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| The bunkers from the eastern edge of Sinclair Head |
Protecting Our Shores
Perched 170 metres on top of Sinclair Head lies a World War II era observation outpost, comprising 2 bunkers made of reinforced concrete, an observation post, and various foundations of buildings and concrete features (that have been since dismantled), which were built after World War I in an era of increased national security. In preparation for a potential Japanese invasion of New Zealand, a new kitchen, living quarters, and water supply was added. The outpost is officially named the “Sinclair Head Forward Observation Post”, its main use was for spotting ships ferrying through the Cook Strait, and any information was then passed on via a radio post up to Wrights Hill where the main battery of guns was located.
This outpost formed one of six sites used as in a network of observation posts around the Wellington area, and was far the most substantial. Complementing it were Cape Terawhiti, Moa Point, Beacon Hill, Baring Head, & Turakirae Head. Visible on one of the top remaining bunkers is the remnants of the grass camouflage that was added to the roofs to minimize detection by enemy air forces.
Down closer to the shore, Sinclair Head is a ‘haul out’ area for New Zealand fur seals during winter. The colony has up to 150 seals, generally all male. A ‘haul out’ site provides winter refuge where animals can gain condition before the next season. The Te Rimurapa Headlands/Sinclair Head provides excellent views out to the South Island, and looking east one can see the ins and outs of all the populated bays from Owhiro Bay extending back to Tarakena Bay. It’s a fantastic place to stop and have lunch and watch the inter-island ferries pass by – especially in a Northerly as it tends to be sheltered by the hills behind it.
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| Looking south towards the bunkers from a lower section of the Te Kopahou Bunker Track. |
Cache Details & Information
It’s an easy find once you’re up on top of Sinclair Head. The cache is a 400mL black Sistema placed slightly off track and out of the way of most muggles that visit this location. It initially contained a logbook, logbag, geocaching notice, & pencil. Please make sure to rehide it well and use upmost stealth whilst in the area.
Getting up to Sinclair Head is the hard part. Two methods of access exist – both with grades exceeding 50% at times. If one is approaching from Te Kopahou using the Bunker track – you will face a 140 metre descent over scree for a portion of the way – and a tough climb back up once you’ve finished (get real), with a gradient topping out at 55.6%. The alternative option is an 170 metre ascent from the coast below on the eastern side of Sinclair Head, following a occasionally marked route known as “Ribs Exit” which traverses through mud, a small stream, and past scrub. Follow the yellow markers whenever they're visible. This is a popular route for locals and regular visitors.
You can also complete this cache as part of…
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| Left: Abandoned bunker. Right: The bunkers atop of Sinclair Head from higher up on the steep Te Kopahou Bunker track. |
The Te Kopahou Loop
The Te Kopahou Loop is a demanding and strenuous half-day 17.7 kilometre loop which takes you to some spectacular sights and locations in Wellington – from peaks to the shore, and right around the edge of Te Kopahou Reserve. It reaches a maximum elevation of 495 metres, and drops right down to coast, with over 1080 metres of ascent and descent each. It reaches a maximum gradient of 55.6%, steeper than the final climb/initial drop on the West Wind Opau Loop track. We completed this track in 6 hours 31 minutes, including stops for photos cache placing, cache finding & lunch. If you intend to attempt the loop, allow for at least 6 hours worth of walking/biking. This figure is highly dependent on whether you choose to walk or bike to Hawkins Hill from the turbine or Aston Fitchett Drive. We’ve chosen what we think is a good method below:
It all starts at the Brooklyn Wind Turbine – where you bike for 10 minutes along the 2.6 kilometre sealed Hawkins Hill access road until you reach the beginning of the Red Rocks Track just before the radome and past the mysterious castle house. At this point you can leave and lock the bikes (you’ll see why later), walk up to the radome, grab the Hawkins Hill cache, and progress onwards as the sealed road turns into a 2 kilometre flat dirt road known as the ‘Te Kopahou Track’ towards Te Kopahou trig, 10 metres lower in elevation in relation to Hawkins Hill. Roughly two thirds of your way along, you can the grab “All Three”, before continuing to your first destination where you can nab the self-titled cache at this location.
From Te Kopahou Trig – you start walking on what is called the ‘Bunker Track’ towards this cache. The track condition changes dramatically for the worse, and takes a nosedive with an average gradient of 30%, approaching 50% at times – down to an elevation of 220 metres before ascending slightly, and then again plummeting down to 140 metres with a gradient exceeding 55% - the steepest point of the trip.
Using “Ribs Exit” to find your way down to the coastline from these bunkers, you can wander across the Red Rocks coast to the beginning of the Red Rocks Track, which will take you back up to your bikes. Along the way, you can pick up “Gale Force” on the ridgeline closer to the coast, and then “Boundary Issues”, and once you’re back at the bikes, you can snatch “Red Rocks Track”, if you haven’t already done so.
Be sure to bring your camera with you as there are some spectacular views, some warm/windproof clothing, as it can get quite gusty up there, along with some food and drink. There should be cellphone reception along pretty much all the ridges, although you may lose it as you descend into valleys and possibly on the coastline. Enjoy!