The cache
Jodanz are big fans of the "Wild Coast" track which links the Wainuiomata Coast at the mouth of the Orongorongo River with Ocean Beach on the Wairarapa end. It is a fun bike or walk and there are even a couple of basic campgrounds along the way where you can spend an idylic night.
Another "big fan" is the Kotumu Shingle Fan, a 2km long shingle fan track users pass over. Depending on the time of the year and the last time a bulldozer or 4WD group went through, the fan can be 100% bikeable or a lumpy mess of silt and rocks whch forces riders to dismount to cross certain sections.
This is a "moving slip" and in extremly high levels of rain the track can be easily obliterated but let's face it, who is going to be out there in that sort of weather anyway?
The cache is located at the start of the shingle fan about 6km from the Wainuiomata end of the "Wild Coast" track where you must pass over a small cattle stop before encountering the usual DOC warning sign about using common sense when crossing the shingle fan.
The "Big Coast"
The Big Coast bike ride links the Wainuiomata Coast with Ocean Beach in the Wairarapa and is about 15km long. While there are a few hundred metres of soft sand requiring most bikes to be pushed, in general it is a good 3-4 hour return bike ride.
Getting there:
At the Wainuiomata end, just follow the Coast Road after the main township until you reach a parking area at the mouth of the Orongorongo River.
At the Ocean Beach end there is the "Corner Creek" campground where you can start your walk/ride from the Wairarapa end.
Access issues from Ocean Beach end
Since early 2022 there has been a sign at either end of the route claiming there is "no safe route" to and from the Ocean Beach end due to a slip about 1.5km from Ocean Beach. Notices to this effect have also been posted on various cycle trail pages. Despite being "closed" at times, the track has always been navigable by walking or pushing bikes along short sections of the beach to avoid any slips so don't be put off by any so-called closure notices.
Please refer to the Danger Zone Cache which is next to the largest slip for any updates about access from Ocean Beach.
NOTE - DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THE "BIG COAST" TRACK AS IT FOLLOWS FARM ROADS AROUND THE COAST
Phone coverage
Suprisingly, at GZ there is both phone and internet coverage (Vodafone, not sure about other providers) but there may not be along the whole coastline.