What's so plain? Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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You'd be hard pressed to find a Wollongong resident that hasn't driven by this area. But how many of us stop to think about what you are actually driving through?
The area between Wollongong and the Sutherland Shire is geologically the Woronora Plateau. This region gradually descends as you travel from South to North. Near its highest levels, the landscape opens out into broad green marshes without any trees or large shrubs. This is Maddens Plains, the largest area of upland swamps on the Australian mainland.
This area is the important headwaters of three rivers, the Georges, Woronora and Cataract. Whilst the Woronora and Cataract Rivers have been dammed for water supply purposes, the upper Georges River tributaries of Maddens and O'Hares Creeks remain in a relatively pristine state.
Maddens Plains is a largely natural area, mostly upland swamps and woodlands. Since it is an area of great biodiversity, endangered wildlife and aboriginal sites, and has high water quality and water catchment status, most of it is protected in the Dharwal Reserves and Woronora Special Area.
The swamps of Maddens Plains act like a sponge soaking up rainwater which is then released into O'Hares Creek and its tributories before flowing into the Georges River. A large proportion of the water that exits the Georges River into the ocean has its origins here.
The area is often blanketed in a thick fog, of which there are many local aboriginal dream time stories. The cache is placed on a relatively high point on this otherwise flat area. The high point is no doubt not a natural phenomenon, but rather a result of the F6 which cuts through the area.
Be careful with geopuppies and kids and also take care when exiting and entering the traffic, cars in this area will generally be traveling at in excess of 100km/h. There is a small parking area just South of the cache. Extra caution should be taken if the area is blanketed in fog.
The cache is only accessible from the North Bound lane of the F6. U-Turns are illegal and crossing the four lanes of traffic on foot is also highly inadvisable. There are facilities to turn around to the North at Helensburgh and to the South at Bulli Tops.
Enjoy the view, despite the traffic noise this is quite a spectacular spot to watch the sun set.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ybbx sbe gur boivbhf fvtaf.
Treasures
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