ARA! KO HIKURANGI (East Coast).
Along SH 35 going round the East Coast, you will see a beautiful mountain that is of special significance for the people of the East Coast. The cache is at a lookout between Te Puia and Ruatoria.
Mount Hikurangi is located in the East Cape of the North Island of NewZealand. It is the sacred mountain of Ngati Porou, the local iwi.
The Maori tradition telling of the formation of the New Zealand goes says it was the first piece of land to emerge when Maui fished up the North Island. According to tradition, Maui’s canoe, Nukutaimemeha, remains stranded on the mountain peak.
The Crown acquired Mount Hikurangi in the 1870s and it became a state forest park. In November 1990 the Crown signed a deed with Te Runanga o Ngati Porou, vesting in them 3,780 hectares which included Mt Hikurangi.
Nowadays Ngati Porou is managing the land and facilitating public access to the mountain.
The Raukumara Range is like the backbone of the East Coast.
At 1754 metres, Hikurangi is the highest peak in the Raukumara Range and the highest non-volcanic peak in the North Island.
The summit of Hikurangi is the first place in mainland New Zealand to see the dawn of every new day.
For those interested to climb the Mount go to Link
The cache is a small snap-lock container. It has got a log booklet and some trinkets and a pen.