A start point in the general vicinity of the above cache is required. The coordinates refer to this start point, or for those who have 'been there, done that' - the 'Okere Falls carpark' about 400m down Trout Pool Road at the headwaters of the Kiatuna River. While you are there, there is a set of stairs in the corner of the carpark nearest the road down to the start of what was the power station race. Well worth the slight diversion to see the power of the river up close (behind a substantial guardrail).
To locate the River of Life cache, two signs along the river walk must be located and numbers found.
After walking further down the path to the lower carpark, the coordinates of the final location are determined by marking a waypoint on your GPS and then editing this with the results of some basic maths based upon the retrieved numbers.
** You may need a notebook to record the numbers and determine the coordinates. **
The cache consists of a green 1-litre square ‘Sistema’ container. It is 13 x 13 x 6.5cm (internal measurements). It will fit a cd, but not a cd case.
The initial contents include:
Notebook; Pencil; assorted SWAG (NZ Pen, Daddy Day Care Crayons, Toys - jet, car, space-car, yellow plastic flower corsage, 2xspare zip-locks); TB (Kayak Joe – appropriately enough); February 2006 PC World DVD; and a voucher for a January 2006 Signal Geocoin (for the FTF).
NOTE: Please Leave the stickers inside the lid - they are for the entertainment of all. Thank you.
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Q1. Take a walk down the path. When you come to a sign 'Trout Pools 15 Minutes' go right down the stairs. You are looking for a sign with the name of the cache on it. It has some numbers riveted to it. (Look hard – it may turn your world upside down. Or back to front. Topsy-Turvy anyway.) Take a note of the numbers.
Q2. Line up, Line up, Line up! Have your photo taken where tourists of old did. Did Hinemoa ever pose here? Record the number on the Hinemoa Steps sign - note it well. Need a clue? If you found the first number, you'll find the second one as well.
Q3. Once you have the information, enjoy a 15-minute leisurely stroll down river (or you could walk back up to the carpark then drive down) to the Trout Pool (lower) carpark. GPS reception is patchy along the river walk but you don't need it until you arrive at the carpark. Use your GPS and mark a waypoint anywhere in the Trout Pool (lower) carpark. What are the coordinates? You need the Degrees and Minutes only. The decimals will be replaced with new values from the results of the calculations below.
You are now only minutes' away ...
Q4. What are the final Northing Coordinates?
Replace the Northing Minute Decimals from Q3 with the 'D' value derived below. eg: S 38° MM.ddd -> S 38° MM.D
'A' = Accumulate all the digits of the number from Q2
'B' = 'A' x (1 + the 3rd digit of the number from Q2)
'C' = Accumulate the first 3 digits of the number from Q2
'D' = 'B' + 'C'
Q5. What are the final Easting Coordinates?
Replace the Easting Minute Decimals from Q3 with the 'J' value derived below. eg: E 176° MM.ddd -> E 176° MM.J
'E' = Accumulate all the digits of the number from Q1
'F' = Accumulate all the digits of the number from Q2
'G' = 'E' + 'F'
'H' = 'G' x by the last digit of the number from Q2
'I' = Reverse the digits in 'F'
'J' = Replace the last two digits of 'H' with 'I'
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If you have a web capable phone, or want to check later before finding the GZ, you can check your calculations at Geochecker.com.
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The 'Trout Pool carpark' is at the lower end of Trout Pool Road and after finding the cache, you can return up the tarsealed road (in the heat) or via the track you came down (in the cool shade). The carpark is also useful for quick drop offs / pick ups of TB's from the cache, but - of course - you do need the clues the first time to actually locate it.
Okere Falls bush walk has lookouts over the Okere River ('Place of Drifting') and four picturesque waterfalls as it cascades through narrow, steep ravines. Rafters and Kayakers actively use the river and they provide many photo opportunities and much hilarity. Beside the main carpark, steep steps lead down to the site of Rotorua’s first hydroelectric power station and provide a view of the spectacular force of the river (These steps are often slippery and require reasonable fitness).
Hinemoa Steps, in the rock face besides the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, lead to the Tutea Caves and a torch is useful for a quick look inside.
The 11km stretch of the Kaituna River, known as the Okere River, continues its journey on to the coast at Maketu from the tranquil waters of the Trout Pool.
* Much of the Okere River’s traditional importance is due to the rich variety of animals and plants it sheltered. The river’s other name ‘Kaituna’ (kai = food, tuna = eels) reveals much about its significance as a food source. Below the four main waterfalls are numerous large eel holes. These eels were caught with spears, hinaki (eel pots) or pa tuna (eel weirs). It is also said that experts would roll themselves into balls and dive under the banks, emerging triumphantly with large eels caught with their bare hands!
Further down the river, whitebait were caught in great numbers, including inanga, giant kokopu, banded kokopu and koaro. Fisheries for the adults of these species are believed to have existed as far up as the bottom waterfall. Koura (freshwater crayfish) were another local delicacy. Birds such as kawau (shags or cormorants) and ducks which made their home on the river were another traditional food source; during the depression of the 1930s, shags were each sold for a shilling. Today they are a protected species.
On the riverbank there are a number of plant species with important traditional uses. Plants such as raupo were part of the traditional rongoa (medicines) for the people. Raw materials for weaving and other crafts are still gathered from the riverbanks.
* source: Pages 9-13 of Walks in the Rotorua Lakes area. Also contains a map.
For related information see Walking trails in Rotorua or Destination Outdoors.
Placed by a member of the Kiwicaching Association of New Zealand
12 April2009. Signs have had information removed but are still in place. The first sign is at the viewing platform half way down the stairs overlooking Hinemoa Falls. The second sign is just before the stairs cut through the rock face.
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12-12-12: A Cataclysmic Event (Rotorua)
