Geocaching

Geocaching is like playing modern hide-and-seek with global positioning devices.

What is Geocaching? (Pronounced geo-cashing)

Simply put, geocaching is the ultimate treasure hunt – download the coordinates into your GPS, and head off into the countryside to find the baffling and bizarre treasures that hide right under the walker’s nose.

How does it work? 

Participants use a GPS device (Global Positioning System) to locate containers (called geocaches or caches) hidden by other geocachers outdoors anywhere in the world. A GPs looks like a mobile phone but it’s actually a complex piece of new technology into which you can enter map co-ordinates. Using its tracking system, geocachers can track down any given location, guided by satellites out in space. A typical cache is a small waterproof container holding a ‘treasure’. Typical cache treasures are of little monetary value, but may hold personal value to the casher. Common cache contents are unusual coins or currency, small toys, ornamental buttons, CDs, books or online trackable items, such as Travel Bugs, Geocoins or Promotionals. In addition to the goodies, caches nearly always contain a log book of some sort so that you can write a note for future cache visitors. If one of the items in the cache strikes your fancy, you can take it – provided you leave another item of equal or higher value in its place. Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries and on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Currently there are over 830,000 active geocaches in the world.

Who does it? 

Geocaching is a great activity for all ages and it’s suitable for anyone who enjoys nature, the countryside and travelling.

What do I need to take part?

A sense of adventure and fun, a GPS receiver, some mode of transport and Internet access.

Where can I get more information? 

There are a number of websites that support geocaching, but by far the most popular is www.geocaching.com. There you can get cache locations, record your success or failure in finding them and share your geocaching stories and photos online.