There are 14 caches to visit across fire affected areas between Healesville and Kinglake West. It is quite possible that you will need a number of visits to complete this series.
The title came from its proximity to Melbourne and where the fire was heading.
THE CACHES: Are in an order if you want to do them all in one go from one end to the other. The list includes the clue letter, the GC code and the cache name.
Update: Original cache for clue R has been archived. Replaced by Jehosophat Gully.
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC536Q0_jehosophat-gully?guid=211046df-dd71-4b17-b8c6-bf1e0bf95590
The link for R above is https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC536Q0_jehosophat-gully?guid=211046df-dd71-4b17-b8c6-bf1e0bf95590 This final cache can be found at:
JK LM NTP
ABC DE FGH
Q R S are extra caches in the series that give the place name of the final lookout. The first version of this cache did not have letters associated so you just had a jumble of numbers at the end, so a place name was added. I have since learnt this really wasn’t a good idea. So I hope you enjoy the new set up.
Most of the caches are simple drive-bys, however there are a couple of walks of more than 2kms. You can drive to the final location for this cache between 9am and 5pm. Outside these times it as about a 4km return walk along a sealed road.
When planning these caches along the northeast ranges of Melbourne, I wanted to provide information that encourages people to think about what they are looking at. I managed to set a few of the caches that avoid the fire issues, almost novelty caches which don't require too much thought. However the events of February the 7th, 2009 will be an overaching feature of this area for many decades to come.
I hope you enjoy your travels in doing this cache series. While you may think you are travelling a long way, keep in mind that you are only going through about 10% of the fire-affected areas in the northeast ranges.
Please spare a thought for the people of this region. Their businesses need a bit of support and while we need to remember the horrible events, many people (myself included) are desperate for any time that we don't think about these events.
The caches take you through unaffected areas, places that where so lucky not to be affected. Where would this fire ended up if not for the late wind change? These are caches for you to think about what is around you, what you have seen and what you have heard. You have the chance to visit or revisit areas. Find things that you never knew where there and hopefully come out with new information to think about. In a way these caches also cover some of the issues that affect these areas as well giving a very brief ecology lesson.
I hope at the cache "Phenomenal" you will think about the people who put their own lives on the line to protect others, no matter what the life form and out-pouring of support that came afterwards. Also reflect on what the people of these areas have been through. We always see this after disasters. Unfortunately we also see the types of people mentioned in "Dishonesty". At "Wildlife Returns" you can also think of the human recovery as well as the earthly recovery that you see around you. Unfortunately for parents there is no playground for kids but the idea for an adult playground at "Party House" may sound like a refreshing idea.