GC594X1 Mt Eden Gut Buster Tour (Auckland) (Multi-cache) in North Island, New Zealand created by nzseries1

This cache has been archived.

nzseries1: It is with some sadness that I archive this cache. It's one of the first caches that I placed when I moved to Auckland 9 years ago... however Mt Eden has changed so much since then the experience just isn't the same now, so it's time for this one to go. Maybe at one point I will create a new cache when all the construction is finished, or perhaps someone else will place a new cache here. I have removed the physical container.

GC594X1 ▼

A cache by nzseries1 Message this owner

Hidden : 7/29/2014

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

WELCOME TO MT EDEN, IN BEAUTIFUL AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND!

GZ and all waypoints last checked... 1 June 2022 @ 12:35pm

Mt Eden hiding behind the shops in Mt Eden Village

This multi-cache will give you a tour of Mt Eden.

However, because I also want this to be a physically demanding cache, the stages of the tour will not be in the most direct order!

Mt Eden (left of picture) near Auckland City

Mt Eden (left of picture) next to Auckland City, as seen from One Tree Hill

Inspired by the Bolton St Gut Buster, which has been one of my top three favourite caches to date, I wanted to make this cache give you a tour of my most favourite location in Auckland - Mt Eden - but also give you a workout at the same time. You will be walking up and down Mt Eden several times, as well as round the edges.

Looking south down Mt Eden Road at Mt Eden, as seen from Kohekohe Street
(this photo was taken in 2014 - there are traffic lights at this intersection now)

Please be aware of the possibility of slips and steep drops throughout the entire tour, especially if you are doing the cache at night. You are advised to stick to the pathways where possible. Also, you do not need to enter Eden Garden, nor any private property!

Mt Eden peeking out above the shops on Mt Eden Road

The intention behind this cache is that you will walk between the waypoints. It may be possible to drive between some of the waypoints, but the majority are away from roads, and some of the narrow streets around Mt Eden have very limited parking.

Don't park in the bus lanes during the posted times! The fee for recovery is $120... I know from experience. A good place to park is in Mt Eden Domain itself (entrance off Mt Eden Road), but be aware the gate closes at dusk.

Things change on the mountain regularly, and sometimes the clues need to be updated. I try and revisit all the stages every month to ensure the clues are current but if you get stuck feel absolutely free to message me and I'll help you out!

Each individual cacher must sign the logbook - any logs here without a corresponding entry in the logbook may be deleted.

	FTF: slieschke, alpenmilch80, funkymunkyzone
	2TF: avoyager
	3TF: Dabsta

Onto the stages...

STAGE 1: S 36 52.331 E 174 45.826

Welcome to the tour. At the published co-ordinates, you will see some stairs. Starting from beside the direction post, how many stairs are there between here and the stile at the top? Do not count the step you step off from, nor the stile itself (the number should end with 7). Call this number A.
A = Number of stairs.
DDD = A x 6 + 220
EEE = A x 17 - 441

STAGE 2: S 36 52.DDD E 174 45.EEE

You will see a date range, in the format "18XX - 19XX". Subtract the first year from the second year, and call this result B.
B = Difference between the two years.
FFF = (B - A) x 14 + 165
GGG = (B - A) x 23 + 470

STAGE 3: S 36 52.FFF E 174 45.GGG

At the bottom of the stairs, on the side of the wood facing the rockwall, near the ground, is a white six-digit number on a black background. You may have to move the greenery out of the way to find it. Look past the first post and you'll see it. Take the last digit of this number, and call it C.
C = The last digit of this six-digit number.
HHH = C x 42 + B
JJJ = C x 13 + GGG - 218

STAGE 4: S 36 52.HHH E 174 45.JJJ

You will see a Land Information N.Z. Survey Mark on a circular plate. There are several survey marker numbers here - the one you are looking for is on a circular plate and ends with the number 9. Call this six digit number D.
D = This six digit number.
KKK = ([Last two digits of D] x [First digit of A]) + 32
LLLLL = ([Last three digits of D] x B x 3) - 160668

STAGE 5: S 36 52.KKK E 174 LL.LLL

You will see a stile. Just over the fence near the stile is a black sign with white lettering. One of the words on this sign has four letters. If A = 1, B = 2, etc., add up the values of the four letters of this word, add 26 to this value, and make the result E.
E = Sum of letters plus 26
MMM = (E x 10) + (C x 2)
NNN = (E x 11) + (Last two digits of D) - 58

STAGE 6: S 36 52.MMM E 174 45.NNN

Here you will see an orange ribbon tied to a tree branch. On this orange ribbon is a number in black. Call this number F.
F = Number on ribbon
OOO = F x 20 + E + 156
PPP = F x F x 18 + 5

STAGE 7: S 36 52.OOO E 174 45.PPP

At this location there is a date. Call the two digit day G and the two digit year H.
G = Two digit Day
H = Two digit Year
QQQ = G x (B - A) - 4
RRR = G x H x 2 + 98

STAGE 8: S 36 52.QQQ E 174 45.RRR

There used to be a lookout at this spot, but for reasons unknown, it was removed sometime in 2020. Most likely because it was ugly.
There is a sign here now. Excluding the Internet address, how many words are on this sign? Add 63 to this number, and call the result J.
J = Number of words (excluding web address) + 63
SSS = J x H - 266
TTT = J x G - 1684

STAGE 9: S 36 52.SSS E 174 45.TTT

From this point you can see a flashing red man. What number is immediately below him when he first appears? Call this number K.

UPDATE March 2019: It seems there are now multiple flashing red men at this location, each with one of two different numbers. Pick the even number. If you pick the odd number, the calculation for UUU won't work.

K = This EVEN number.
UUU = K x E / 2 + 148
VVV = K x 8 + 769

STAGE 10: S 36 52.UUU E 174 45.VVV

You are looking for a five digit number, ending with 04. Call this number L.
L = This five digit number.
WWW = (First three digits of L) - 126
XXX = L divided by 20, drop remainder, divide by (Last digit of J), drop remainder, add K, subtract 6

STAGE 11: S 36 52.WWW E 174 45.XXX

There used to be a chair here, but it was removed after it got damaged. In the concrete foundation where the chair was are the three letters PIP followed by two digits. Take these two digits, subtract 69 from this number and call the result M.
M = The two digit number after PIP, minus 69.
YYYYY = (M x E x G) - WWW - (J x 2) - 85
ZZZZZ = (M x 20) + L - GGG - XXX - (J x 5) - 1751

FINAL: S 36 YY.YYY E 174 ZZ.ZZZ

You have reached the end of the tour. You are now looking for a 200ml Sistema container. Be sure to sign the logbook and replace as found! I hope you enjoyed your time here.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[STAGE 7] - purfg urvtug. [STAGE 9] - vs lbh qba'g frr uvz vavgvnyyl, gura gel pebffvat gur ebnq naq univat nabgure ybbx. [STAGE 10] - zrgny, raq. [FINAL] - Oruvaq n ebpx

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)

This cache has been archived.

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Mt Eden Gut Buster Tour (Auckland) Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

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