If you choose to seek this cache today, you’ll be visiting
a beautiful little village. Puketapu (Puk-i-tar-pu) in
Hawke’s Bay lies approximately 20 minutes drive from both the
twin cities of Napier to the west or Hastings to the south.
Note: The final few
metres of this cache require entry to private land on a working
sheep farm. Permission for access has been kindly granted but
please keep the roadside gate closed. If you are accompanied
by your 4-legged friends today, please secure them to the gate -
they should not be there for long.
Be ready for a short but very steep hill climb to reach GZ, or
zig-zag the sheep tracks for an easier route.
Springvale Lake at Puketapu
Today Puketapu supports a thriving community complete with a
church, school, hotel, village store and a couple of family run
businesses. However, it also has a very interesting past.
History
The village is named after a nearby hill (puke) which in
pre-European times once housed a Maori settlement, albeit briefly.
Unknown to the main tribe settled at Otatara Pa (GCHF10), a small
group had broken away and taken up residence atop this particular
hillside. Fearing occupancy by a neighbouring tribe, a war
party from Otatara Pa conducted a night raid and slaughted those in
the new settlement. At daybreak, the mistake was realised that it
was actually members of their own tribe that were the victims and
had been killed. Because of this the site was therefore declared
'tapu' (sacred). Puketapu therefore translates reasonably well to
meaning ‘sacred hill’.
By the mid-1800’s Puketapu was now established as the
first stopping point for travellers en-route from the Port of
Napier to the Taupo region. A 2-story hotel was built where
travellers could be refreshed and horses for the carriage changed
so the journey could continue.
The Cache
The cache is located near to the southern end of the lake.
Although there is room to park at the side of the road very close
by, consider using the parking spaces just on to Dartmoor Road,
opposite the village store at S39° 30.530' E176° 47.500. The cache
can then be reached following a 40 minute walk round trip along the
road side, (please do not enter the grounds of the lake). There is
no footpath but a wide and well maintained verge takes you adjacent
to a charming lake. However, do take special care as vehicles
pass by. Behind the lake is a series of hills and the area of
the cache is near to the location to which Puketapu gained its
name. Around 30 years ago, the lake was a mere swamp. It has since
been developed in to the beautiful lake it is today complete with a
number of charming islands thanks to the forethought of the land
owners .
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Original Cache Contents
- Log book and pen (do not remove)
- FTF Certificate & $100 note
- Bear in the Air Travel Bug
- 2Gb USB Flash Drive
- Pocket Radio
- Tape measure
- Green Bouncy Ball
- Cute Spider
- Baby Fireman Gnome
- Green Toy Car
- Blue Cotton
- Orange Clothes Peg
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Other Points of Interest
The Kaweka Trail - This starts at Puketapu and ends some
60km away at the Mangtutu Hot Springs (GC1HHQJ). A number of
other caches can also be reached en-route. Trail information (free)
can be obtained from tourist information or from the local
store.
Puketapu Church - Dedicated to Saint Michael and All
Angels, a fine example of a well maintained small timber frame
country church. The church was built in 1910 and has a number
of features including a range of stain glassed windows which were
made in England. For viewing, the key to the church may be
available from the village store.
Puketapu Domain - A lovely little park with simple
amenities just as you leave the village on Dartmoor Road. If
you are in a larger group, the domain provides an excellent spot
for a game of family cricket. Also an ideal place for a barbecue or
picnic.
Tutaikuri River - A popular venue to cool off in
the summer. Reachable from the back of the domain or at the
bridge along Vicarage Road. This is also an excellent trout
fishing river.
Puketapu School - One of the oldest schools in Hawkes
Bay. If you visit out of school
hours, the adventure play ground and extensive sand pit
may be of amusement to the younger members of your group.