The park vegetation consists of grassed picnic areas, patches of forest, some areas of scrub and farm paddocks. The paddocks are generally steep, covered by long grass and sheep graze some of them. There are patches of stony ground and many rock outcrops.
Orienteering Controls in Victoria Park: There are permanent orienteering courses in Victoria Park available for public use which utilise some of the many permanent orienteering controls established in the park by the Peninsular and Plains Orienteers and the Christchurch City Council. Each control is a post with an orange/white marker plate. On each marker plate is a two-digit control number and a two-letter alphabetic code. See Orienteering Control photo link below.
Victoria Park Ocache: This will require you to visit 12 orienteering controls to obtain details to calculate the whereabouts of the cache.
VICTORIA PARK OCACHE CONTROLS
See gallery for an photo of an orienteering control.
COURSE LENGTH: 2700 metres. CLIMB: 220 metres
VICTORIA PARK OCACHE INSTRUCTIONS:
- GOTO VPST waypoint (the Orienteering Start/Finish control). It is quite near the main Victoria Park carpark.
- Select GOTO VP01 waypoint on your gps receiver and navigate to waypoint VP01.
- On reaching waypoint VP01, note down the number on the control post.
- Visit each waypoint on the course in turn and note down each number.
- When you reach the last waypoint (VP13) total up all 12 numbers (Note: there is no VP03) The answer will be "XXX". Use this number in the formula below.
CACHE LOCATION FORMULA:
The cache is at: S 43° 35.(XXX-93) E 172° 38.(XXX+133)
CACHE: The cache is 1 lite camo container, containing some of the usual items. Be careful not to leave 'elephant' tracks nor destroy vegetation at the cache site.
EVENT CAUTIONS:
- Footwear: It is advisable to wear good tramping boots, or rubber studded sports footwear to avoid slipping on the steep park terrain.
- Water: It is advisable to take some water with you. You WILL sweat.
- Course Time: Depending on fitness and navigating skills it is expected that the course will take between 50 minutes and 3 hours.
- Dense Vegetation: Some parts of Victoria Park are densely vegetated with scrub and gorse etc. DO NOT bush bash a direct track through this dense vegetation. It is much quicker to go around and you won't then lose any blood either!
- Trees: Some waypoints and parts of the course will be under trees. Satellite signals may be lost so before entering tree cover take careful note of the bearing and distance to your next waypoint.
- Course Direction: Clockwise. If you lose satellite signal proceed onwards out of the trees to regain satellite lock.
- Fences: Cross fences at strainer posts. A couple of fences have barbed top wires. Take care.
- Tracks: There are many large and small tracks in the park. When you come across them use those that seem to go in the right direction.
- Mountain Bike Tracks: There are a number of these in the park. When using them give way to mountain bikers (they are generally speeding downhill, are out of control and won't stop unless they hit a tree or fall off!!).
- Lost & Found: Tell someone you are going to Victoria Park - so that, if you fail to complete the course, they can organise a search party.
CHRISTCHURCH ORIENTEERING INFORMATION: The Peninsula and Plains Orienteers hold regular orienteering events in and around Christchurch. Everybody is welcome to participate in events the club holds. Check the web site for details.