Hawkesbury Lookdown Book Exchange Traditional Cache
Hawkesbury Lookdown Book Exchange
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This is a cache which takes you along the edge of the Marramarra National Park to some of the best views of the Hawkesbury, or Berowra Creek to be precise. It's a good walk in but not steep at all so suits those looking for some exercise but without the steep climbs. The track is also suitable for mountain bikes. Just for something different, it's a book exchange too.
We've enjoyed the classic caches out this part of Sydney which involve a fair walk in but there's a pay off with the fantastic views or other features. Caches we've enjoyed up this way have included "The Pub With No Beer", "Ancient Orange" and "Tower 126". All of these caches are very infrequently found as they are not drive-bys but when you read the logs and see the favourite points you can see that these are the memorable caches. This cache has been placed with the same aim in mind.
Drive out through the rural community of Fiddletown, which doesn't seem to be signposted, past Northolm Grammar School and along Bloodwood Road to its very end. It's now sealed all the way so ignore what your car GPS says. Park at the listed parking coordinates, make sure you've got plenty of water and sunscreen and your walking boots on and head off along the Neverfail Fire Trail. The sign at this point says your destination is 5km away and rated 'easy'. Having walked it with a cache in my pack I can tell you it is easy, much easier than "Ancient Orange". If riding a mountain bike it's likely you'll hardly need to change gears for any of the slight gradients.
Follow the fire trail which isn't all that interesting unless it's wildflower season but just enjoy the sounds of nature and the feeling that you have left the world behind. At around 2km there's a faint track to the left which is an overgrown trail that leads towards Coba Trig. It's a nice walk although a bit overgrown but the trig and views are great. Just after there's another fire trail to the right but ignore that and stay on the well worn track. Eventually you will come to another junction where the track to the left goes to Coba Point and this goes for another 5km and is popular with mountain bikers apparently. Don't go that way if you are heading to the cache though.
Continue along the track for another kilometre and you will reach the end of the trail where the fire tankers probably turn around. Here you see how high you are above Berowra Creek with magnificent views to the north and east. Now you are not far from the cache. The distance to this point which I measured from the car park is 5.4 km and took me just under 54 minutes.
Have a look for the cache and then grab a book and lie on the rocks enjoying the sun or the breeze. Great place for a picnic. The cache is on the top level and it shouldn't take you anywhere dangerous. The area is surrounded by cliffs and drop-offs so beware. There are also some sandstone caves nearby. I did find a couple of emergency water bottles left in one overhang.
Looking at the view you would think this would have been an important site for the Aborigines as they could see anyone approaching along the river here. I don't know of any carvings in this area but they could be here.
So why a book exchange? Well the normal SWAG is more suited to the young kids and I don't imagine a lot of kids will get out here so this is more grown up. The cache is an ammo can and there's a few books in there. If you like one of them, then do a swap. Otherwise you can just have a read while you are there.
Eventually you will have to go back and I can tell you it's the same distance back but it seems to be quicker. Hope you enjoy this cache!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Va n qnex ubyybj jvgu n fznyy ohfu va sebag bs vg. Gbc yriry.
Treasures
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