Dialling Downunder (Northland) Multi-Cache
Dialling Downunder (Northland)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Cache is located in one of Northland's most picturesque and historic beach suburbs. This is an off-set cache but both the given GZ and the cache's final location can be reached by foot, or with stroller etc from any one of several carpark areas. Parking right by the final hiding point is not possible, for reasons which will be obvious. Some scrambling may be necessary at the final hiding point.
The cache container is a small (approx 1L) plastic screwtop container painted in camo colours and containing a few of the usual small swaps, plus a log book, pencil, and sharpener. The given coordinates will bring you to a plinth which records the history-making cable station which once connected New Zealand to the rest of the world. The cable ran from the beach in front of the carpark/reserve and went to Norfolk Island where it joined other cables across the Pacific to Australia and USA. It was in use from 1902 until 1912 when a cable from Auckland replaced it. There is a piece of the cable in the nearby store - ask there to see it if you are interested. Some locals claim that at the occasional very low tide parts can sometimes be seen exposed in the sand. Although most of the flat area was in use at the time to service the cable station, the plinth was installed initially in the area now taken up by the new toilet block near the stream and bridge. It did have its coordinates marked on the top plaque, but time and kids scrambling over it have erased most of the lettering. The old house across the stream was one of the supervisors' homes, whist other buildings have been removed to other sites in Northland - a portion is now in Russell and forms part of The Duke of Marlborough hotel, whilst another was barged up the Taipa River (just over the hill to the West) and is the main part of the Oruru Community Hall and Cinema. Enough history, you want to find the cache: At the plinth is a Far North District Council sign and on this sign are some details to help you. The destination of the cache (it is close, no driving required) is S 34deg 59.CBB' E 173deg 28.ACD' where the letters A, B, C, D can be found with the following clues: How many letters in the place name? This is letter A, and letter B is A-8 while letter C is half of A. On the sign where is the destination? How many letters in its name? This is X. Letter D is X-C. Input these numbers into the Destination Coordinates and good luck - just be careful of traffic, and enjoy the beach.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre obneqjnyx, uryq ol ohatl.
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
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