A fox in the tussock (Canterbury) Traditional Cache
A fox in the tussock (Canterbury)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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North Opuha Conservation Area.
This cache is at the car park at the beginning of a 7km conservation walk notable for the wetland tussock varieties seen enroute. There is a four-bunk musterers hut at the end of the walk if you feel like a two-day stroll across some pretty pleasant countryside.
The road to the cache leaves Clayton Road at S44 55.554, E170 53.033 and is public (leave gate closed unless tied back). It becomes private a few metres further on from the cache site itself, indicated by a locked gate. This gate is unlocked when the Ski Field is open.
Fox Peak is a club skifield, open to the public. It has fantastic runs, particularly through the South and North Basins which are currently accessiable by rope tows. They have a platter (poma) lift installed in 2008 for beginners and a T-Bar waiting to be installed. (Rates in 2007 were $45 for a non-member adult)
Features:
Vegetation
The lower, steeper slopes and gullies contain mixed shrublands, while higher slopes are broad sweeps of red and narrow-leaved snow tussock grasslands.
Significant wetlands dominated by red tussocks are found on the valley floor.
Wildlife
Both native and introduced birds are found here. Kea can be found high up in the alpine zone and New Zealand falcon/karearea has also been seen. Other bird species likely to be encountered include the pipit/pihoihoi and Australasian harrier. Gulls, ducks and geese are seasonal visitors.
The area is home to a wide range of invertebrates, as well as the more common species of skinks and geckos.
Rivers and wetlands contain upland bully (Gobiomorphus breviceps), Canterbury Galaxias (Galaxias vulgaris) and longfin eels/tuna. Salmon and brown trout are also found in some places where conditions are suitable, but are normally only small in size.
Cache is currently a 200mL snaplock container, although I will replace with a bigger box (same hiding place) later to make it more friendly for swaps. Cache contains pen, logbook and a few small swaps.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre gur ebpx.