (See photo). Spent nearly 90 minutes. Pretty confident in saying that Secretsquirrelnz needs to reconfirm placement, perhaps replace and check cooridinates. Mount Tauhara will have to wait for another trip back up north and meantime holds it's secret. 31 minutes back down - Awesome run/tramp anyway.

[This entry was edited by ecfam on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 8:32:01 PM.]

Spoke to the owner and he checked the cache a couple of months ago so sounds like it is still there

We have had a third look for this cache and still no joy. I have tried to contact the owner but no response and I suspect he is no longer active. I am somewhat relcutant to post a 'needs maintenance' but it is now over six months since the cache was found and it should probably be checked.

Well that was a nice little practice run for when I return

Had a very stable and precise GZ but no cache found today. Lack of a more specific clue a bit frustrating as already mentioned by Navigull. However, great wee walk and fantastic views, quite happy to return but will be waiting for confirmation by another finder that the cache is actually there.

We couldn't find the cache despite a very accurate GPS reading. Once the legs have recovered we will try again with a different GPS.
15-Feb-2008 I awoke early this morning and decided it was time for a second attempt on this cache. Being the closest to home it sits at the top of my cache listing as a reminder of our previous failure to find. I couldn't get any enthusiasm for a pre-breakfast stroll up Mt. Tauhara so had to set out on my own. Armed with two GPSr’s, the knowledge from the previous logs and a colour photo from the MaWa log entry I was feeling confident. As I walked up the mountain I followed, and collected, a trail of lolly wrappers before arriving at the empty packet. This was a reminder that not everyone who attempts this walk is considerate, so perhaps the cache had been removed. Both GPS units agreed on Ground Zero and the location shown in the photo was about 2 meters South West which matched previous log entries that the cache was about 2 meters from GZ. Unfortunately this area is being used as the local restroom, which made searching hazardous and restricted my efforts somewhat. It also means that someone may have found the cache whilst on an entirely different mission. If the cache is still here then it deserves its 4.5 difficulty rating as I failed to find it again. Oh well, at least I set my best time for the climb of 56 minutes. Not bad for a fat old fella.

[This entry was edited by roobi on Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 1:18:45 PM.]

Maybe it's because we are relatively new cachers but we searched for about an hour and couldn't find it. However amazing walk and views just a shame we couldn't drop our bug there!

Went for a tramp with the Taupo Swimming club. It was a very rainy, cloudy day but we all had a lot of fun. Found the cache and left a small toy compass ring.

With the Heretaunga Tramping Club from Hawkes Bay, on a wet and windy day, no views to see.

WOW! Well worth the effort for these geriatrics, 2 1/4 hours up, 1 hour down, slow going as one in party had bung knee. Always seen the hill and climbing was well worth the views let alone finding the cache. Lots of tourists, not many tuis. Not muddy or slippery despite the recent rain. Thank you for the incentive to go up.

It was about 1:15 in the afternoon with a decision to be made. Do I do this cache or try for several over by Acacia Bay. It was a great day with no clouds and no breeze so this one won out.
There were about 10 cars in the carpark when I arrived and thought they were at the Lodge. So on with the pack with Palm, GPS, swag bag, water and nibbles. Started up the paddock and just got to the tanks when I spied a colleague coming down. I asked him how long it took him to get to the top. He replied with 50 minutes. What I didn't know then was that he was into mountain running. So I thought I'll add a few more minutes, like 10-15, and I would make it in just over the hour. How wrong I was. It finally took this wheezing and panting old fella 1 hr 25 minutes but I DID IT.So I had and felt half [xx(].
There were great 360 degree views from up here.
I would have met at least 20 people on the track today. It felt like it was Auckland's Northern Motorway at peak time. I just didn't expect that many people. Especially the three blokes who ran up and down the mountain.
Cheers for the cache.

Found with Nutcase99. Pleasant walk up through the bush with Tuis abundant and the odd snatch of a view of the ridge opposite. Track soggy but not too slippery with the pumice underneath. Fantastic views from the top and very steep especially on the southern slopes. Cache took quite a bit of prodding for but was very close to published GZ.
TNLNSL T4TC.

Took the opportunity of a break in the drizzle, for a peaceful walk with Greenblat - Until we got to the top that was - Muggle Central. An hours walk with meeting only one other person returning to their car, until right at the summit we caught up to a party in front of us. Unfortunately they needed a good long rest before returning.

Still, we camped at GZ, had a drink and snack until they'd moved on. Cache was well hidden, but a trifle empty - left a couple of karabiner key rings. TFTC

Enjoyed the walk and the views. Lots of muggles around today so had to be careful. The cache was well hidden and the GPS wouldn't settle down so took a little while to find. TNLNSL. TFTC.

Mrs TT and Edvern were in Taupo for an orienteering competition. Decided to take a hike up the hill after the event with two other orienteers. Fantastic views from the top, made the trip (60 mins each way) worthwhile. Max found the cache within 1 minute of reaching GZ!! It is definitely alive and well. TFTC

Just as I was about to head off for an orienteering run in the afternoon heat at Taupo, Tramper Ted suggested we climb Tauhara after our runs. Had always wanted to climb this peak, so didn't hesitate, and a cache to find was extra incentive. It was a most enjoyable climb through shady bush, and the views from the top, both over Taupo and the lake, and looking the other way over the Kaingaroa forest were truly awesome. Two other orienteers accompanied us as well and helped us find the cache quickly. Its contents are rather depleted - plenty of room for more. TNLN. Thanks for placing a cache in such a superb spot.

Very good hike, but no cache. We double-checked the coordinates and were sure we should be in the right spot. Searched around for over 3 hours, but still no joy in finding the cache. We did find a bottle with a couple of love notes inside (dated 2002 and 2003) in one of the likely hiding places, and an empty plastic bag in another.

[This entry was edited by huhugrub on Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 9:54:10 PM.]

Nice walk up, and a great view from the top!
Left the 7'th anniversary geocoin.
- Team Sweden

Good work out getting to this one! GPS took us within 2 metres so quick easy find. (Navigull must have had an entry error to have missed this!).
Left TB, TN
Thanks

13:20 So glad we made the effort to find this cache. Made the walk up in about one hour 20min and back down in 55min. Stayed on top for about an hour enjoying the views as there was not a cloud in the sky. Ice and snow crystals about. Clue to cache was very helpful and co-ords got us to within 2m of gz. tnln thanks for a great cache.

My son and grand daughter were the only ones of our group brave enough to accompany me on the hike up the mountain.

The weather was fine but a bit windy and we reached the top after I had struggled a bit on the steeper pinches. We hunted around for 40 minutes on the wind chilled summit. We searched an area of perhaps 300 square metres in total with no result apart from bottles, cans, old posts and an uprooted survey peg. The clue seemed a bit vague, though we gave special attention to the areas that seemed to be indicated.

I was rather frustrated not to have a more specific clue after making the effort to reach the top, but we still restrained our search somewhat, so as to spare the plants to much disturbance.
The views were magnificent and we stopped to admire and take photographs more especially when another party turned up.

Great 55 minute steady walk up to the summit for Mr NFA with Mrs NFA arriving 10 mins later!! Left the car park in brilliant sunshine & the cloud started drifting in once we at the top. Back down at the carpark we look back to see the mountain completly clear again. Have been going to walk up here for over 20 years. Thanks for giving us the extra incentive we needed to do it we realy enjoyed it! TFTC

NZ trip cache #26

Really enjoyed this one, never needed a excuse in the past to climb a small mountain, knowing a cache was up there just made this a sure thing to do while in taupo, We killed it, 2 hours return, including messing around up top for 25 minutes taking photos and having a bite to eat.
Thanks very much we would not have know about this walk prior to visiting NZ if it wasn't for Geocaching.
great walk, and hide!

Good steady walk up. Bit cloudy on the eastern side and across the mountains, unfortunately, but still a good view of the lake.
Cheers secretsquirrelnz - M@

Great place for a cache. Superb view and reasonably easy find.
T: NAC insurance lanyard
L: Tiger figurine

Thanks
Couff and Pete

Incredible view and wonderful hike. Would have never known this existed if it were not for geocaching. Several people left food in cache- removed it. Left a piece of Canada inside- would've left a Girl Guide patch if I had known it was a Scout cache but didn't have one on me.

Please take this in the nicest possible way. I have generally found that it is not necessary to bush bash (with the very real potential for damaging fragile sub alpine scrub in this situation) to find caches. Generally caches are readily accessible from a track. In this case (for future cachers) the track curves around on the summit to the cache location. And with excellent 360 deg views too...

A warm climb. Finding the cash took some time but we found it. The travelbug from holland was left here. Great views. It was a nice holliday trip! Thanks

[This entry was edited by MaWa on Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 4:21:38 AM.]

Was up on top of Mt Tahara when I found some people looking for the cache. I helped them look for it, unfortunately looking for it from below, in the scrub, which was hard going.

We popped out on top and found the cache exactly where it should be.

This was my first cache find for a long time. Great fun

19:38 FTF: Yay

Excellent walk on a breezy evening. Took longer than I expected up so was to be a quick trip down. Wonderful bush - so much moss & wind-blown fauna, interesting layers of bush, grottos and rock formations. Once in the bush, wind was not a problem.

Thanks for bringing me up here - magical spot - views are awesome! TNLNSL.

1.1km to bush line from carpark. 1.6km to go above the bush line. Allow plenty of time as it is a steady uphill walk on a well worn track. Took 1/2 hr to come down and that was in a real hurry, arriving at car just after dusk. [B)]

Next day: Was told that this is a 3 hour trip. I did it in less, but my legs feel it now... [xx(]

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