Photo credit: wdg060

The Geocache of the Month for January 2020 is Pinegrove TSR- #4 The Nativity (GC84M95) by RYNO2412. It was nominated by MattyRx.

This Multi Cache was placed in December 2018, near Mount Mitchell, in the Armidale Regional CouncilArea.

This cache is the last in a series of four caches the owner has hidden along the Pinegrove Travelling Stock Route. The nominator MattyRx wrote “a fantastic multi – three Christmas/Nativity themes hides. This cache will have you winding winches, looking up to the trees, manipulating sculptures and transcoding coordinates before finding the final large sized, well-built cache – stocked with swaps.“ Geono. wrote “What a cleverly themed multi, each part well thought out and lots of swaps at the final.” DiMorgan wrote “Really enjoyed the different scenes interpretations along here. FP given”.

It is a large size cache, difficulty 1.5 and terrain rating of 3. The cache has received 8 favourite points, at a rating of 50%. Great to have some well themed caches out there

Congratulations go to RYNO2412!

Found a great cache that you want the world to know about? We are currently seeking nominations for Geocache of the Month for February 2020. To nominate your favourite cache simply head to the forum and leave your suggestion. 

The Geocache of the Month for December 2019 is The Hunt for Red October (GC7XHAB) by MrMalkovich. It was nominated by Sensible Shoes.

This Multi Cache was placed in November 2018, in the Blacktown City Council Area. It features an amazing piece of construction and camouflage.

The owner explains “At WP1, you'll find a tool in a camouflaged container at head height. The co-ordinates for GZ are printed on the tool, as well as instructions for it's use.” From there it is a short walk to GZ. “At GZ, use the tool at the base of the small tree to access the cache.”

Purplepeopleater wrote “Unbelievable!! What a fabulous contraption, probably, no, definitely the most innovative cache I have encountered.” Little Shoes wrote “800! Whoo Hoo!!! This is such an absolutely amazing must find geocache! It was a surprise of how you retrieved the cache. I loved this one as it was very creative and super unique.”

It is a large size cache, but this is mostly camo, Difficulty 2 and Terrain rating of 2. The cache 27 Favourite Points, at a rating of 79%. Do yourself a favour and get to GZ, join The Hunt for Red October and put your name in the logbook

Congratulations go to MrMalkovich.

Geocache of the Year 18/19

It is time to farewell 2019 and welcome in the new caching year! Did you achieve your geocaching goals for 2019? If you are thinking what to aim for over the next 12 months we have a suggestion... find as many GOTM winners as possible! With this in mind where to start?

Well, why not with our 2018/19 Geocache of the Year We're delighted to officially announce the winner of the GCNSW "Geocache of the Year" for 2018/19! This is the eighth year of this prestigious award and the winner was chosen by members of the NSW geocaching community as the pick of the bunch from "Geocache of the Month" winners of the 2018/19 Geo-year that runs from AGM to AGM (Sep to Aug). This cache pulls on the heart strings of why we all love Geocaching, it was a very close race for the GOTY, but this one came out on top.

Originally the Geocache of the Month for February 2019, the traditional cache Clybucca Memorial (GC4QX9K). Placed by Coongoola, it was nominated back in July 2018, by Seemyshell. Clybucca Memorial Garden

Hidden in October 2013, this great little cache is not only a pleasure to find, but the history behind the placement is a credit to Coongoola. The memorial is a site of tragedy. Back in 1989, a terrible bus accident occurred which claimed the lives of 35 people and injured 41 others. This memorial was developed to honour those lives that were lost. Now, here comes the geocaching goodness - Coongoola visited the site in 2013 and noticed that the memorial had not been maintained. The lawns were seriously overgrown and weeds littered the gardens. Coongoola did not want this memorial to be lost so returned with not only a cool cache but lots of gardening equipment and tools. They went on to clean up the whole memorial - the lawns, the weeds, the environment - and by placing the cache ensured the memorial would receive plenty of visitors.

Since 2013 there have been 193 finders with 49 awarding a favourite point. Geocaching is not just about containers or smileys but sometimes it brings us to places that make us think and reflect or discover important stories that shouldn't be forgotten. A very deserving winner of Geocache of the Year, and a big Congratulations to Coongoola. Who will receive the award for Geocache of the Year in 2019/2020? ...that is up to you!

First things first, get nominating. The first winners for the 19/20 year have already been chosen but more will be selected until August 2020. Each month we call for your input as to great caches around our state and the committee will choose one to be recognised that month. They don't have to be epic hikes or mind-bending puzzles, they just have to be great caching experiences. Then at the AGM we will list off the 12 winners, and towards the end of the year call for your votes as to the best of the bunch! The 2019/20 Winner will be announced at the GCNSW Christmas Party. Head to the Geocaching NSW forum and start nominating for next month or keep an eye on our social media streams. Thanks to all those who nominated caches and voted last year... here's to the winners, and a great 2020 discovering top spots around NSW geocaching!

The Geocache of the Month for October 2019 is The Four Sided Bridge by dkmacca (GC5HM3B). It was nominated by coastblue. 

Photo Credit: teammerlin

Placed in December 2015 in the Blacktown Council area within the Western Sydney Parklands, these Parklands contain world class sporting facilities, popular picnic areas, a cycle/walking track and native bushland. From the cache's name you know that there is a bridge involved, but the description tells us that the cache is named after all the great engineering and design used to create this foot bridge. There are triangles, rectangles, hexagons, squares and circles.

The nominator, coastblue, wrote that the spider webs and creepy crawlies added a significant challenge for her. She recommends that the attempt shouldn't be made in your Sunday best and that you take care of the cycling muggles who come by as the bridge makes up part of the extensive bike path.

It is a small sized cache, has 49 Favourite Points from 102 finds, and is well worth the tricky D4.5 rating. Why not set yourself this challenge and put the Four Sided Bridge on your geocaching to do list.

Congratulations dkmacca!

Found a great cache that you want the world to know about? We are currently seeking nominations for Geocache of the Month for November 2019. To nominate your favourite cache simply head to the forum and leave your suggestion.

The Geocache of the Month for November 2019 is Lake Views (GC3606) by The Rats. It was nominated by Team Canary.

This cache was placed in January 2002, in the Wollongong City Council Area. It is The Rats first hide, back when they were known as SES Rats, and true to the description, it wasn’t their last!

Photo by Podringet

The owner explains: “On route to this cache there are some spectacular views to the south... Enjoy.” The cache features a well-marked track all the way to some 50 meters from GZ, but the owner advises “Warning!!! There are cliffs about and the odd loose rock or two, so scramble with care.” The track has been improved over the years and now has a section of stairs and chain fences.

Bonfire7, wrote “A really enjoyable walk up to find this cache today, I passed and spooked some Lyre Birds on the way up through the lower rain forest level, from the carpark I didn’t realize this mountain was so high but once at GZ I soon found the cache and was rewarded yet again with some really great views.” The Hancock Clan wrote “What a super walk to a great lookout, where we had lunch & took several photos. Couldn't believe the amount of lyre birds in this bit of bushland; we spent a good 10 minutes just recording one that was constantly imitating kookaburras, whip birds, parrots, owls, possums, and even hammering, which we guess was from the recent ladder/steps installation nearby? It was like something from a David Attenborough show, just fantastic! TFTC Rats!”

It is an ammo can, difficulty 2.5 and well worth the terrain rating of 3. The cache has only had 115 finds over almost 18 years but those finders have all been rewarded with more than just a find and a smiley. Do yourself a favour and get to GZ, admire the Lake Views and put your name in the logbook.

Congratulations go to The Rats!

Found a great cache that you want the world to know about? We are currently seeking nominations for Geocache of the Month for December 2019. To nominate your favourite cache simply head to the forum and leave your suggestion.

Many of us have driven past Lake George on our way to or from Canberra along the Federal Highway and wondered when it last contained a substantial volume of water. Beyond that wonder, Lake George actually has something great going for it - it has some excellent geocaches to find.

Geocache of the Month for September is Red Back ! (GC60FHR) hidden by Kittykatch and GrimRaider. It is one of the best in a selection of humorously themed caches located along a small dirt access road along Lake George. Placed in 2015, the 52 favourite points give some indication of the fun you have when you find this one – no spoilers!

This series of caches are well worth the short diversion off the main road with your reward being many LOLs. And if your curiosity about the lake includes walking on water (or at least where water once was), there are a few opportunities to explore, but do read the warning signs.

Found a great cache that you want the world to know about? We are currently seeking nominations for Geocache of the Month for October 2019. To nominate your favourite cache simply head to the forum and leave your suggestion.

The Geocache of the month for August 2019 is The Nest Terminates Here (GC68NPE) by Jacko2484, BenFolds7, Ashwandering. It was nominated by mattyrx. 

This cache was placed in December 2015 in the Tweed Council Area of Northern NSW. The owners explain:

“It is located next to Bilambil Creek on Urliup Rd. This road is a scenic route from Bilambil to Murwillumbah following the Bilambil creek for half of its length. The creek originates in a spring fed dam halfway along the road. The road itself was cut by hand by the first pioneers in the 1860's. The route was needed to get local produce (bananas, milk and pineapples) to the markets in Murwillumbah. The name comes from the fact that the dairy farmers had to get up early (Early up) to milk the cows in time to get to the market. The name was shortened to Urliup over time (true story)!”

The nominator, mattyrx, wrote:

“This cache is a well built regular sized cache that the CO has put a lot of effort into, and it shows in the logs. It’s located in a beautiful location too, so finders have a great experience all round with it. The CO is a young cacher and should be commended for this (and many of his other hides) for the container construction and thought behind the location into which they are placed.”

It is a large size, has 79% Favourite Points (23 of the 37 found logs), no DNFs and is well worth the effort to get to GZ and admire the views. 

Congratulations Jacko2484, BenFolds7, Ashwandering!

The Geocache of the month for July 2019 is A Black Hand Gang Member (GC6W68Z) by BikerBuddy. It was nominated by Team Canary. 

This cache was placed in December 2016, in the Blue Mountains and forms the final for a series that are "junior friendly" caches and require children to solve puzzles and calculate final locations. The series is inspired by a book from the CO's childhood by Hans Jürgen Press and has been converted into a simple game which allows you to reconnect with the book.

Recently maintained, it is a regular size, has 79% favourites, and is well worth the sluething to find this final cache, with or without the kids! Congratulations BikerBuddy.

Found a great cache that you want the world to know about? We are currently seeking nominations for Geocache of the Month for August 2019. To nominate your favourite cache simply head to the forum and leave your suggestion. 

The winner of Geocache of the Month for June 2019 is Cache Withdrawl (GC3P7A4) by Blundo Busters.

Cache Withdrawal is not only something we all suffer every now and then as geocachers but it is also a clever play on words that leads you to a good sized cache container in a very urban setting.

With residential homes overlooking GZ, you make your decent from street level down to an open grass area wherein a cache lies tucked away safely in a rock wall. It’s a bold hiding spot for a medium cache but the fun doesn’t end with the find – in fact it is only the beginning!

Withdrawing the log book takes a certain knowledge that one would’ve acquired with age – not that it was all that long ago! Take a geocacher born in the mid 1990s or later for another level of fun and laughs! This cache is reminiscent of cutting edge technologies past and certainly worth it’s favourite points!

Congratulations to Blundo Busters on another Geocache of the Month win.

May 2019's Geocache of the Month winner is Welcome to Wine Country (GC7HTNE), a traditional park and grab cache placed by AussieBen in Feb 2018.

This Cache is located in a rest area which has views overlooking some local wineries. Parking is a breeze, however locating the clever camo cache is another story. With a few DNF's this traditional is not your average 1.5/1.5. It boast 23 favourite points with many favourites being awarded for not only the hide and camo, but for the views and location. 

Congratulations AussieBen for hiding such a well disguised cache at a great location. 

Found a great cache that you want the world to know about? We are currently seeking nominations for Geocache of the Month for June 2019. To nominate your favourite cache simply head to the forum and leave your suggestion.