This is one of the iconic walks in the Wellington area. Many people traipse down here during the seal season (May to August) in order to see a lot of seals (easily provoked animals - give them a wide berth), but some can be seen at other times of the year as well. The walk from the carpark will take you approximately an hour each way, assuming you don't find all the geocaches there and back as well! You can also use mountain bikes (NOT road bikes) or 4WD vehicles. The terrain rating applies to most of the methods, as the track is rough for both types of vehicels as well.
Red Rocks - Pariwhero
These sets of rocks are distinctive by their red colour. This unusual rock formation was created when an outcrop of ancient volcanic pillow lava was embedded in younger greywacke, along with red and green siltstone. The Red Rocks Scientific Reserve was created in 1972 after growing public concern about quarrying in the area. On Sundays, the gate is closed and the route is only open for walkers and mountain bikers.
The area was visited by early Māori for its fishing and bull kelp to store fish in, but is not believed to have been a settlement site. Various Māori legends explain the red colouration: Maui stained the rocks with blood from his nose (blood which he used to bait his hook before catching Te Ika a Maui - the North Island); Kupe wounded himself on paua; Kupe's daughters, fearing for their father’s safety on a long voyage, gashed themselves on the rocks.
Sinclair Head / Te Rimurapa
This is a haul-out site for male New Zealand fur seals and a popular tourist attraction. Up to 150 seals come to rest and feed in winter, between May and August, and their numbers are slowly increasing. Most can be found beyond Devil’s Gate, the cutting through the headland.
This area is an old Māori settlement site - rimurapa is the Māori name for the giant bull kelp found on the south coast. Ngati Mamoe lived here, and Ngati Waiponga of Te Atiawa occupied the area in the 1830s. Sinclair Head was classified as Māori Reserve until the Crown took the point under the Public Works Act for defence purposes. The remains of a WWII observation post can be found on the headland.
Devil's Gate
This is the most prominent feature on the track that goes through this area - distinctive from a long way off, and a challenge for four-wheel drive vehicles. A great photo spot!
Safety
Dogs must be kept on a leash and at least 20m away from seals and other native wildlife. People are also urged to keep at least 20 metres away from any seal that is seen. They can be quite aggressive, and are large creatures. Injury to you or to the seal is YOUR responsibility and fault, and severe penalties can be applied by the NZ Government. All seals, whales and dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978.
Also be careful around the water and on the slopes. The slopes are mostly scree, and can give way at any time. The rocks in the area are mostly volcanic and are very sharp. The currents in the Cook Strait are incredibly strong, and weather can change abruptly. Make sure you are prepared for a change of weather, and check the forecast before venturing out. It is highly recommended that you stay on the trail.
Logging this cache
There are 3 requirements for this cache to be able to log it. Please email answers to requirements 1 and 2 to the CO. Do NOT put the answers in your log or it will be deleted. Feel free to log the cache prior once you have fulfilled the requirements - the CO will contact you with any questions.
As you approach the Devil's Gate itself there will be two prominent sets of signs.
1. From the first sign, there is a paragraph about seal pups. Please provide the full last sentence of that paragraph.
2. At the second set of signs, please describe the yellow one.
3. Take a picture at the coordinates in either direction, and post with your log. Please state which direction you are facing.
Logs that do not meet these requirements will be deleted.
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.