This Virtual Cache is located at a monument and memorial to a tragic historic event
Abel Tasman was the Dutch navigator whose expedition made the first European sighting of New Zealand in 1642. An easy five-minute walking track leads to a viewing platform and the memorial which stands on a limestone outcrop above the sea. Built in 1942 to commemorate the tri-centenary of Tasman's visit, the memorial was 'reopened' in 1992 by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. It is interesting to compare the new and old interpretation signs, which reveal how our perspective on Tasman's visit has changed in the intervening 50 years.
Tasman’s log records that a little after night-fall on 18 December 1642 while his ships the Heemskerck and Zeehaen lay at anchor in the bay, four canoes manned by local Maori came to the ships. No real contact was made on this first visit and the canoes returned to the shore.
In the uneasy dawn the next day, eight well-manned canoes came out again. As tension mounted a small boat from the Zeehaen acting as a ferry between the two ships was rammed by the leading canoe. A skirmish followed and four of Tasman’s men were killed. Anchors were quickly weighed and the Dutch ships swiftly departed.
To claim your find for this Virtual Cache, please do the following:
1. Near the monument are some inscribed stone slabs. From these find and message or email me the full name of the Pilot Major.
2. Take and upload with your log a picture of yourself or your GPS with the monument in the picture OR a picture of the view from the monument viewing platform.
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.