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Geocaching in NSW National Parks

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

Geocaching in National Parks

For the information of new geocachers.
Geocaching NSW received this notice from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service some years ago.

Geocaching is not permitted in protected areas managed by the NPWS.
As an activity organised from the internet, geocaching events have indefinite time frames and undefined numbers of participants, rendering management of the activity ineffective. While it is recognised that geocaching shares some common attributes with orienteering and rogaining, there is also an insufficient nexus between geocaching as a recreational activity and the conservation purpose for which NPWS protected areas are reserved or dedicated.
A full copy of the policy is available.

This means that you cannot get a cache published in and area administered by the NPWS. You can, however, place waypoints with their areas. You ARE NOT allowed to leave anything physical in the area.

If you want to find out what areas are administered  by the NPWS you can use Google Earth to do so. After you have downloaded and installed Google Earth you need to go to the Geocaching NSW website and download the kml file. You can open this file with google earth and it will shade all areas administered by the NPWS so you can determine where you can place a cache.