This cache replaces Dragon's Breath, which unfortunately is now metres under water due to rising lake levels.
Sulphurous flows seep towards the lake in places, eerily like yellowish glacial or larval flows - the soft rock emits a dragon's breath like odour. In some places and times, this is actually considered good for your health! Unless you were a princess, tied to a rock with no knight in shining armour nearby...
The Dragon who habitually resides at the now archived Dragon's Lair has been seen on occasion here, resting in the warm deep waters of this lake. Evidence in the form of tiny crustacean claws shows its food source - or is it the sheddings of its offspring! You may also notice that aircraft on the flight path to/from Rotorua airport circle steeply before the lake - perhaps avoiding the hazard known to leap from its depths?
Mmmmm. Sulphur...
Beware of herds of horses (usually with mounted riders) on what remains of the beach or walking on the road. There will be a warning sign and a 20km/hr speed limit on the road in this situation. The lake is adjacent to Kiwi Ranch and there are often groups of children in the vicinity, so please take care on the single lane portion of the sealed road to the lake.
From the carpark at the end of the sealed road there are a few alternative routes to the lake. Taking the path to the right will lead you down to an abseiling cliff with what looks like a suitable offering place for the aforementioned princess. The alternate paper road to the left should not be attempted by wheeled chariot due to a large rock and potential cross-axled scenario aggravated by a washout across the track. And I won't respond favourably to calls for help. Ha! The first path off the right of the paper road leads you down through the bush to the Mother Dragon's Breath (how convenient?) and meets a path between the two less direct routes, either of which are only a 5 minute walk down to the lake. There are other tracks through the bush as well. Please respect the environment and keep to the marked paths as there is no need for any bush bashing.
The cache itself was last seen in a camouflaged 3 litre systema container which has been (re)recycled from Horo-Kiwi (Caching) so has some historical significance. Of course the cache's location was averaged over time using a Garmin Oregon 300. It contained, at cache placement:
- FTF Prize - Unactivated TB Tag
- Essentials - Notebook / Pen / Pencil
- Swappables - Kiwi Keychain, simpson toy, slide measuring gauge, toy race car, belt attachment - for pen or ID card, collector's fob watch on chain, Rudolpg (grows in water), photo album
- Seed A Cache - (1) Berocca Container (2) Calcium Tablet Container no swap required if you use to create a new cache
- Travel Bugs - Jeep 4x4 #2991 and WBL-Race '10 - Die Zwerge - Die Gans aus ... wie war das mit der Gans noch?.
*** PLEASE REPLACE THE CACHE AS FOUND AFTER SIGNING THE LOG. BRING YOUR OWN PEN. THANK YOU. ***