Higgins Hidden Valley #1: Rainforest Traditional Geocache
Higgins Hidden Valley #1: Rainforest
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This cache takes you to another of the hidden gems of Hornsby. This is number 1 in a series of four caches. You can do the first three in any order but numerical order is recommended. Finding the first three caches will give you what you need to find the fourth cache. Have fun!
The Higgins family was one of the first to settle in the Hornsby area going back as far as 1820. They settled on land known as Old Man's Valley to the west of Hornsby station. It was a long and successful tenure going by the fact that they occupied the land for almost 150 years, only leaving in the late 1960s. Descendants of the original settler, Thomas Higgins, still live in the district.
The main land holding is where the infamous Hornsby Quarry now sits. Around this area there are several historic sites relating to the Higgins including a family cemetery, a stone coolroom and a "sandstone receptacle". This area is currently difficult to access.
The area where this series of caches is sited is a valley to the west and south of the original property. It contains beautiful tracts of bluegum forest and rainforest in stark contrast to the dry sclerophyll forest in the national park over in the next valley.
The Higgins family is commemorated in the naming of Higgins Place in Westleigh which overlooks this valley.
This cache requires following a faint track along the creek. It may require some boulder scrambling and is NOT recommended if heavy rain has fallen in the past 48 hours. If in doubt wait until next time.
GPS reception at GZ is poor so use the clue if necessary. Don't forget to continue a little further up the creek to see the beautiful feature.
Best access for this series is the fire trail at S33 42.586 E151 04.831.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Abegu fvqr bs gur perrx, ybj naq qnex.