Rangitoto Ship's Graveyard (Auckland) Traditional Cache
Hidden : 12/21/2008
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

Wreck Bay is well worth the hike. None of the ships were wrecked by bad weather or navigation, they were all dumped here deliberately.

Disposal of obsolete ships on Rangitoto

The coastlines of Hauraki Gulf islands were once used as dumping grounds for obsolete ships. With rapid changes in technology, ships quickly became outdated and uneconomic to maintain.

Nowadays, obsolete vessels can be cut up and the materials recycled, but in the past disposing of unwanted vessels was a problem. The easiest solution was to drive them ashore where they would be out of sight, and leave them to rot or rust away.

Wreck Bay and the adjacent coastline of Rangitoto is a graveyard for at least 13 ships that were dumped on the island between 1887 and 1947.

Some of the older vessels that were made of timber were burnt to the waterline. Later wrecks provided a rich resource for the island's handful of bach owners, who descended on the hulks and stripped them of fittings and timber to incorporate into their holiday homes.

The Rangitoto hulks today

Over the years, the hulks have gradually deteriorated and been broken up by wave action. Some large pieces of wreckage remain on the foreshore, or in the intertidal zone, at Wreck Bay, Boulder Bay, and along the adjacent coastline. In many cases it is difficult to work out which ship the wreckage has come from.

The Rangitoto hulks are now a regionally significant heritage site and are protected by the Auckland Regional Council and Department of Conservation. Please do not remove or disturb any of the remains.

Wear good shoes as the trail is over old lava fields. Also bring plenty of water as it can be very hot. The sign said one hour each way, but the Tramper Ted team took 25 mins.

Additional Hints ()

Ubyr va ebpx, nobhg purfg urvtug.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)

Advertising with Us