Please note you DO NOT need to step off the path, or touch any plants to reach and find this cache.
The Botanic Gardens Aviary is home to 200 birds, including at least one Kea. The birds at the Aviary are known to have a nap in the middle of the day, they are at their best in the morning or late afternoon.
The Kea is a large parrot about 48 cm (19 in) long and weighing 0.8–1 kg. It has mostly olive-green plumage with a grey beak having a long, narrow, curved upper beak. It is one of ten endemic parrot species in New Zealand and can be found in lowland river valleys and coastal forests of the westcoast up to the alpine regions of the South Island such as Arthur's Pass and Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Apart from occasional vagrants, Kea are not found in the North Island. Most tourists will have seen the wild Kea’s near the Homers Tunnel entrance at Milford Sound. If you’ve yet to meet one in the wild, just remember the Kea's have a notorious urge to explore and manipulate, making this bird a ‘pest’ for residents and an attraction for tourists. Called "the clown of the mountains, it will investigate backpacks, boots, or even cars, often causing damage or flying off with smaller items. 4th February 2013 Sunday Morning Herald reported my favorite story about a Kea – “A thief stole hundreds of dollars from a campervan, but left no fingerprints - because the thief has no fingers. A visitor from Glasgow, Scotland, stopped at Arthur's Pass on Wednesday to take in the views at a rest area along State Highway 73. He left the windows down as he snapped photos of the scenery, including one of an unusual bird on the ground near his vehicle. Little did he know he'd become a target for the local criminal element. "It took all the money I had. I was left with $40 in my pocket." The unsuspecting tourist had stashed his travel cash - about $NZ1300 - in a small cloth drawstring bag and left it on the dashboard, where the bird apparently found it while rummaging through other items. The kea grabbed the bag and made a clean aerial getaway. Hoping to recover his money through travel insurance, Mr Leach sheepishly reported the incident to Timaru police. "The man I dealt with was very serious for the first few questions," Mr Leach said. "Then he said, 'Do you mind if I just stop to laugh?' " Mr Leach said he had never heard of the mischievous kea before his visit. Lesson learned. "The birds are now lining their nests with £50 notes."
Please ensure you put the cache back as found.
To Find the Cache:
A. From the car park how far is the Aviary from the Car Park A0m? (posted co-ords)
B. This part of the Aviary was opened by Led Cleveland on 2Bth October 1995.
C. How many letters are there after E.J McMean, on the same line. (do not include on 16th September 1986).
D. How many things are you not allowed to do according to the Aviary sign?
E. How many words are at bottom of Australian Border plaque (don't worry you don't need to read ones in tiny letter under logo?
F. The rennovations of these parrot cages were possible because of Miss Heather Colia Grant, they were offically opened 1F March 2011.
Check:
A+B+C+D+E+F = 24
Cache is at
S 45 51.ABC E 170 31.DEF
The Colourful Birds Collection bonus (GC4NGFX) was archived following the tree hide being cut down. This is still a good stand alone cache to enjoy this part of the gardens.
There are a number of other multis in this garden including some of the oldest in New Zealand.
Wish to attend New Zealand’s next large multi-day event? GCA7ZHD Geo Toroa will be held on NZ’s Labour Day long weekend 26-27th October 2024 right here in Dunedin. Details in the link below;
