GC6MD1P Manukau Timber Company Heritage Trail (Auckland) (Multi-cache) in North Island, New Zealand created by rustynz

This cache has been archived.

rustynz: Went out to check on the cache today, and have confirmed that several of the information panels have been removed, and it will be only a matter of time before the others are taken away too.

Would have loved for this one to last a little bit longer, but sadly no alternative but to archive. Gone but not forgotten.

GC6MD1P ▼

A cache by rustynz Message this owner

Hidden : 6/26/2016

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This multi follows the Manukau Timber Company Heritage Trail which starts at the carpark (Wp 1) beside the Huia Settlers Museum and follows the fenceline to the foreshore (Wp 2).

Then look for the orange trail markers across farmland on your right, rising to a gate ( S 37° 00.356 E 174° 33.860 ) on you left at the bush edge, then descend to the beach (WP 3).

On your right is a grass terrace westwards (Wp 4) leading to a path which rises to a junction. Take the right hand fork and emerge on Huia Road. Follow the road or pass through the small gate and cross the paddock back to the start (0.9 km, 30 minutes).

This multi has four waypoints and the final. You will need to gather information at each of the panels, then with a few simple calculations, create the final co-ordinates and find the log book.

Waypoint 1 : Wood as Gold ( S 37° 00.285 E 174° 33.744 )

These steep hills, were once crowded with mighty Kauri trees. Then in the 1800's the hills where stripped almost bare by settlers with "timber fever".

By 1867 most of the easily accessible trees in the Karamatura valley had been milled by the Gibbons family. What remained was milled in the early 1890's by the Manukau Timber Company.

( A = Photograph: Year Gibbons workers outside their bunkhouse in 186A )

( B = John Gibbons took out a timber licence for the west side of the Huia valley in 185B )

Waypoint 2 : Niagara Falls ( S 37° 00.281 E 174° 33.866 )

The GIbbons Timber Mill was powered by a gigantic water wheel. You are standing where some mill workers cottages stood. The large Macrocarpa and Poplar trees around here date from the timber milling era.

( C = Logs where cut to X and Y m lengths = x + Y - 8 = C )

( D = Diameter of the water wheel - 8 = D )

Waypoint 3 : Mill Remains ( S 37° 00.385 E 174° 33.853 )

These are the remains of the Manukau Timber Mill Site. Logs where bought downstream to the mill, and where 'stored' behind a a boom. They where then hauled up a ramp onto the saw bench. A steam engine drove the saw blade. Cut timber was then transported via a tramway to the ship waiting at the wharf.

( E = Photograph: overview of the mill, tramway and wharf locations between 189X and 189Y = Y - X = E )

( F = Hill to Mill heritage trail is F km return + 6 = F )

Waypoint 4 : Hinge Bay ( S 37° 00.396 E 174° 33.831 )

A series of buildings where constructed - managers house, workers cottages, cook house and school. All that remains is the school (Huia Lodge) and the managers house (Hinge House).

( G = In 1922 how many hectares around the mill sold as a farm to William Hinge - 32 = G )

( H = How many children are on the school roll = H )

This is the end of the Manukau Timber Company Heritage Trail, continue up the path and curve to the right, to re-connect with Huia Road and return to the car park beside the Museum.

South 37° 0 A . B C D ... East 174° 3 E . F G H

CHECKSUM: South ( all digits ) = 14 ..... East ( all digits ) = 26

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

TY, orfvqr gerr. OLB cra

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)

This cache has been archived.

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Manukau Timber Company Heritage Trail (Auckland) Multi-cache

This cache has been archived.

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Geocache Description:

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