A night spent pouring over topographical maps led me to explore this area of my neighbourhood. It turns out this ridge is well utilised by mountain and dirt bikers and the bush trails are wide and well formed, albeit muddy!
It is possible to travel from Silverstream all the way to Wainuomata Hill Road on what initially starts out as a steep bush track, progressing to well-formed forestry and pylon maintenance tracks. That complete journey is around 20 km.
This cache brings you to a location with a great outlook over Pinehaven. The cache is accessible from multiple entry points:
* Kiln Road via a steep climb up a bush trail onto the forestry road that runs along the ridge-top.
* Avro Road via forestry road. From here, you have already gained the height required.
* Wainuomata Hill Road via ECNZ pylon maintenance 4WD track. Its about 16 km from there to the cache but worth it for the views. You can pick up the following caches on the way (and take a train then bus back):
- No Exit...Not Much Entry Either!! - http://coord.info/GC42E83.
- Aerial View II - http://coord.info/GC2Q7KC
* Kingsley Road – from Stokes Valley via pylon maintenance 4WD track onto ridge top forestry road. While at the trailhead, take a left at the first locked gate and pick up the following cache:
- Tanks for the cache - http://coord.info/GC4WEGQ
I have provided instructions for the shortest and most straightforward route to the cache from Kingsley Road. Contact the CO if you would like GPX of the above routes.
Most Straightforward Way To the Cache:
Parking is available roadside at Kinglsey road. Take a right over the first locked gate and then the left fork at the second locked gate. Follow the 4WD track up on to the ridge, staying on the main track and avoiding the smaller tracks that lead to the pylons. At reference point R1, take the left fork onto the tighter bush track and that will bring you to the forestry road that runs along the ridge. After popping out of the bush near reference point R2, take the main forestry road running east. From there its only 350 m until the left hand turn off to the cache. Follow this down 20 m and cache is on the left.
Cache is a 1 Litre screw top jar in black camouflage.
This cache is an adventure of less than 8 km, with around 200 m elevation gain. For fit indivduals it will take less than two hours.
Stay a while and enjoy the seat with a view!
FTF: CaligulaNZ