This is a nice walk up to a platformed lookout with good views out
over Te Aroha township and out towards Morrinsville and beyond. It
is signposted as 45 minutes walk from the car park - this would be
walking at a very leisurely pace. It is uphill all the way, but the
track is good with rest stops on the way, and isn’t steep.
Access is via the Te Aroha mountain track. Entry with parking is
at the domain (follow the signs to the thermal pools), with the
welcoming thought of a warm soak awaiting you upon your return.
I placed this cache here partly as an incentive to get people up
to this popular lookout, which is reward enough in itself. But also
to try and encourage people to continue on up past here and to bag
a real peak. After all, by the time you reach this spot, you’re
almost 1/3 of the way to the summit itself. With “3/4 Grind” cache
on the way, and then another cache at the top itself, you might as
well keep going and make it worth your while! The “Virtual Views”
from up here on the highest peak in the Kaimais are fantastic on a
clear day.
DOC gives the summit walk a time of 2.5 hours, which is pretty
generous (I did it in this time with the kids - and carried one of
them most of the way). My best time so far is 43 minutes... not
that it’s a race at all
This cache is a 360ml clear plastic container. It contains only a
log book, pencil and a few small trades. Please wait for any
muggles to move on before retrieving, and then replace in same
position.
Come on you guys, get out there and push-play!