| Looking back at the Titahi Bay mainland from Peninsula Views. |
Background & Geography
Located on a cliff, named Kaitawa Head, in Whitireia Park at the northern end of Titahi Bay Headland, a 2.6km by 2.7km body of land, you will receive remarkable views of Plimmerton, the local Titahi Bay coastline, Mana Island & on clear days, the northern points of the South Island. Back on the mainland above the peninsula where this cache is located, the remnants of a old Maori Pa. The remains of this Pa can be seen high on the headland, reached via the sealed road up the hill from the main Whitireia Park car park.
Whitireia Regional Park is a roughly 180 hectare area of land containing mostly open grassland and coastline, maintained by the park board, that was formed 4-6 million years ago when river valleys cut out Porirua Harbour, when the sea levels were lower than today. The glaciations of the Pleistocene Period one to two million years ago and flooding of the river valleys created the harbour – and formed Titahi Bay Peninsula.
Subsequent series of earthquakes originating from the Pacific-Indo Australian fault raised the headland many metres above the surrounding areas. The most recent Wellington 1855 earthquake raised the peninsula as much as 1 metre, forming the marshlands of Onepoto bay on the eastern side, which can be accessed through the Titahi Bay Golf Course, or walking around from the Titahi Bay Rowing Club.
Located inside the park are 3 radio masts maintained by Radio New Zealand, with the tallest standing some 220 metres high. Red Aircraft Hazard lights were installed on the tower in early 2010.
Whitireia Park provides a home for many species of bird life, including little shags, black shags, black-backed gulls, white-faced herons and kingfishers that frequent the area, eating insects, crabs, small fish and shellfish which are exposed at low tide.
Cache Details
The cache is a 200ml translucent Sistema located atop a 90-120 foot cliff at the northernmost point on the peninsula. The cliff itself is composed of a brittle crumbling rock, be careful as you ascend. Please do not attempt this cache in windy, wet or dark conditions.
You can access the general area via vehicle from the end of Thornley Street, leading onto Transmitter Street and finally onto Whitireia Road where you will pass Onehunga Bay on the right (note: this cache cannot be accessed by vehicle after dusk), or, it can alternatively be accessed on foot from the Titahi Bay Golf Course, or for a longer walk, Titahi Bay Rowing Club.
Once you reach the end of the road, park at the areas provided, and climb the seaward cliff. This can be done by walking up the graded trail between the mainland and the cliff and then *carefully* climbing up the last bit of cliff and walking along the precarious ridge on top, or by walking around the coastline and climbing up the eastern side. Both options have their pros and cons. Please bring your pen/pencil.