Archive for the Category »Geocaches «

Getting your cache reviewed quickly
Tuesday, November 08th, 2011 /

Hi Guys,

Over the past couple of months I have seen caches being submitted with the same issues over and over again. I know from personal experience that there is nothing more frustrating than having to either make changes to your listing and wait a few more days for your cache to be published or better yet, go back out and move it.

In the aim of helping you get your cache up and running as quickly as possible can I suggest the following things.

- Read the Guidelines, Read the Guidelines, Read the Guidelines.

They are not just there as a thing to tick and flick. Make sure you know them before you submit that great new idea you have that you have checked that it fit’s within the guideline. I have seen people go to great lengths only for their cache to be put on hold because they couldn’t demostrate GPS use. Seems simple but it happens. I also see people place their cache 150m from another traditional cache. No matter how “special” that bush is, you are not going to get it published…

- If you are planing an isolated or complex puzzle check your GZ

Nothing worse than trekking into the unknown only to find that either someone else beat you to the spot or it is a national park. What you can do is create a listing, and put *Checking* in front of the nickname of the cache, and write a reviewer note asking the reviewer to check the location(s).
If there’s waypoints, or alternative locations, enter them as additional waypoints of the “FINAL” or “Stages of a Multicache” type (don’t use “Reference point” as they’re not checked for proximity to other caches)

This process also means that we’ll see your cache if there’s another cache placed nearby, and give you a chance to decide if your cache is going to go ahead or not.

- Basic details for your page

Make sure you select a cache size for your cache. Don’t leave it blank. Also add some attributes. If your cache is wheelchair accessible, make it a terrain 1 and add the attribute. If your cache is too easy for a hint, don’t write “too easy” or similar in the hint box.  A nano cache is a Micro cache not “other”

I hope this will help people a bit with their listings. As I find other things I’ll put them up here.

Cheers,

Matt

Category: General, Geocaches, Hiding Tips, Tips & Tricks  Leave a Comment
Any night caches in the Newcastle area
Sunday, June 05th, 2011 /

I’m relatively new to geocaching and a virgin when it comes to web posting – so I hope this post works. I thought I would ask if there are any night caches in Newcastle (ie caches that utilise some sort of reflector, not just caches that can be found at night). I’ve read about them on the web and I’ve been trying to find them (a little hard if you only have a standard geocache.com membership). I’m hoping that some members out there with a few more finds then me will be able to suggest a few.

Regards,

Acachewego

Category: General, Geocaches  One Comment
Wherigo Caches
Saturday, March 05th, 2011 /

I have a new Wherigo cache  that I hope to get published this week. The cache is called ARTeFACTS and is at the Lake Macquarie Art Gallery, Booragul.

I would like to make The Hunter the capital of Wherigo caches in Australia. Currently there are 21 active Wherigo caches is Australia with 2 being by Big Matt in The Hunter.

A Wherigo requires quite a deal of effort to make and until now could only be played by Pocket PC and Garmin Oregon units.  Now with smart phones taking off and apps on all these types of phones, it is well worth the effort as many more cachers are able to find them.

If anyone would has an idea and would like to make a Wherigo, I am more than willing to help.

Category: Geocaches  Tags:  7 Comments
National Parks Contacts
Tuesday, February 01st, 2011 /

Today I made contact with Steve Smallman at the Regional Office, Nelson Bay of the NPWS. He advised that he is aware of the new policy and whilst he oversees the policy it is up to us to make contact with the individual rangers that look after each particular park. He has given me the some details of contacts and I intend to put together a list of contact details for each particular park in the Hunter area. I would ask that if anyone makes contact with National Parks could they please add the details to this list for future reference. I will make contact with the Newcastle Office next week.

Newcastle Office

Phone: 02 4955 0038
Fax: 02 4955 5962
Street address: Hunter Wetland Centre, Sandgate Road, Shortland NSW
Postal address: PO Box 351, Jesmond NSW 2299
Opening hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm

Responsible for

Blue Gum Hills Regional Park, Glenrock State Conservation Area

Nelson Bay

 Phone: 02 4984 8200
Fax: 02 4981 5913
Street address: Level 1, 12B Teramby Road, Nelson Bay NSW
Postal address: Locked Mail Bag 99, Nelson Bay NSW 2315

Responsible for

Tomaree National Park

Lake Munmorah

Phone: 02 4972 9000
Fax: 02 4972 9055
Street address: Blue Wren Drive, Munmorah State Conservation Area
Postal address: PO Box 8068, Summerland Point, 2259
Opening hours: 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday

Responsible for

Munmorah Conservation Area, Watagans National Park

Category: Geocaches, Hiding Tips  One Comment
Geocaching in NSW National Parks
Friday, January 28th, 2011 /

Geocaching NSW seem to have been working hard behind the scenes:

on their website today the state:

“Geocaching NSW is pleased to announce that the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has released its National Park geocaching policy:

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/policies/GeocachingPolicy.htm

This policy reverses the ban on geocaching that has been in place since 2002.

To place a geocache in an area managed by NPWS geocachers must apply for consent before posting it on the internet.

The NPWS Geocaching policy 2010 provides a detailed summary of where geocaches can and cannot be placed.

To apply for consent, geocachers should complete the application form that is attached to the policy and deliver it to the relevant NPWS office.”

info from http://geocachingnsw.asn.au/index.php/geocaching/natparks/143-geocaching-nat-parks

Category: General, Geocaches, Hiding Tips  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment
New Wherigo Cache
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 /

Hi Guys,

Just a heads up that we have a new Wherigo that I have built over the past week that went out today. It is called Newcastle Tour and is a tour around the historic parts of Newie.

Newcastle Tour

I’ve taken the feedback that I got on the first one and made something a bit more in depth. I hope you all enjoy it.

We have tested it in the emulator, the PiGo app for iPhone and the Oregon 300 so it should be fairly reliable.

Category: General, Geocaches  Tags: ,  One Comment
GPSr Units
Tuesday, November 02nd, 2010 /

Garmin have recently released Chirps which can be used for some Garmin model GPSr units.

I am also told that the iPhone has the capability to be able to receive information from Chirps but at this time there is no app to do this. 

To find out if it would be worthwhile to place one in the Hunter it would be good to know what GPSr units local geocachers are using.

Please leave a comment with the units you are using.

Category: Geocaches  Tags:  7 Comments
My 4 Hs of Cache Placement
Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 /

I remember reading a post from Bronze a while ago when I had just returned from the Wagga Wagga Mega event.

At the time I had a huge head rush and was about to dump a pile of Systema containers around town, because I was sure someone had previously failed in providing me with a good cache density.

But after reading the aforemetioned post and attempting a couple of experienced cacher’s hides, I thought to myself; “What would those experienced guys think of my hides?. Would they like them?. Would they do more than one of mine?. Would they even log it?”

So I came up with some criteria.

4 Hs.

1.\ HTML.
I wanted to list my cache nicely. I am by no means a computer operator, so I came accross a GCA Wiki page that learnt me how to jazz up my listing.

I found that if I uploaded a picture into the ‘gallery’ of the listing, I could use ‘img src=’ with a link to that picture and put it right in my listing.

So I found myself spending some time ‘prettying up’ my listing to make it more appealing.

2.\ History.
I felt like I also wanted to give a REASON for bringing a fellow geocacher to this particular spot. So by sharing some additional interesting information in my listing, no matter how trivial, I can give that little bit extra to the seeker.

3.\ Hide.
People tend to love looking for something that is a little more than a empty lollie container shoved under a rock (which is totally fine for your first cache. I am not trying to offend anyone here.), and I have experienced a healthy cache logging verbosity because of a more interesting than usual placement. There is the bit that gives back to the cache owner, when you know how much someone enjoyed it by their log, it brings geocaching satisfaction full circle.

4.\ HA!.
Geocaching is a game after all, and by giving a pun or two in the listing, or an element in the final cache hide that gives the finder a fleeting moment of realization when everything ‘comes together’ makes your fellow geocacher leave your cache with a warm buzz.

I admit that I do not have all 4 of these elements in each and every one of my caches, but it is a personal goal to not hide a cache with at least 3 out of 4 of these. By doing so it makes me happy with my effort and encourages my local HAVOC crew.

Category: Geocaches, Hiding Tips, Tips & Tricks  Tags: , , ,  7 Comments
Caching Karma
Friday, September 24th, 2010 /

When I first started caching I had the fortune of bumping into MADSTARS. He introduced me to the concept of Caching Karma. He, and I now, believe that whilst you are out caching and come across a problem with a cache YOU fix it. Not simply report the problem in the log for the owner to fix. The Karma being that if everyone does this then in time your caches will be repaired by others and reduce maintainance and improve the enjoyment for the next finder.

This is done for a number of reasons, firstly to just be a good person and help a friend. Secondly the owner does not always live in the area. Take for instance Big Matt and Shell who have moved a few times and still have caches in Canberra and South Coast. It is difficult for them to get back to the caches. After all they are not deprived of anything by archiving the caches but future finders are deprived of finding a good cache. Thirdly, the owner is not always in the game. A lot of good caches are still out in the wild with the owner having long left the game.

There are different levels of maintainence I know, but the most common is wet logs. It is very easy to replace a log if it wet. You don’t even need a printed log just some sort of paper to place in the cache. You can then log the fact that you replaced it until the owner can get there and replace it. My pet hate is seeing LOG FULL. I have never seen a full log yet. The rules say that you have to write your name on the log to claim a find, well, write over someone elses name. This means that you have both met the requirements for logging the cache. Carry a sharpie, that makes it easy to write over pen and pencil. But you should also carry a peice of paper, business card, shopping docket, etc, anything is good as a replacement log.

I also carry plastic bags, duct tape, super glue, magnets and 35mm Film Canisters to make any repairs I can. I know you can’t alway help but you should always try. Remember your not helping the owner but finders of which you are one!

What are your thoughts on the matter. Happy caching in the School Holidays.

Category: Geocaches  Tags:  One Comment
Logging DNF’s
Thursday, September 16th, 2010 /

I’d like to know peoples thoughts on logging a DNF. This comes from some logs recently that I have seen on our caches and others about people either hearing from other cachers looking for a cache or spotting someone looking but no log following (either find or DNF).

We log a DNF on any cache that we have started looking for no matter what. We figure it gives the owner an idea we looked.

What are your thoughts on logging DNF’s?

Category: Geocaches  Tags: , ,  7 Comments
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