A short hike on a DOC trail just off SH1 will bring you to the lookout platform where the batman could keep watch over Motuoapa if the joker had not caught him and put him in the fix that he is currently in. From the bat lookout, at all times you can enjoy a good view of Motuoapa and across Lake Taupo, and at dawn and dusk you may spot some bats. During summer there are plenty of mosquitos for the bats to feed on.
The start of the trail can be reached by walking a short distance up Tangitu St. The walk through DOC land will bring you to the bat lookout, and a short distance further up the hill is the cache as mugglers will for the most part go as far as the lookout and then will turn back. If you are tall, you will also enjoy a good view from the cache location.
The trail is steep in places, so keep a close watch if you are with small children.
The batman in a bind this time and you are welcome trade treasure. But please don’t be a joker and leave junk.
Bats are New Zealand's only native land mammals. There are three species: the long-tailed bat, the lesser short-tailed bat, and greater short-tailed bat. The greater short-tailed bat is thought to be extinct.
The long-tailed bat and short-tailed bat are classed as 'critical/vulnerable'. They are in danger of extinction in the medium term if nothing is done to reverse their population declines. These species are a high priority for conservation.
Maori folklore refer to bats as pekapeka and associate them with the mythical, night-flying bird, hokioi, which foretells death or disaster.
The cache contains a logbook, pen and toys to trade.