| Thursday | George’s Room, First Floor, The Thistle Inn, 3 Mulgrave St, Thorndon
| 17:30 – 19:30 | Wherigo and Mystery session
| 19:30 – 20:30 | (optional) dinner
Join us at this historic location as part of a number of rolling events to celebrate 20 years of geocaching.
Wherigo and Mystery
The first mystery geocache was placed on 9 September 2000: GC58 Pyramid Point in Michigan, United States. It attracted two DNFs and was never found. The listing was archived in 2002.
The first Wherigo geocache was placed on 25 March 2004 (nominally), but published on 11 July 2010: GCHZTG Rund um den Henninger Turm in Victoria, Australia. It was found nine times. The listing was archived in 2011.
Its sister Wherigo geocache was placed on 20 February 2010 (and published on 22 February 2010): GC245V4 BI 29 in Hessen, Germany. This listing remains active, and has at least 140 finds to date.
Since these early mystery and Wherigo geocaches, there have been many other different styles of these cache types that have been released by geocachers all around the world.
Event format
This community celebration event is designed for us to walk through in detail a couple of Wherigo and mystery caches in the Wellington Region released last year:
- GC89NG7 Haunted House Kapiti: a mystery Wherigo that you can play from anywhere; 10 finds since June 2019
- GC8EZ3V CSI (Cache Scene Investigator Kapiti): a mystery puzzle cache that takes you on a virtual journey to the other side of the world, namely Oxford, United Kingdom; 3 finds since October 2019
The cache owner will give a brief introduction of each mystery. The event will then divide into two or more groups to attempt to solve one or the other mystery. There is no guarantee that you will be able to reach the solution during the event. If not, you will hopefully have gone a long way to be able to complete the solve on your own at home.
If you have looked at one or both of these mysteries already, but are still going around in circles or otherwise stuck, this event is for you. If you are new to mystery and Wherigo caches in general, then bring your questions. Indeed if you are new to geocaching, you are most welcome to come and join in the fun.
On the other hand, if you have already solved both mysteries, we also welcome your attendance. You will be able to provide extra assistance to other members of the geocaching community at the event.
Before you come to the event, it will be useful if you first:
- read through the two geocache listings
- print off any maps or other material that you need
- bring a protractor, ruler, pens, pencils for the CSI mystery
- download the Haunted House Kapiti cartridge to your Wherigo capable device
Don’t worry if you are not sure how to do the latter, as we are planning to show the Wherigo game play on screen at the event.
Event venue
We have chosen this location as it is close to the public transport hub in Wellington, with buses and trains on offer.
This site is also of some historical significance. The Thistle Inn was built in 1840 and received the second liquor licence issued in New Zealand. It is now New Zealand's oldest surviving tavern and restaurant operating from its original site. In July 1866 it was burnt to the ground but by December the same year it was back operating. You can see the original beer cellar through the glass floor. It is a Category 1 historic place building and was completely restored in 2004.
Date: ca 1867, View of the junction of Thorndon Quay and Mulgrave Street, Wellington. (Photo credit: Ref: 1/2-021203-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22735459)
Before reclamation started in Wellington, the building was only a few metres from the harbour and patrons often arrived by boat, including, according to legend, Te Rauparaha - the Ngati Toa warrior chief.
Please indicate numbers
Dinner and drinks are available at the venue at your own cost. Please indicate in your “Will Attend” note,
- how many are coming for the Wherigo and Mystery session, and also
- how many are likely to stay for dinner.
An early indication will be appreciated, even if you are not 100% certain at this stage. We can finalise these numbers closer to the time.
Community Celebration Events - 2020
This Event is part of a limited release of Community Celebration Events to celebrate 20 years of geocaching. Geocachers hosted events from May 2, 2020 through December 31, 2021. Learn more about Community Celebration Events on the Geocaching Blog.
After you have logged “Attended” at this event (or another community celebration event held during 2020 and 2021), you will also receive the official digital 2020 Community Celebration Event souvenir.