Let's call them Nicholls Falls Traditional Cache
Let's call them Nicholls Falls
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This one is NOT for a Sunday stroll geocacher. It is NOT suitable for children. It should NOT be done alone. It may involve traversing through very steep (vertical cliffs in places) and scrubby country, and/or walking IN (literally IN, up to a metre deep) a creek. Do not attempt this after heavy rain, and it would not be recommended for winter or early spring. It would be wise to pack a 10m rope. The area is leech city when wet. Do I have your interest?
The cache is a bagged 15cm Sistema container at the base of a large tree, about 15m south of the Albert River, and is flagged by orange tape. So now you know this, the rest should be easy!? It is situated near to where a decision is made to go to either the top or the bottom of Nicholls falls. The falls location, and instructions on how to get to the top and/or bottom are at the cache. Allow a couple of hours for each section, and a full day, a packed lunch and other hiking essentials if you intend to attempt both top and bottom.
Some years ago I heard from a local about the proverbial ‘secret falls of South Gippsland’, and was provided with a purposefully vague indication of their location. It took ‘OneEye’ and I about 3 years, and a series of expeditions to find them. They are not on any map that I know of.
However, they are on Heartbreak Hills land that was previously run by the Nicholls family during the 1930s-40s. Eventually they gave up trying to run a farm there, and you’ll understand why if and when you get there. The farm was also previously run by the Wards, but I have a particular reason for referring to the falls as Nicholls Falls. The area is now State Forest, and either scrubby bush or pine plantation. When you get to the cache you will be provided with the coordinates of the falls, and coordinates and instructions on how to get to them. Make a choice as to the top or the bottom, or do both if you have time. The bottom is quicker. There are references to tracks and marker tapes in the instructions. Do not rely on these. Over time, it is quite possible that the ‘tracks’ are overgrown, the plantation has been logged, or the marker tapes lost. Short of having rock climbing equipment and a lot of nerve, it is not possible to get directly from the bottom of the falls to the top.
It wasn’t made easy for us so why should I make it easy for you? But think of the satisfaction, especially if you get to the cache, and then make it to both the top and bottom of Nicholls Falls. Put photos on the site to prove the all-encompassing FTF i.e. cache, falls top, falls bottom. Anything less hardly counts?
Just getting to the cache is tricky enough. I’d suggest that you do substantial research before trying this one, and then a look at the hint to get you started. I’m not expecting a complete FTF for quite some time.
This one is the ‘no way know-en’ and last of the ol’ Guru’s lesser known, partly known and ‘no way know-en’ waterfalls of South Gippsland series (also Albert River Falls .. they're back! [GC3GCAX] and Cooks Creek Falls from Walkerville Road [GC35P29]). Good luck, and be careful!
A big 'well done' to the waldos and malikaal for the complete FTF .. you can't argue with the photographic evidence.
I'm adding this on 30/4/2013
After receiving an email from another geocacher some months ago, myself and OneEyee went looking for the little known Ebie Falls (on Morwell River - East Branch, about 40 minutes drive from the vicinity of Nicholls Falls). As it turned out we found them just after someone had created a track down to them. Lucky us! It looks very much like the track was formed by the same people who did the track to Albert River Falls. So, if you're interested .. Ebie Falls .. S 38 28.167 E 146 22.717 Ebie Falls Walking Track Start .. S 38 28.593 E 146 22.562 It would be wise to use a 4WD, to drive along Livingston Road, then Watkins Track. I wouldn't go in winter.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ersre gb OnaqLbqn
Treasures
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