Steam Engine Cache (Coromandel) Traditional Cache
Hidden : 1/24/2013
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

A cache placed out of the way at a piece of local history.

Steam Engine - Wentworth Valley


CACHE DETAILS:

Cache is in a Berocca tube. Has pencil and logbook only. No room for travel bugs or coins. Please place back exactly where you found it.

HISTORY :

Actually a Ruston and Proctor portable steam engine used to power the sawmill for the Buchanan family from 1922. The old engine is made of steel and is now brown and rusty but still obvious what it is. 
The area is called the Wires because the telegraph line between Auckland and Wellington was diverted through here during the Waikato Land Wars.  The area was extensively logged. Gold was discovered here circa 1887, followed by gumdiggers, then settlers whose cattle failed due to a lack of cobalt in the soil. Len Buchanan's family was important to the area in the early part of the 20th Century.  As a result of all this activity, few areas of established trees were left, most forest is regenerating bush which has grown back in relatively recent times.



TRACK:

The track starts at the Wentworth Valley campground just 15 min drive from Whangamata. Partially well graded gravel road and a ford, but not rough driving, but can be very busy over the Christmas New years period. Campground is one of the very very few that allows dogs.

The first part of the track is the Wentworth track to the Wentworth falls, and lookout. The track is easy, well marked, with all the streams bridged and you won't get your reeboks dirty at all, it is uphill of course. The turnoff to the lookout is clearly sign posted and doesn't take long to get to the platform.  See Wentworth falls cache (info slightly old). This takes a moderately fit person about 40 minutes, watch out for runners over summer.

Second part of the track continues on from the turnoff to the top of the waterfall (2 mins) and from then on the mud appears, you'll need your tramping boots as you will be crossing little streams and 3 larger streams which can get a little high if the rain has been heavy. Another 60 minutes to the top where you'll meet the Old Wires track/Whangamata off road vehicle track on the Maratoto plateau, comes in from the Paeroa side of the hills, see Marototo monster cache. The whole track is uphill from the carpark, but not excessively steep, not suitable for pushchairs and walking frames, you need to be moderately fit, the 70 year olds in the local ramblers walking group have no problems.

Third part of the track. At the top left turn avoiding four wheel drivers and motorcycles if its a fine weekend, dont worry you'll hear them coming. Avoid walking in the puddles you may not find the bottom, unless there is a vehicle already sunk down there. about 10 mins from the junction There is a wide ford to cross just after the lunch shack and picnic table, The cache is only 10 minutes away now follow the road to the turnoff coord. waypoint. Turn left.
Fourth part is the marsh, beware vegetation is out to get you, scratchy, wet, don't lose the short people. Think the dead marshes in the Lord of the Rings - "don't follow the lights".  In here is the engine. it can be tricky to find! The cache is easy once you're actually there. You don't want to know how many years it took us to find it again, once we lost the engine location. Yay GPSR and people with local knowledge. No time estimates, good luck.

Way home can be one of two, unless you're driving, either retrace your steps back to the Wentworth track and then downwards or carry to the next cache at Goldmount.  This will make the total trip a 14 kilometer loop a full days walking. Please read the Goldmount cache description before deciding, it's a little harder than this and needs good bush navigation skills, track not really marked any more, still only need moderate fitness.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ba gbc bs ratvar va ubyr. Ab fcrpvny rdhvczrag arrqrq.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


Advertising with Us