During the 1960's, way back before conservation and preservation of the environment were important issues in the minds of planners or, for that matter, to much of the population, sections of the Mullum Mullum Valley in the Ringwood/Donvale area of eastern Melbourne were set aside for future freeway construction. However, as many Melburnians would be aware, when the time came to finalize planning, considerable public concern began to develop over the pending destruction of an important river system and area of natural woodland and so, after much protest, it was eventually decided to construct freeway tunnels under some of the valley and thereby preserve the area as a haven for native flora and fauna. Unfortunately, by that time it was too late to save the eastern sections of the valley - which have been totally destroyed along the course of the Ringwood Bypass. However, an unexpected benefit of this previous zoning as freeway reservation (IMHO) is that much of the area didn't receive the attention that most urban parks and bushland usually gets from the local councils and there are no graded paths, seats, shelters, bridges, walkways, artificial wetlands, barbecues, toilets, etc and the area is not well known or accessible and is mainly travelled just by locals.
Mullum Mullum Creek views
The area which is the subject of this cache (and two "bonus" caches) is quite tricky to access - it's around 50 acres in size and is bordered to the east by the Mullum Mullum Creek, to the north by private residences along Heads Road, to the west by Park Road and the tunnel entrance and to the south by private residences along Lisbeth Avenue. A strip along the southern section of this area (south of where the freeway was originally intended to go) has been designated as public parkland for some time ("Hillcrest Reserve") but only has one, small access point from Lisbeth Ave - while the rest of the area is still controlled by VicRoads and one can only hope that it eventually gets handed over as a public reserve rather than being sold off for development, now that the tunnels have been completed and it is no longer required. A quick perusal of the area using Google Earth or Google Maps will be helpful in visualising where you will be going for this cache. The recommended waypoints will guide you to the cache and should be accessible at all times and under all conditions, while the return journey (via the bonus caches) may follow a different route 
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Parking
There is another access to the area and, until recently, it wasn't well-known - but now there's a bike path which follows (and criss-crosses) the Mullum Mullum Creek from further upstream past Yarran Dheran and passes this point before leaving the creek and following the course of the freeway. If you park here, in Huggins Lane, you'll be right on top of the fire suppression system for the tunnels - the concrete covers in the middle of the turning circle are the top of a large reservoir and the system extends underground further down the hill where you can't fail to spot the bike path. If you head down and follow the bike path to the west, you'll be right on top of the tunnels and headed in the right direction.
Track Junction
At this point, you can leave the bike path and follow the track into the bush towards the -
Fence Opening
I'm not sure what the significance of this little fence is - perhaps it just marks the boundary between Hillcrest Reserve and the freeway reservation as it doesn't seem to be designed to impede progress too much. Anyway, there's an opening at these co-ordinates.
Creek Crossing
Having passed though the fence, you could try striking out directly for the cache, but it's a bit steep and the undergrowth is a bit thick for bush-bashing and there's a small creek ("Walert Creek") you need to cross, so you'd be better off heading to these co-ordinates where you'll spot a convenient way across. Actually, these co-ordinates will place you on top of a ridge which has me a bit intrigued; from the top you'll have a nice view of the Mullum Mullum Creek where Walert Creek joins it, but I can't help but wonder if the ridge itself is a natural formation - it almost looks like it was once an attempt to dam Walert Creek but, if it was, then it was a long time ago judging from the trees growing on it and the creek has long since cut through it again. Maybe it was some construction to aid in gold-mining or farming by some early settlers. I'd be interested to hear what others think of this theory.
The cache
Having crossed the creek, you can follow the track and your GPSr to GZ, where you'll be searching for an ammo box in a pretty typical hiding place. While you're in the area, keep an eye out for wildlife - all the usual candidates are possibilities, but it's the birdlife which makes its presence most obvious - again, many varieties, but dominated by Bell Miners (Bellbirds) and Rainbow Lorikeets which ensure this spot is anything but quiet . I took the pictures below on the day I placed the caches.
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Rainbow Lorikeets near GZ
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Bellbird near GZ
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The total trip is around 2.5km and is probably unsuitable for young children; I'd rate the terrain as 2.5 if this was located further away from civilization, but I've bumped it up a bit so that cachers trolling for suburban caches get some warning that, despite its superficial appearance as a suburban park, it should be researched a bit before just adding it to the day's list. If anyone thinks the foregoing sounds like too much work for one cache, I've sweetened the deal by hiding two bonus caches somewhere between the recommended start point and this cache and you'll be able to get them on the way back. Co-ordinates and instructions for finding each bonus cache are contained in the cache preceding it.
I suppose I could have made this a multi but, personally, I don't like the continual distractions of having to do calculations and fiddle with the GPSr when on a walk like this, so it's just a traditional with a bunch of reference waypoints which you should have in your GPSr before you start. This also means you may be tempted to try to get to this cache by routes other than those recommended - there is a goat track along the back of the properties on Heads Rd, and there may be a way to get to it from the road (although I don't actually know of one) but, if you get lost, or spend ages looking for a shortcut, don't blame me and remember - the bonus caches are between this cache and the recommended start point. For what it's worth, if I were doing maintenance on this cache by itself, I'd probably take most of the recommended route!
With the opening of the new Eastern Freeway Extension and Scoresby Freeway only a few weeks away, it seems like a good time to check out what might have been lost if the original (surface) freeway options had been allowed to go ahead. It might also be a last chance to see this area before Parks, Victoria or their local counterparts get into it and make it more "people friendly" so, have fun - and I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did while exploring the area and placing the caches.
Listings for the bonus caches can be found at -
Hillcrest Hike #2
Hillcrest Hike #3