Early Oriental Bay
In 1883, Oriental Bay was a stony beach with a few houses and boatsheds. A railway track was built to carry spill from the Oriental Bay quarry to the Te Aro reclamation, north of Courtenay Place.
Changing Oriental Bay
In the early 1900s Oriental Bay became a fashionable address for the city’s affluent.
The historic houses at Nos. 188-200 designed by Joshua Charlesworth are an important collection of Edwardian villas known as the “Seven Sisters”. While some have undergone various alterations over time, they are largely original. A brick retaining wall runs along the rear of all of the properties and some of the houses stillhave the original outhouses and maid’s quarters.
In the 1930s and 1940s many of the Bay’s grand houses were converted into flats and boarding houses. By the 1990s it had once again become the abode of the wealthy. Many people live in apartments, which are replacing the early wooden villas. Standing above the bay is the former St Gerard’s monastery, a Wellington landmark.
Oriental Bay Band Rotunda was originally a band rotunda then developed into a bathing pavilion in 1937. There’s a great view from the top if you take the steps up on either side from the footpath. Perfect for picnics and very sheltered in a southerly. It now operates as a Fisherman’s Table restaurant.
Freyberg Pool & Fitness Centre features a heated indoor pool for lane swimming, aqua jogging or private lessons, as well as spas, sauna and steam room. The fitness centre offers a range of land and water based fitness classes, equipment and massages.
Freyberg Beach and play ground
This is a great playground for hanging and climbing on the space net. Changing rooms, showers and toilets are also available. Follow the boardwalk down to the Tug Boat (have you found this cache?) and you'll find a great spot to bomb into the water. There's a ladder to get back onto the boardwalk on the side. There's also wheelchair access down to the water's edge through the concrete block headland. Swim out to one of the pontoons and back for a challenge, or just paddle in the shallows.
Rock climbing
Behind Freyberg Pool & Fitness Centre there is an outdoor rock climbing wall. These routes are for experienced climbers as there are no top ropes in place.
Oriental Bay Beach
Oriental Bay beach is a man-made beach originally created from the ballast of sailing ships and is now maintained by the city council who regularly bring in barges of golden sand from Golden Bay (top of the South Island). For events such as beach volleyball, the council brings in soft grey sand especially for the event, and takes it away again afterwards!
This is also a popular spot for summer events as it is well sheltered from southerly winds. Swim between the flags when the lifeguards are on duty over the summer school holidays.
Wishing Well
Across the road from the beach make a wish in the wishing well where “sweet health and fair desires consort your grace”. This quirky well was installed by the Wellington Jaycees over 40 years ago and is usually overlooked by visitors as they rush to the nearby toilets.
Carter Fountain
The fountain in the middle of the bay was donated to the citizens of Wellington by the Carter family in 1973, in memory of their parents “who had a great love of the city”.
Ilott Raft
Anchored about 50m off the beach is a raft for swimmers, donated by the Ilott family in 1985.
….and now for the cache…
The initial coordinates will bring you to a bronze sculpture perched on the seawall.
A= Second digit of the date in October this sculpture was unveiled.
Waypoint B is located at S41 17.439 E174 47.49A
B= Number of plaques at this location x 2.
Waypoint C is located at S41 17.B68 E174 47.571
C= Sum of the first and last digits in the year the raft was installed
Waypoint D is located at S41 17.49(C-B) E174 47.585
D= Sum of the first and third digits in the date of installation
Waypoint E is located at S41 17.452 E174 47.6(D+1)6. By now, you should be feeling quite on top of this puzzle.
E= The number of letters on the second line of this plaque. Note Jan 2022: Location is currently closed. E=8
Waypoint F is located at S41 17.460 E174 47.(E-1)04
F= The number of councillors whose lastname commences with "McK"
The Final Location, where you will find a log-only micro-cache hidden behind an apparently ordinary object is
S41 17.ABC E174 47.DEF.
Bring your own pencil, and extreme stealth will be required as this is a very public location.
FTF honours to huhugrub, and 2TF to Yeetrees.