Valley View
The coastline from Eastbourne – Pencarrow – Fitzroy Bay – Baring Head is rugged and desolate with only the hardiest coastal plants colonising the area. Contrast this with the lush and varied vegetation to be found in the Lakes Block of the East Harbour Regional Park. Lakes Kohangapiripiri and Kohangatera boast significant wetlands well populated with birdlife.
The lakes were once tidal inlets, but over time, earthquakes have raised the shoreline and created a barrier to the sea. This has trapped the water and allowed the lakes and wetlands to form. It's interesting to compare these lakes with the similarly formed Plimmerton Swamp (aka Taupo Swamp). The Kohangatera Lake swamp is an earlier successional stage than Plimmerton Swamp, characterised by having less flax and more raupo (bullrush).
Getting to the Cache
This area can be accessed either from Burdan’s Gate at the southern end of Eastbourne, or via the newly opened East Harbour Regional Park entrance at Baring Head.
The Baring Head entrance is shorter, does involve climbing over the hill to access the gravel road along the coast. The distance to the cache is approximately 4km from the Baring Head entrance.
From Burdan’s Gate at Eastbourne, the distance to the cache is approximately 10km, but is flat all the way. Either way, leave the gravel road when you find the start of the Lake Kohangatera Track. It starts (not surprisingly) at the foot of the lake and is well signposted.
Sorry, no geomutts allowed on this one. Dogs are not permitted in the Lakes Block area, or South of the sea level Pencarrow Lighthouse.
Nearly there...
The Cache
The sign points the way, but I've been kind - you don't have to climb to the top to find the cache. However, don't let that stop you climbing to the lookout to enjoy the view! The container is a 200ml camo Sistema, containing a logbook and pen.
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