The Cache Location:
Providing a splash of green
between busy Alexandra Avenue and the Yarra River, the
Alexandra Gardens are set out on five hectares of land off St
Kilda Road, at the foot of Princes Bridge between the Yarra
River and Alexandra Avenue. The gardens' main feature is a
star-shaped flowerbed. Another feature is the Henley Lawn,
which is surrounded by Canary Island palms. Also within the
gardens are numerous walking paths, ornamental gardens with
palms and shrubs borders, large areas of parklands with mature
trees, barbeque facilities, and bicycle hire.
The gardens are a major venue for the annual Moomba festival.
They are a perfect vantage spot for the water sports, which are run
during the festival. A walk along Capital City Trail leads to
Southbank Promenade: a popular spot for cyclists, joggers and
inline skaters. During warmer months, Melburnians take advantage of
the many barbecues dotting the riverbank. The bike path along the
river edge is part of the extensive Yarra River Trail.
The gardens are home to the Riverslide Skate Park. The skatepark
was designed with skaters, for skaters. It has a real
street-skating focus so you can test your stuff on the ramps and
funboxes. There are areas for beginners, intermediate, and more
advanced skaters. There is also lots of shade and heaps of room for
spectators or those taking a breather, plus a café for
refreshments. You can also get first aid on-site in the skate
office.
Elegant boat sheds dot the river bank in the gardens, and are
still routinely used by university rowing clubs. This area became
the traditional setting for the annual Henley-on-Yarra rowing
regatta. The boatsheds started appearing at the turn of the 19th
century and the first Henley-on-Yarra regatta was held in 1904,
quickly becoming one of the most popular events in Melbourne and
drawing huge crowds to both banks of the river. Built in 1930 to
commemorate the oarsmen who served in World War One, the Oarsmen’s
Memorial Judges Box is sited in the gardens near the finish line of
the regatta.
Getting There:
This description assumes that you are a business traveller, that
you are staying at a hotel in or near Melbourne's CBD, and you are
starting from Flinders Street Station at the corner of Flinders and
Swanston Streets.
Cross St Kilda Rd at the lights, and walk south across Princes
Bridge. There are steps and a ramp leading off to the left. Go down
and follow your GPSr to ground zero.
Melway street directory reference for the cache is: 2F H7
UBD street directory reference for the cache is: 18 B12
What you need to do:
Once on the banks of the Yarra allow your GPSr to guide you to
GZ, and start looking.
The Cache:
This is a log-only micro cache. The cache container is a film
canister. Bring your own pen!
The initial contents are:
Clue for the Business Traveller's Cache
Log sheet and stash note
There is a high probability of encountering muggles around the
cache site, especially when the rowers are practising. The
difficulty rating reflects this. Be watchful! As always, please
replace the cache exactly where you found it to discourage
accidental discovery.
Activities at or Near this
Location:
After you've found the cache, here are some other things you can
do in the area:
- Have a picnic or BBQ and watch the rowers practising on the
river.
- Look around the Alexandra Gardens and find the star-shaped
flowerbed.
- Check out the Riverslide Skate Park and marvel at the skills
(or flinch at the spills) of the young people who use it.
- Walk back the way you came, but walk under Princes Bridge and
visit the Southgate complex. There are many attractions to
experience: shops, pubs, restaurants, food mall, and street
performances to watch.
- Take a cruise on the Yarra River. There are many options to
choose from: Port and Docklands tour (down river); River Gardens
tour (up river); take a ferry to historic Williamstown; there is
even a cruising restaurant.
Nearby Caches:
You might also consider the following nearby caches that are
also reachable by public transport or on foot from this cache: