Hurupaki Mountain (Whangarei) Traditional Cache
Hurupaki Mountain (Whangarei)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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The trees near the top have grown a bit since I first placed this cache, but there are still some views to be had. A nice little climb. Should take around 15-20min each way depending on fitness. The path is steep! and not well formed. Is very VERY! slippery after rain (trust me I know) and care is recommended. There are ropes to hold onto in the worst sections. But not recommended after rain. The land beyond the trig is private apparently so please keep out.
Hurupaki Mountain is a high scoria cone that is thought to be about 300,000 years old. It is a steep sided, partly bush scoria cone. It is 1-2km in diameter and 170m high. Hurupaki is a Maori word and means to cover with a cloak. Hurupaki Mountain was once a large Maori pa with a considerable number of pits and terraces. When occupied the pa would have been clear of trees. The slopes of the hill were terraced to provide flat areas on which to build to build houses, construct storage pits and as general living areas. The pa has about 70 pits on it; most of these were probably used as underground storage for kumara and berries, grown on the slopes of the hill. Some of the shallow pits and terraces would have had whares built on them. Further along the path from the cache you can see the remains of some of the mentioned pits. Today Hurupaki Mountain is partly farmed (cows and sheep), there is also a small pine tree plantation and the rest is in native bush. There is public access to the top of the mountain, - although there is no viewing platform at the top.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
5 cnprf R sebz Gevt. Unatvat.