Julie Crean - Geocaching - High Tech Game of Hide-and-Seek

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You've heard of geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing), right?  A modern day high-tech game of hide-and-seek, complete with GPS. Hardly a game when you get the co-ordinates right? Yeah, nah, yeah, nah. The thing is, GPS co-ordinates only gets you within arm’s reach of a hotspot - the rest can be truly challenging!

You're looking for a hidden treasure, probably camouflaged, buried under a log, or squished in nook of a tree trunk!  Sounds interesting?  Thousands of Kiwis think it does, and millions of people around the globe are hooked.  

You don't need to join a club as such.  It's free. The odds are that there are hidden geocaches in your neighbourhood , so can be done in most parts of New Zealand any day of the year.

You do need a GPS however (or a smart phone with a GPS app) and a few hours free.  Log into www.geocaching.com (sure you need to register and login, but that's free and no drama) and use the map to find (a) where you live and what local hidden treasures are near and (b) what's further afield.  

It's very addictive and the kids will love it.

You'll need:

• A pen (to write down the co-ordinates and clues) or a printer

• Some little treasures of your own [see once you've found a treasure you can take it, but you need to replace it with something of equal value.  Given you have NO IDEA what to find, it's good to bring a selection (think $2 shop: a compass, a pen, a broach, shiny stone - whatever you think someone else may like).  Don't make them big - some of the hidden treasures may be stashed in a matchbox].

• A mobile phone - get lost, and you could be walking for hours!

• Drinking water

Random Lessons:

• Check out your GPS equipment before you leave the house.  Each GPS has different settings (there are 3 types of co-ordinates, and none of them relate to each-other so you can't wing it).

• Do write down the clues.  It may seem like you are cheating, but these treasures can be hidden really well.  It helps to narrow down your search just a teeny-weeny bit.

• If you are going on a long adventure, do note the GPS location of your car!  If you are walking through forest and give up, as least you know the direction of a quick exit!

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