This cache has been placed at the end of the Waratah Trail. You may have already visited Paddy's Castle on the way here. You may have seen some of the local wildlife. You may have even seen some fantastic aboriginal carvings (but please don't touch them!).
Waratah Trail is named after the historical Waratah Trigonometrical Station (or "trig") which was constructed in 1882 by Thomas Charles Swannell, a piling overseer in the Department of Lands. Or, perhaps more accurately, the Waratah Trig is named after the waratahs that bloom along the trail in spring.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park was dedicated as a public reserve on 14 December 1894. It was the second National Park in NSW (the Royal National Park near Sutherland was established 15 years earlier). On 12 July 2006, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park was added to the National Heritage List.
The walk is a 10.2km return journey, a total of around 2.5 - 3 hours walking. This geocache has been approved by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and complies with their geocaching policy, meaning no swaps or trackables. The container is a 2 litre sistema with a logbook and pen.
When I hid this cache there was a daily entry fee of $11 into the National Park (or you could buy a $65 annual pass which was good for almost all National Parks in NSW). Gates close at sunset.
Other important information about the National Park is here:
- Park safety messages; and
- Fire, floods and park closure updates; and
- Park information pages.
Sorry, no dogs allowed on the Waratah Trail. Bicycles are permitted though!
Did you know that NSW has a geocaching association? Geocaching NSW aims to enhance and improve the activity of geocaching and holds regular events where geocachers meet to enjoy their common interests. A link to the website can be found here.