The best way to approach this one is to head southwest from
Patearoa on the Patearoa-Styx Road for about 9km, until you reach S
45° 19.528' E 169° 57.321'. Take the gate on the left (if
you cross the bridge over the Taieri, you've gone too far!). Follow
the gravel road, it will take you within 100 metres of the cache
(Perfectly passable with a 2WD).
This cache is on private property, and has been placed with
permission. The land owner (my father) is quite happy for visitors
to enter the property to find this cache, and have a little look
around the immediate vicinity. There are a few stipulations
though!
- Please leave all gates as you found them, when you find them
(There are only two). This is a farm - mixing stock can be
disastrous.
- Regarding the previous point, the second gate into the property
is usually locked - if so, you are still welcome to walk/ride/run
in to find the cache.
- No dogs. They're welcome to stay in the car, but please don't
let them wander. The primary reason for this is to prevent possible
parasite transmission to sheep (via dog faeces).
- Use common sense around any animals that may be in the area -
move slowly, don't startle them causing lemming like
activity...
- Finally, The claim is registered as a
very part-time shooting range, used by the Otago
Pistol Club. They only use it 1-2 times a year, but if you see
flags and signs advising of firearm use when you arrive,
DO NOT ENTER THE AREA UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES. To be sure you'll see such warnings,
please take the route onto the property mentioned above (It's
really the only route you can take anyway).
Other than the above, please, feel free to take a look around
the area. There's an ok swimming spot back at the main road just up
the river from the bridge.
Now that the boring rules part is over...
Park on the gravel road near the cache site, and take a walk up
the hillside - Watch the Matagouri and Rosehip bushes, they're
quite prickly. Try to make your way to the other side of the hill.
The cache co-ordinates are not quite on the spot where the cache is
hidden, but when you get there, the direction to go should be
obvious. Be careful though, the other end is a sheer
drop.
When placed, the 1L camo-painted cache contained:
- Two toy dinosaurs
- Matchbox car
- Buzz Lightyear toy.
Free Hint: A torch may be useful (You definitely don't
need one).