Errinundra 11 - Darejo Tree Traditional Geocache
Errinundra 11 - Darejo Tree
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This would have to be one of the most amazing places in Victoria. On the 2.5kms to get here you will have walked through ridge top old growth, rainforests, fern glades, an untouched valley and now the jewel in the crown. One of the biggest trees in Victoria. It has a length around the base of 15.7 metres.
Unofficially it is known as the Darejo Tree, named after Dave, Rena and Joe who found it.
This group of 3 Goongerah residents volunteer a lot of time undertaking endangered species species and trying to discover what is there before logging. The log coupes that you walked close to, where to be extended through here, but now the area is protected for future generations to see and to know about.
The actual tree is another 100m or so along the board walk and is surrounded by the board walk now. Before the board walk was put in, the ground was getting very compacted and some of the ferns and shrubs on the tree where damaged as they where being loved too much.
I have chosen to put the cache this far from the tree, as there are a number of off shoot tracks from the board walk that soon disappear or form short loops, so if you loose the tracks this is a good spot to aim for. Including from a distance on the way in.
Its hard to really give an indication as whether or not the terrain 4 or higher is justified for this cache, but I think I need to cater for the people least likely to be able to do this walk. It is only 5km return. The middle half is hilly, but I wouldn't say that it is overly steep. The track is unmade and just brush cut through the scrub, While the scrub isn't that thick here, it could make the track hard to follow. There is no phone reception here and in winter you might be the only user for a week. The weather can get very cold, wet and foggy and due to its height above sea level, weather changes may not be on the nightly news and weather forecasts. Getting lost off track will lead you into some very steep country. Ridge lines aren't necessarily going to lead you to a road and if you follow the creeks down stream it will be around 25kms before you hit a track or road. But for most people I think this will be a way of completing a high terrain cache, without much difficulty. There are caches along the way, so you can complete a couple and turn back if you begin to doubt your ability to do the walk.
Please let people know your travel intentions before you head off. Carry provisions in case you walk ends up longer then anticipated and enjoy this beautiful part of this land we live in.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre zhypu, svefg fhccbeg fgehg.