A pleasant 3.5 km stroll/ride around well maintained trails in Mt Ainslie Nature Park. Generally flatish with no need to ascend the mountain. Why 'hometown'? Well, being virtually on COs doorstep, makes cache maintenance a breeze.
Caches are placed to find and most are straightforward without the need for hints. However hints are provided for the few which might require a little more effort. With the exception of a couple, most caches are hidden just a few paces from the formed trail. Do be mindful of the possibility of snake activity in this environment especially during the warmer months.
Mount Ainslie is a refuge to many threatened species of plants and animals, especially regionally declining woodland birds. It has diversity in wildflowers in both its endangered woodland and forest areas, including rare plants such as the Canberra Spider Orchid (Arachnorchis actensis) and Hoary Sunray (Leucochrysum albicans). The threatened Glossy Black-cockatoo are often seen in the reserve eating from the Drooping She-oak. The rare and vulnerable Rosenberg’s Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi) is sometimes seen wandering through the diverse understorey.
There are a dozen new traditional caches placed on the loop but there are another 5 or so active caches which could be easily picked up too as well as some puzzles. Potentially a good stats haul for a relatively short stroll.
FTF Joolay and Kittykatch - congratulations