The year 4-8 class at National Park school, called Te Whiowhio and Paretetaitonga, spent five weeks doing lots of learning about geocaching and the geocaching culture. They have created ten geocaches and placed them around the National Park village area. Each cache includes information about an aspect of National Park village life. Please enjoy the mahi (work) they have done, and be sure to leave them a comment on the website!
Roy Turner and his family were locals to the National Park village. Roy Turner had a ski shop called Turner’s Ski Shop. Roy Turner was a great person, and the local public playground just across from the National Park School was named after him. Roy Turner loved kids, in fact he had two of his own. Roy Turner's goal in life was to make a shop that everyone loved. Roy Turner was a local airplane pilot in 1962. He was a very good pilot.
With his friend Jim John, Roy Turner helped develop the National Downhill area that is now part of Whakapapa Ski Field. They got permission to set up their own rope tow in March 1960. They had to be up and running by June 1960. They needed to provide toilets, telephone and canteen facilities. They managed to do that in three months, which was an incredible achievement. They finished in time and the site became popular. Jim John sold Ski Services to Ruapehu Alpine Lifts in 1974.
Roy Turner was a keen pilot. On 30th July 1983 the Turner family were on a flight from Tekapo to Fox Glacier, but never arrived. They made radio contact to the Timaru Flight Service at 1:16pm, but nothing was ever heard from them again. Over the years many people have searched for the plane wreckage, but it has never been found. The Turner family left a big gap in the National Park community, and are still talked about today.
Roy Turner is remembered for being “one hell of a guy!”. The plane crash ended the career of one of New Zealand’s most colourful and most loved characters. A playground was built in National Park village in 2014, and it was given his name; the Roy Turner Memorial Playground.
The geocache is hidden next to 'Turner Place' which was named after Roy Turner.
Please BYO pen.
***Please take care with the ziplock bag and container, ensuring they are both sealed properly to keep the log dry.***