Ancient Giants
The Arderne Gardens, with its shady glades, romantic nooks, and Japanese-style ponds has, for generations, been a place for Capetonians to bring their children, take much cherished wedding photographs, and relax away from the increasing hubbub of city life.
The garden, thanks to the extraordinary interest and commitment of its founders, also has one of the most diverse and valuable collections of exotic trees in all of South Africa. The 4.5-hectare park contains over 400 trees, four of which have been designated as Champion Trees by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Champions are trees that have been recognised for their impressive height, massive girth, great age or heritage significance.
Visit each of these Ancient Giants to solve the co ordinates of the final and earn your smiley.
For more history on the Arderne Gardens: https://www.ardernegardens.org.za/history
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arderne_Gardens
Entrance to the gardens is free
Opening Times:
September to March - 07:30 – 19:30
April to August - 08:00 – 17:30
On-street parking in front of the gardens along Main Road
Very busy over weekends
Finding the cache: Gather the required digits by visiting each of the gardens’ Champion Trees.
There are 4 waypoints that need be visited in any order. Solve the final co-ordinates and hunt for the container located in the garden. Tree cover sometimes hampers accurate co-ordinates but each tree is clearly tagged. The required information is on the tree tag. It might be easier to take a pic of the tag (for those cachers, who forgot their glasses at home) so that you can zoom in.
Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla) [S 033° 59.243' E 018° 27.932']
This majestic tree (commonly called “The Wedding Tree”) with its impressive roots and branches that spread out more than 30 meters is native to Australia. This tree shares the accolade of being the biggest tree in South Africa with a massive Baobab in the Limpopo Province called the Sagole Baobab.
More info: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/126854-Ficus-macrophylla
XAA9 Bottom Right
Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) [S 033° 59.253' E 018° 27.866']
The tallest of the Champion Trees, it is endemic to the Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean. This is the signature tree of the Arderne of Gardens. It stands a majestic 43m tall in the middle of the lawn. That's about 8 stories high!
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria_heterophylla
Bottom Left 11D
Bottom Right XBB
Queensland Kauri (Agathis robusta) [S 033° 59.231' E 018° 27.845']
Originating from Queensland in Australia, this impressive tree is over 150 years old and can grow up to 50 meters high. It produces valuable knot free wood, so is excellent for furniture. This specimen is about 32m tall and has a fantastic, dense canopy of leaves. Leaves may stay on the tree for over 20 years!
More info: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/135362-Agathis-robusta
Bottom Left 1EC
Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis) [S 033° 59.223' E 018° 27.854']
Having deep roots that enable it to endure drought conditions, the Aleppo Pine is native to the Mediterranean region. The specimen in the garden is quite possibly the largest Aleppo Pine in the world. Its resin is used to flavour Greek retsina wine
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_halepensis
Bottom Left - Sum of the digits = F
The cache is located at:
S AA DF. BAD E (B-1)C BE. CAC
HAPPY HUNTING!
0utasight