Mamaku is situated on the Mamaku Plateau, north-west of Rotorua. It is 5km off Highway 5.
Mamaku Rail Tractor: In the early days of logging, it was common to use hardwood timber rails (tramlines) to transport timber from the bush to the mill. As timber was cut further and further from the mills, it could be laid on tram wagons and hauled out easily. This was fine while the trucks were small enough to be pulled by bullock teams, but as time passed the need for heavier machinery became apparent.
By the First World War, horses and bullocks had been replaced by the new steam locomotives. This presented a problem as they were too heavy for the tramline tracks. Typical kiwi ingenuity came to the rescue in Mamaku with the invention of an idea by a road cartage contractor, Ollie Smith. He solved the problem by adapting a road truck to run on rails. The first truck was fitted with tram wheels and this success was followed by many more over a 20 year period. A fine example of one of these rail trucks may still be seen at the Mamaku Domain along with information on the various mill sites of the past.
As of April 2018, the cache has been relocated back to the Mamaku Tractor installation. While the former hide was an interesting location, it did not represent the focus of this cache which is the tractor itself. If you have a chance, wander around the Domain and nearby play area. There is a gate (Kissing Gate) dedicated to the memory of Ollie Smith that gives street access to the Domain from Mamaku Street.
The Cache: Is a nano and can be felt rather than seen. It is in a gap between two sections of grating (fencing). The hide is about chest height. You will need to exercise care when retrieving and replacing the cache so that it doesn't drop into the enclosure. There are likely to be lots of people around at various times. Please use stealth.