Calamity at Kauri Point (Auckland) Traditional Cache
Navigull: Time to shut this one down I think.
Calamity at Kauri Point (Auckland)
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Searching for this cache will take a little effort but it will take you to a well hidden and little known historic and well preserved pa site which is believed to the site of a battle that almost completely wiped out the local tribe.
This is the only remaining, largely intact, site of a classic coastal headland defensive pa of which there were once a number around the Waitemata.
It was likely to have been occupied only seasonally as the local soils are not suitable for growing kumara but it overlooks a favourite fishing ground known most especially for sharks and large parties travelled from as far as Hauraki (Thames) to fish for them
The Pa at Kauri Point is believed to be the site of the pa known as
Te Matarae o Mana, “Mana’s brow” named after a Kawerau chieftain who built his pa in the eighteenth century.
One hundred and fifty years of relatively peaceful existence was shattered when in 1823 Hongi Hika attacked and killed chief Takarau and most of the inhabitants. The few survivors fled and later just a few returned and lived in the area from the 1830s until the area was sold to the government in 1841.
The site has splendid natural defences in the form of sheer cliffs around almost all sides and needed just the digging of two trenches and a bank across the narrow northern neck to complete the fortress.
The scrub and bush hide and protect the well preserved earthworks but the trenches are obvious as you cross them.
The shortest track in to GZ is about 700m one way and allow around 10 minutes in and 12 back out. There are a couple of dog-legs and junctions so if you get confused there are decimal digits for track junctions encrypted in the clues.
The cache is a 1 litre cammo painted plastic container and is a little distance from the most trodden paths but the lack of undergrowth allows fairly easy access. Children need close supervision as there are precipitous cliffs close by.
Please respect this historic area. Tread lightly and take only photos (or of course swaps from the cache)
The track to this cache is not to be taken too lightly and is quite steep in places and can be a bit slippery after rain. It is recommended to take a picnic visit the nearby beach to take a swim if the tide is in.
There are steep cliffs close to the track particularly near GZ and along the track to the Chelsea Sugar works.
While you are in the area there is also the Kendal’s bay cache and I would encourage the fit to take time for the loop walks shown in the accompanying jpg.
I find it amazing that one can walk for 10 kms so close to the CBD and see only a few houses. There are some striking views of the harbour, the lakes, and streams especially from the GZ area and also from the track to Chelsea.
I have uploaded a map showing a loop walk which includes walking the track through to Chelsea and it also shows a branch up the valley into Chatswood. Distances range from 5 to 8 kms. Although sometimes passing close, you will see or hear very little of the houses. The full route as shown passes close to 4 caches and a letterbox should you wish to be distracted for a while. Email me for a GPX file if you wish.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[The cache itself:] guvegl zrgerf aj sebz genpx raq ng pyvss rqtr
[Junct1] fsbhe svir frira rfvk bu frira
[Junct2] f sbhe frira rvtug rnfg fvk friragl frira
[Junst3] fbhgu svir bar mreb rfvk sbhe naqfrira
Treasures
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