“This cache is part of an experiment that allows the use of Augmented Reality (AR) apps to find the cache. At the end of this experiment, Geocaching HQ intends to grandfather published AR caches. Geocaching HQ reserves the right to archive this cache at any time if conditions change. If you have found this cache and would like to give feedback on your experience, please fill out this survey.”
Augmented Reality is a new phenomenon which takes the image that your mobile device sees and is able to add in extra things for you to interact with. Currently much of the software that is available to produce Augmented Reality is a bit buggy. It crashes quite regularly and uses up a lot of mobile data when being played. There is definitely a LOT of potential though for Augmented Reality to add to the geocaching experience in the future so this is certainly early stages.
This AR cache uses the Metaverse App.
Once the app is downloaded, follow this link or scan this QR code…
Welcome to the Historic Augmented Reality Tour of the town of St Arnaud. Beginning in 1855 in a lawless mining town, you need to help the citizens grow the town and to overcome the many problems that the community face over the years. Visit the different sites, learn about how the town grew and help the citizens overcome the problems that they face.
This is a very simple AR cache, but it may take an hour or more to complete. You will need data coverage during the entire time and the AR platform tends to chew through the battery, so a fully charged battery would be a good idea too.
When you start, you are presented with 14 different experiences. You need to do them in order. You must begin with the Hotel, which is at the posted co-ordinates for this cache. By pressing the cross hairs icon at the bottom of the screen, you can see where the other experiences are located. At the end of each experience you will learn where you are expected to go next. Head to the next experience, if you are not sure where that is, they are all listed as WPs on the cache page for you. If you forget where you are supposed to go, just play any experience and the character there will tell you where you are supposed to be.
The experiences are not hard, they are more a history lesson as to how each building influenced the development of the township. If you play correctly you will be given items to carry to the next location to continually help with the growth of the town. Once you have completed all 14 experiences the final location for the geocache will reveal itself.
The app can be a bit buggy, sometimes the characters don’t appear properly because it takes too long to load, but you can still interact with it. Other times it can crash completely, in which case you need to select “Try Again” until it works.
All in all, it’s a fun way to design a geocache, I hope you have as much fun playing it as I did making it.