If there is one thing that 2020 showed me it's that it is great to be outdoors exploring the countryside we have on our doorstep.
This occasional series of 'The Great Outdoors' caches intends to highlight some of the the places I have wandered and enjoyed where I thought a cache placement might be nice. They are unlikely to be park and grabs and may require a long day walk or an overnight stop, so plan accordingly!
I was fortunate to get down to Wanaka and Queenstown for work recently, so chose to tack on a few extra days to that trip to 'do' another of The Great Walks in New Zealand. The Kepler Track won out. It's typically a 60km four-day, three-night walk although I did meet a few people who choose to run the whole thing in one day. So there is a demographic more curious than a geocacher!
I was a little surpised there were not more caches along the Track, although I can understand why that would be after I'd walked the 'tops' between Luxmore and Iris Burn huts.
If you are walking, or running, the whole track then you will inevitably feel the burn at some point - either on the way down to the hut from Luxmore Hut or, first thing the next morning, as you head up towards Luxmore Hut.
However, the area around the Iris Burn Hut appears to be quite cache friendly, so while many of my newly-acquired hut buddies were preparing dinner, I made off to a small clump of beech trees a hundred metres or so away from the hut to hide this cache.
The hide itself is tucked in a wee alcove at the base of one of the multi-trunked beech trees about 30 metres from the trail sign-posted down to the river (which was just warm enough for a dip if you fancy). You are shielded by the trees from the line of sight of the hut.
Please, when you are rehiding the container, put the stone back on top as those kea are industrious, plastic can kill them!
Make it a safe trip
DoC list five essential steps for staying safe in the outdoors so you can have a great trip.
- Choose the right trip for you Learn about the route and make sure you have the skills for it.
- Understand the weatherIt can change fast. Check the forecast and change your plans if needed.
- Pack warm clothes and extra food Prepare for bad weather and an unexpected night out.
- Share your plans and take ways to get help Telling a trusted person your trip details and taking a distress beacon can save your life.
- Take care of yourself and each other Eat, drink and rest, stick with your group and make decisions together.