Aero-Vale

Aero-Vale (GC17C) was published on 1/16/2001 – making it the “oldest” cache we have ever visited, and definitely one of the better ones we have seen. It was hidden by Rob and Kazz.

Most people probably aren’t even aware there is an aerodrome at Warnervale – and what a perfect location for a cache, that is surprisingly quite out in the open, and yet seems to survive the test of time exceptionally well.

This is well worth a visit. The find it pretty easy, and the nostalgia is great with the old DC-3 laying in a lonely open field nearby.

Wolfie feeling a little out on a wing

Great spot for photo opportunities here. 

Thanks for bringing us to this great spot that we’d probably otherwise never have bothered to check out, and what a cool old airplane!

Geocaching in Rumbalara Reserve

TeamWolfie’s wolf den is situated in a great spot for geocaching. We’re lucky enough to live on the NSW Central Coast, home to an active group of local cachers. There is a diverse environment here giving the best of everything for caching – urban, bushland, country, and coastline.

One of the main bushland reserves is Rumbalara – a sprawling hilly region on the fringe of the Gosford urban belt, adjacent to home base, and home of several caches, so on my day off from work I decided to do some more exploring in Rumbalara, given it’s basically my own backyard.

First point of call was Shifter’s Anniversary Cache (GCXHJ6), a cache placed by local cacher Shifter Brains to celebrate their 1 year geocaching anniversary. The cache is placed near a lookout offering spectactular views across the region. It was a little tricky to find – the hint mentioning a “small cave at knee height”, but if you go there you’ll soon see there are many many places that fit this description. I was caving alone today, and to be honest I was almost at the point of giving up on this. So I gave it a rest for 10 minutes, admiring the view – then it dawned on me, “what about down there..?”

Sure enough, I found the cache. Sometimes it helps to just ignore the GPS and go with your instincts.

It was a small cache with a few small treasures for swapping. Left one of our Red Gems and took a purple Disco Ball – signed the log too of course!

Wolfie wishes Shifter a Happy Anniversary

Great place for a cache, Shifter Brains so thanks very much.

The next two caches to hunt down in my plan of attack were going to involve a 500m walk up a bush track, an a little bush bashing by the sounds of the description.

The track was new to me, and quite a pleasant walk. It was a surprise to find this sculpture of the Australian explorer Edward John Eyre.  Rumbalara seems to be home to a few sculptures of Australian explorers and pioneers – most having no actual affiliation with the region, but interesting anyway. This sculpture is out here, all by himself and far removed from the other sculptures at the main lookout area which supply the required clues to locate a nearby multi-cache called Go Ask Charles (GCG4VK) which we already did a few days earlier.

Wolfie resting with Edward John Eyre in Rumbalara

Continuing down the track we close in on GZ for the next find placed, originally placed by Wyoming Wombats and later adopted by Shifter Brains known as Rumbalara Rocks (GCFDA9). As the description already warns us, there us going to be a little “off tracking” involved here – it said something about there being a hard way, and an easy way. I think I got there the hard way.

It was a relatively easy yet well hidden and rewarding find. On approach to GZ you soon realise the logical place where it has been hidden. The cache was a great Ammo Box type cache, home to a lot of swappable treasure. I always appreciate finding a substantial size cache in locations like this. After swapping a scuba-diving mole (where do they think of these things??) for a bottle opener and signing the log it was time to move on.

Woof Woof! Found it!

Surveying the terrain I still couldn’t see any obvious “easy way” back to the track, I came back a different way, which I think was another “hard way”… losing my footing on my way down a steep part and sliding down on my backside – but I made it out alive.

Next cache just 200m further down the track – part of a series of caches based on the English version of the Monopoly board game in which cacher cphoenix made a hide for every square on the board game – this one based on the light blue property, The Angel, Islington (GCY3KH).

I had a bit of trouble here – GZ kept moving, dancing around in circles and eluding me. The hint gave me two suspected locations. I had been looking for a while at one of them – just not hard enough. Then I’d go back to the other, and back again, and back again.

Eventually it was spotted and – as often happens – I wondered how on earth I had missed it earlier. It was time to open it up, exchange a red gem for an Aussie flag, sign the log, and grab a picture of Wolfie with the Monopoly card.

Got some Monopoly Money for rent ?

Unfortunately cphoenix has discontinued the upkeep on all his Monopoly caches so the opportunity has probably already passed to to seek them all out, but we still look forward to getting around to the remaining ones out there.

There is just one cache left in this Rumbalara cluster, but it’s a tricky Multi cache called Catch the Cuckoo (GCNAMA) by local cacher Grank. The starting coordinates for thia multi are nearby, but it’s a furphy – the clues to it’s whereabouts are hidden within some of the local caches in a radius from this point. I’ve found three of the “clues” to this multi so far. I was expecting another egg in The Angel Islington, but it wasn’t there… so who knows if TeamWolfie will ever catch the elusive cuckoo!

Gosford Travel Bug Exchange

This location is officially known as “Gosford TB Exchange (AKA Haemorrhoid Creek)“. Don’t let the name put you off, but what I do recommend if you come here – take a look at the satellite view (e.g. with Google) and determine the obvious and easy way to get to it.

Thankfully, one of our pieces of equipment is a 3G iPhone – so that makes satellite viewing while on the road a breeze (providing you have reception).  I don’t want to make things too easy for you – just don’t do anything stupid and dangerous – like stop on the Freeway, or stop on the Off-Ramp for that matter. Look at the Satellite view and you’ll find an easy and obvious path.

It was a nice walk down to this little oasis in the middle of what is essentially a freeway interchange. On our way we noticed some recent footprints. Another geocacher, perhaps?

There’s a bit of a dam, and a few rocks to easily step over to the other side of the creek.

Finding the cache wasn’t too hard once we got a good GZ indication. We’re only new to caching, and this was our biggest cache find to date. A nice ammo box. And it had some amazing quality goodies inside.

Wolfie's new Friend at Gosford TB Exchange

If you’re into geocaching, and a regular traveler up and down the F3 – be sure to check this cache out. It’s got quality stuff – just waiting to hitch a ride with you. Best of all, it’s an easy exit from EITHER direction, and easy to continue your journey in EITHER direction on the F3 – so it makes it an ideal exchange location that’s about half way between Sydney and Newcastle and servicing the hub of the Central Coast.