>>> Update >>> Egg Rock has recently been declared a "Restricted Access Area". The cache was hidden here 7 years before this change. See PDF file from QLD Parks and Wildlife Website here: Egg Rock Sign Access is prohibited without written permission or a permit from QPWS. Call 137468 to apply for a Special Activities permit; or see here: Special Activities Permit Application
The cache is NOT at the published coordinates which is the summit of Egg Rock. However you will need to get up there to collect the clue to help you find the cache, which is located outside the NP boundary on public land.
For the geologists - Egg Rock is actually a plug of rhyolite that filled a subsidiary vent on the side of the Tweed Volcano. It towers above what is now the Numinbah Valley Correctional Facility - if you had to go to prison, at least this place has great views!
Climbing Egg Rock is not easy and definitely not recommended for small kids or anyone with a fear of heights. Parts of the climb are almost vertical and very exposed. A rope is strongly recommended for extra security. Do not attempt this cache alone or during or after wet weather, as the rocks can be extremely slippery. It's a 5km round trip - but allow at least 4-5 hours return. You can start from Binna Burra, following the Bellbird circuit then dropping down into Nixon Creek valley on the Great Walks! track. However we recommended starting from the Numinbah Valley. It's shorter and mostly downhill on the return.
Park at S 28 09.889, E153 13.109 and take the Great Walks! track heading up Nixon Creek valley. Wind your way up the valley through eucalypt forest which opens up occasionally to give great views of your destination as you go. After approx 2km you will descend some steps to Nixon Creek. Cross the creek and turn right following the creek for approx 300m to the next crossing. Do not cross here but follow the left bank to the huge boulder on the outside bend of the creek which guards the hidden entrance to a rocky gully leading around the base of Egg Rock. Clamber up this gully for approx 500m until you see a small cairn of rocks on the right bank. It's here you leave the gully and head sharply uphill to the base of the rock. This is the hard part. In front of you is an 40m almost vertical slab of rock which you must climb. For experienced climbers/scramblers with a good head for heights this will not present a major challenge as there are good hand and foot holds. However for for the less experienced, this bit is definitely hairy!!! A rope is strongly recommended for extra security as the slab can be slippery, however someone will have to climb up first to secure it. From the top of the slab continue up through tall grass ferns to the base of the main peak then turn right along a well defined footpad leading up to the saddle between Little Egg Rock and the main pinnacle. Turn right to Little Egg Rock (the lower summit) which offers great views and a good place for a rest and lunch. For the final push, return to the saddle and continue up to the summit. The track may be marked with coloured tape on some bushes and is relatively easy to follow. It is very steep, exposed and crumbly in places. But when dry there are good hand and foot holds and some vegetation to hold on to. A 20 minute hard slog will get you to the summit and your reward is an even more spectacular view down the valley. After you have caught your breath you now need to find the clue to help locate the final cache location:-
At the summit you'll find an old fencing tag about waist high. Grab the digits (numbers) and marks on the tag. Ignore the letters. Pay attention to the size of the digits too.
The final cache location is: S28 09.A7B E153 1W.XYZ
Where:
A=1st number on the tag.
B=Value of the smallest number on the tag.
W=Total number of digits on the tag (including zeros).
X=Total number of even digits on the tag (excluding zeros).
Y=Total number of full stops/decimal points on the tag.
Z=A divided by 2.
Checksum: A+B+W+X+Y+Z=17
In the logbook you'll find a number which you'll need to find our "Herbz Challenge" cache http://coord.info/GC3FGJF