The cache has been placed just outside the Big Hill Track access
gate on the Deans Marsh-Lorne Road. The gate is about 200m from the
Big Hill Camping Area, where there is a fairly-new toilet facility.
It should be noted that this is a "No Fires" campground.
*I have been made aware of a recent change to the policy
regarding geocaching in National Parks in Victoria. There is no
guarantee that this cache will remain here in the long term, but I
am investigating the options.
The track is ideally suited for Adventure riders, dirt bike riders
or 4WD enthusiasts. Finding the entrance to Big Hill Track from the
eastern end can be quite a challenge, but it is accessible from the
Great Ocean Road via Herschell and Mair Roads.
Like a number of tracks in the region, Big Hill Track is closed
from 01 June to 31 October each year to protect road surfaces and
the environment, and for public safety. Hooligans regularly break
the locks (or gates!) over winter. If you visit in the
"off-season", follow the signage and don't use the track, even if
it looks open. Further information on the tracks and road closures
can be found from "Parks
Victoria". The
"specific page" has a
"map" you can download (1Mb pdf) that will be very
useful for planning your route between the [ADVAUS] caches in
this area (strong hint).
Please note that the cache is available all year round - even by
2WD car - via the Deans Marsh-Lorne Road.
Warning
The turn onto the Deans Marsh-Lorne Road near the cache is on a
blind corner, and very dangerous. Do not turn right! Turn
left when you think it's safe; you can then turn right into
Benwerrin-Mount Sabine Road a mere 50m further on if you need to
make a u-turn.
The cache you seek is a camouflaged 1L Sistema, hidden at the base
of a large tree. It is facing the main road, so you will need to be
stealthy! There are a few family-friendly swaps, in addition to the
logbook and pen. The cache is close to the parking area, so your
vehicle will be visible at all times.
*If you are pursuing other caches in this series (e.g. Gentle
Annie Track), the shortest route via the map is via Seaview Road.
There are gates for seasonal access a kilometre or so in from each
end of Seaview Road, however these do not have any signage, and
were not closed last winter. As the road seemed in fairly good
condition, I think the southern end of this road is suitable for
traffic in winter. Please note that the northern end of Seaview
Road has an up-hill section of over 100m that is deeply rutted.
When wet it turns into an impassable "slime", where you keep
sliding back downhill even you have brakes on and feet on the
ground (not kidding). It is almost impossible simply to stand. Not
recommended in the wet for anyone, and not recommended for 2WD cars
at all.