GEOCACHING WESTERN AUSTRALIA |
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| What is Geocaching? | VIRTUAL CYBERSPACE LINKS |
| If you're tired of visiting the same places and are looking for a new sport/hobby where all the family can join in, then Geocaching may be exactly what you're looking for. |
Geocaching information and reference for Western
Australia |
| Geocaching,
pronounced gee-o-cayshing, is the high tech version of a treasure hunt. Armed with nothing
more than a handheld GPS unit and a thirst for adventure, you're off for new adventures
and the likelihood of finding a hidden cache. Most caches will lead you to a great area
for views, history, camping spots, picnic spots ... the list is endless. |
Lists our GPS adventures, Caches and Finds or DNFs |
| Here's how
it works. Geocachers seek out hidden treasures utilising GPS coordinates posted on the
Internet by those hiding the cache. So to geocache, you'll need a handheld GPS receiver.
GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, this system shows you your exact position
on the Earth anytime, in any weather. |
A community for West Australian Herpetologists |
| Once you've
purchased a GPS unit, you'll need to know where the caches are hidden. When a cache is
hidden, the cache's coordinates are submitted to many websites for all to see and log.
Enter the coordinates into your GPS and you're off. Currently there are more than 100,000
caches in over 200 countries. |
A FOCUS ON OUR 4X4 EXPERIENCES a little out dated lately due to recent activities |
| Sounds easy armed with a GPS and the coordinates, how tough can it be? Well that's where the fun starts there are so many different ideas out there now you'll never be out of entertainment. Some are relatively easy so new users can get up to speed quickly. Just look at the terrain and difficulty ratings and start off with some easy 1/1 rated caches before you head off on a 5/5 or you may be disappointed. A 5/5 rated cache is 'supposed' to be difficult, you may decide to never even visit a 5/5 cache the choice is yours another great aspect of the sport. Read the descriptions well and decide if this cache is for you ... there are many types of caches some require a simple park the car and step out the door to find it, others may require a full days hike in the bush to locate the hidden treasure, others may require a boat or 4WD there are a lot of different types to suit every family/team.
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| Once you
find the cache, there are a couple of simple 'global' rules. 1. Sign the logbook 2. If you do take something from the cache be sure to leave something of similar or higher value. 3. When you get home log onto the internet and log your visit to the cache on the appropriate website you found the cache on, this is important as no one website covers all the caches you can visit.
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GSAK Geocaching Swiss Army Knife
Undoubtedly the best software for all your caching needs. |
| The original idea was created by Dave Ulmer on an internet newsgroup. So on the 03 May 2000 the first geocache was placed. It all started with three simple rules 1. Take something from the cache 2. Leave something in the cache 3. Write about it in the logbook. Then along came the 'self proclaimed' - official site Geocaching.com and Jeremy Irish and turned it into three simple rules with some guidelines, it then progressed to three simple rules with a LOT of inflexible guidelines (umm RULES!), then it started down the slippery slope releasing caching variances that are allowed only in the USA like benchmarking and various US only competitions. Then came the pay for use caching and the site copyrighted and trademarked itself out of the minds of most traditional cachers. Jeremy even 'tried' to claim ownership of all the cache data, caches paid for and listed on geocaching.com by it's users. |
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| Please do read the full history of
Geocaching on GPSgames and its commercialism and hijacking. There are also cache listings for different countries that separated from the unofficial website AUSTRALIA : GERMANY : FRANCE : BELGIUM : NORWAY : RUSSIA : DENMARK |
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Everyone has their own idea about just what is your favorite, some like the views, some the cache experience itself, some like the puzzles, for others it's the history. March 2005 - Cache of the Month - VOTE HERE
February's - Western Australian Cache of the Month 2005 January - Team Beachbums - 'City Stickers' Download Western Australian Cache listings (waypoints) in GPX format. Last updated - Wednesday, 11 January 2006 The file contains all WA based caches both from GC and GCA. The File is zipped, but is still a large file at just over 1 Meg The complete file - WA.zip - (+1 Megabyte) approx 700 waypoints Because of some feedback recieved we also have smaller files available below WA caches before Dec 31 2004 - pre2005.zip (594 kb) 416 waypoints WA caches after January 01 2005 - post2005.zip (356kb) 276 waypoints Geocaching Australia - gawa.zip (34kb) 22 waypoints Latest cache listings for your areaSearch for caches / travel bugs / cachers |
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Congratulations to Team Pathfinder for 'It's All Just Rubbish'
