Water Research Laboratory Traditional Cache

*** Extraction item required - see cache description ***

The University of NSW (UNSW) Water Research Laboratory (WRL) is located in the Sydney Northern Beaches suburb of Manly Vale, occupying a 3.8 ha site below Manly Dam.

Officially opened in 1959 the WRL provides expert water engineering advice, undertakes fundamental water research, conducts undergraduate & postgraduate courses, and offers community training for industry & government. The site is accessed from King Street, but the cache is NOT located within the WRL site, so please don’t attempt entry without permission.

As a kid in the early 1970’s I can remember looking over the fence, from up on the big flat rock just behind GZ, at an extensive outdoor working model of dams & floodplains. Today there’s not much left to see of that once great construction, except for it’s decaying remains, but it’s still an interesting view into the WRL's "backyard" regardless. One feature that can still be seen, at the far western end of the model site, are the two original elevated water tanks that were used to feed the model with a controlled flow of water.

Access: There are various ways to reach the cache location, from the end of Wandella Road, from King Street, from the track heading NE after crossing the Manly Dam wall, or from the bike track that passes the location. The shortest route would be to park at the end of Wandella Road and follow the track up along the southern fence line of house no.42.

Watch out for fast moving mountain bikes, especially on weekends, as the Manly Dam Mountain Bike Trail runs past the cache location.

The Cache: To successfully retrieve the cache container, and sign the log, you will need to do a little bit of your own “water research”. Bring along a 300 ml (minimum) sample of H₂O for use with the laboratory apparatus located at GZ. Hopefully the result of your “research” will be CIH. You will also need to bring your own pen to sign the (waterproof paper) log. Please replace as found, ready for the next researcher, err cacher, to conduct their own experiments.

We hope you enjoy our seventh geocache placement.

*** Congratulations to Kid Ron Satan for FTF ***

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. Visit the association website here.