Two permanent orienteering courses available for public use have been established at The Groynes courtesy of the Peninsula and Plains Orienteering Club and the Christchurch City Council. This cache makes use of some of those controls. Though copies of the detailed orienteering maps may be purchased at the Rosebank Estate Winery Cafe (adjacent to the entrance to The Groynes) for $4 each, these are not necessary to complete this cache. Just use your gps to navigate to the waypoints and get the data necessary to compute where the final cache is.
This cache will take approximately 1 hour to complete traveling at an easy walking pace. The course distance is approximately 2.5km (as a bird flies).
Though there are many tracks in the park, all the orienteering controls for this cache are either situated on tracks or level grassy areas. It is recommended that you utilise the tracks as far as possible – if you find a track that looks like it goes in the required direction then follow it.
Orienteering Controls: Each control is a post with a orange/white marker plate. On each plate is a two-digit number and a two-letter alphabetic code.
Instructions: From the start location (posted coordinates) you are required to visit 14 orienteering controls to obtain details that will enable you to calculate the final cache location. At each control note down the two-letter alphabetic code. The first letter is used to calculate the cache’s decimal latitude minutes and the second letter is used to calculate the cache’s decimal longitude minutes. Convert each letter to a number value in accordance with the following table: A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, …… Z = 26. After visiting all 13 controls add up the values you have obtained for each of the latitude and longitude letters.
Formula: Now apply your totals to the cache location. Cache location: S43 26.(657 + your latitude total) E172 36.(378 + your longitude total).
Cache: Is a 1 litre camo container containing the logbook, pencil and a few swap goodies .
CAUTIONS:
- Water Hazards: There are numerous water hazards throughout the park. Take care if you have small children with you.
- Trees: Some waypoints and parts of the course will be under trees. Satellite signals may be lost so before entering tree cover take careful note of the bearing and distance to your next waypoint.
I trust that you will enjoy your exploration of The Groynes. Don't forget to bring your sunblock and a picnic meal for afterwards.
CHRISTCHURCH ORIENTEERING INFORMATION: The Peninsula and Plains Orienteers hold regular orienteering events in and around Christchurch. Everybody is welcome to participate in events the club holds. Check the web site for details.