After the success of the last ACT event in Manuka, we offered to
hold an event and this time it beckons you beyond the city
limits!
This event is designed not only to get us all together, but also
to entice some ACT and Queanbeyan cachers out into the beautiful
and exciting Namadgi National Park. Sample some of the easier
caches in Namadgi by visiting the Orroral Valley, or if you've done
all the easy ones make this the date to do one of the more
adventurous.
This entry is initially to advise you all of the date so that
you mark it down in your diary. We will update this page as the
event develops. For the moment we are keeping the event pretty
simple because the location is the feature, and if you have never
been out this way before you will be busy taking the opportunity to
collect at least four easy caches. Timing is flexible, but the
official start time will be 11.00 am. You can either come earlier
and do the local caches, or do those after the event. Make a day of
it - do some along the way. Two BBQs and toilets are available on
site, and there are several large tables and shade. There is a
sealed road all the way to the site - contact Mtrax, Jezzzaxtreme
or us if you would like to car pool.
From Woden you should allow about 45 minutes to get to the
valley. To get to Orroral you head to Tharwa (the bridge is now
repaired) and turn south along the Bobeyan Road (towards
Adaminaby). Continue past the Namadgi Visitor Centre, and continue
past the right hand turn to Honeysuckle on the Apollo Road. (There
are caches up there - some not much of a walk, some very
adventurous and will take a while to complete). After passing the
Apollo Rd you will climb out of the valley up the long steep hill
that is Fitz's Hill. Coming down the other side,after several km's
you will come to another right hand turn to the Orroral Valley.
Watch this section - there are several tight bends as you approach
the right turn (big brown sign marks the spot). Follow this road -
do not turn into the campground that you come to first. Continue
past and after a short uphill you will enter the valley. Keep
following the sealed road to the carpark and site of the old
tracking station. Easy!!
Event update: We've been out to this site twice lately on the
way to/from Rock of Ages and Smokin', so I've checked out the BBQs
and tables. There is a lot of open space here, so if you have
geokids you could bring the whole family and when not doing the
nearby easy caches, you could kick a footy around or throw a
frisbee.
The kids might also be interested in the remains of the tracking
station - lots of fixtures and signs to check out. Do
Moon Mirrors and
Time and Space while you're at it! Other nearby caches that are
an easy walk are
Orroral Run and
The Valley 4 – Gurgling Cache. We will be placing a couple of
new caches nearby for those folks who have done all those in the
valley. More to come! And I am cleared to disclose that anyone who
is working their way through the
Lost French Tourist would find their efforts rewarded!
But wait there's more!!! Caughatwork contacted us, and we will
have GCA stickers to sell to support the fundraising drive for the
new server. You KNOW you have all used the forum and encountered
problems, so support this appeal by buying the stickers - 3 for
$5.
22 October update: another cache released in the valley.
Unfortunately for Winglen, but not for you all, it is exactly where
we had planned to place one in a spot we've visited several times
long ago. We have still have one more that we will probably release
just before the event. We are also working on some questions in the
style of that fun quiz offered by Matt and Shell at the Manuka
event.
Finally for car pooling, it will make sense for people to get
together - easier on the environment, easier on the hip pocket, and
it will make for easier parking at the site. We will have one or
two spaces in our car, and will be going early to get organised and
claim some space. Mtrax and Jezzzextreme offered to manage the car
pooling, and I will email you both separately to check that is
still OK.
Keep a watch on this site for further update. Thanks!!