As the 7,000 seedlings planted in Mullum Mullum Reserve form new roots after a huge planting day, we look ahead to a number of exciting events coming up on the geocaching calendar and more. Keep ahead of the news in our latest blog.
National Tree Day – 27 July 2025
This year, Geocaching Victoria partnered with Manningham Council to celebrate National Tree Day at Mullum Mullum Reserve. A wonderful group of geocachers and local community members came together to plant 7,000 indigenous plants across the reserve. The event was exceptionally well organized by Manningham Council, and we were proud to collaborate with them alongside the many volunteers who lent a helping hand. Special thanks go to Leah (Crack’n’LeeLee) for her efforts in coordinating this meaningful event.
Mark your calendars!
Spring is upon us, and the geocaching calendar is jam packed! We have three major Community Celebration Events coming up on the calendar filled with celebration, fun, and recognition: Be sure to log your will attends!
Victorian Cache of the Year Awards 2024 (GCB0YDT): Come and celebrate from 5:30pm on October 25, as we congratulate all of the nominees and announce the winners of the 2024 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards. Voting will open on 15 September, allowing you your chance to pick your favourite nominated caches, Adventure Labs, and logs.
GIFF – Thanks For The Community (GCATN5R): Mark your calendar for 11am on November 16, 2025. Enjoy geocaching short films from around the globe and other activities in comfortable theatre seating while connecting with fellow caching enthusiasts.
10th Anniversary of The Melbourne Event (GCATKT5): It’s time for a milestone! Join us for a Free BBQ dinner at Casey Fields from 5pm on November 16, 2025. It’s a chance to celebrate 10 years since the first ever Mega event in Victoria, and the many more that have followed in its footsteps.
Don’t forget you can view a list of every geocaching event being hosted in Victoria on our website by visiting our Upcoming Events page.
Don’t Miss Out: Jackets and Zip Hoodies—Limited Release
After all the love for our new jackets and zip hoodies at recent events, we’re doing a LIMITED 2ND RUN. The gear is back online and ready to order… but only until 7 September. Don’t miss your chance to level up your geocaching gear and add these pieces to your collection.
Geocaching Victoria is a volunteer-driven community and welcomes new committee members! Are you keen to help organize events, manage communications, work with the community or share some fresh ideas? Now is the perfect time to get involved. Bring your passion and help shape the future of Victoria’s caching adventures.
If you are interested in joining the team, send an email to president@geocachingvictoria.com.au with your name (real and geocaching!) and a short spiel about why you’d like to join the committee, and what skills you think you can bring.
The Sunbury Block Party is just two months away, and excitement is building! Recently, BFMC and leelee (crack’n’leelee) joined PCE on the Geocaching Downunder Podcast to share the latest updates. You can watch the podcast episode below.
Here’s a rundown of the exciting new details:
Event Schedule
Get ready to plan your ultimate Block Party adventure! The newly released schedule is packed with activities, allowing ample time to reconnect with friends and explore the area’s caches and attractions.
Nature at Night (Friday Night Following The Casual Catchup Event)
Thanks to our major sponsor, Hume City Council, and the Entomological Society of Victoria, we’re thrilled to offer a unique nocturnal experience on Friday, March 21st. Learn about moths and other fascinating insects that call Sunbury home while spotting other nocturnal animals and learning about the local biodiversity.
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm (following the Friday night event)
Location: Emu Bottom Wetlands Reserve, Sunbury
Cost: Free! (Registration required via Eventbrite – TBA)
Activities: Moth identification, nocturnal animal spotting, expert talks on local biodiversity, and a fun Biodiversity Bingo challenge
Transport: Limited on-site parking; free shuttle buses running between the Sunbury Global Learning Centre and Emu Bottom Wetlands Reserve (departing every 20 mins between 7:00pm and 9:30pm)
What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, flashlight/headlamp, and a smartphone/tablet with the iNaturalist app
Trivia: Did you know that Gil Grissom from CSI is an entomologist, just like our expert guides.
Unobtanium Geocoin
Congratulations to AnyMules for snagging the first rare Sunbury Event Unobtanium geocoin.
Would you like to win the next unobtanium? Anyone who pre-orders Block Party and Maze merchandise will go into the draw to win an unobtanium. Get a bonus entry if you have cumulatively spent $100 or more on eligible merchandise (before discounts). Entries close Sunday 16 March and the winner will be drawn at the closing event.
More opportunities to win these coveted coins will be available at The Sunbury Event.
New Caches
We’re working hard to ensure there are a number of new geocaches in the area. This is a combined effort between the committee and the community. Puzzle caches are our current focus so there is plenty of time to solve, with multiple small batches being published soon. We will announce once all of the planned puzzles have been published. Keep an eye out for more exciting cache types to come, including the new Virtual published on Tuesday night.
Lead Up Events
Our final Victorian lead up event is scheduled on 9 February at Fitzroy Gardens (GCB1TAG). We’d love to connect with you and answer all of your questions to help you plan your weekend adventure.
A big thanks to DavidWazza for spreading the word at the recent event in Brisbane. There are two more interstate opportunities to get more information:
GCB1FKQ – Saturday 18 January (Alberton, SA) – Thanks Locus Cache!
GCB215F – Saturday 1 February (Howrah, TAS) – Thanks stainless-steel-rat!
Accommodation Update
While some options are filling up, there’s still plenty of accommodation available:
Treetops Scout Camp – plenty of unpowered sites available.
Macedon Caravan Park – have multiple spaces available.
For more options, check our Accommodation page – many sites still have availability.
Volunteers
Now is the time to register you interest in helping us deliver The Sunbury Event. Events like these are only possible thanks to the generous team of volunteers who help in the lead up and over the event weekend.
To register your interest and share your volunteering preferences, please complete the Volunteer form HERE.
Don’t miss out on this epic geocaching celebration! Log your “Will Attend” and start planning your Sunbury Block Party adventure today.
It’s been a whirlwind of activity for us over the past couple of months, and the excitement is far from over! Join us as we recap our recent Cachemas in July, National Tree Day, and SideTracked Day – 17th Anniversary celebrations. If that’s not enough – we’ve got even more events on the horizon, including a fundraising BBQ and a special celebration honouring the 2023 Victorian Cache of the Year winners and the 10th anniversary of Geocaching Victoria.
Oh and the best part? We’ve just unveiled a one-of-a-kind, premium 10th anniversary geocoin that you won’t want to miss! Take advantage of our early bird offer and save $5 off the regular price. Don’t let this opportunity slip away – read on to discover how you can secure your piece of geocaching history today!
The Kensington Town Hall was transformed into a Cachemas wonderland as geocachers from near and far gathered for a day of delicious food, exciting games, camaraderie and plenty of Cachemas cheer! It was the perfect way to cap off the 12 Days of Cachemas, which saw the placement of 30 new geocaches across Victoria as part of the celebration.
A huge thank you goes out to all of the TDOC24 COs and community reviewers who made this possible. We’d also like to extend our thanks to everyone who helped put together the Cachemas event and volunteered their time on the day, including our Bingo team Snips and Co and Kristysadventures, and our special guest Santa.
Across the state, geocachers came together to celebrate National Tree Day on 28 July through a series of CITOs hosted in Hume, Knox and Wangaratta LGAs. In anticipation of the upcoming Sunbury Event – Block Party (GCAP417) in 2025, Geocaching Victoria collaborated with the Hume City Council to help plant an impressive 1,800 native grasses in a local conservation reserve, which is home to the black-shouldered kite, Thara.
As the sun broke through the clouds, attendees enjoyed an enlightening talk followed by a fast-paced planting session, all made possible by the enthusiastic support of goecachers, locals and various community groups. The activities concluded with a live animal exhibit that captivated both young and old, along with pizza for lunch. Thank you to everyone who pitched in.
All aboard the excitement train! Geocaching Victoria’s SideTracked Day 2024 celebration was an absolute smash hit, with over 130 enthusiastic geocachers and train enthusiasts gathering to mark the 17th anniversary. With exclusive access to the Diamond Valley Miniature Railway and the sun beaming down, it was the perfect location for this fun filled day and there were smiles for miles!
The festivities included a delicious free BBQ and an array of tasty treats. Attendees were also treated to a Thomas themed geotrail, a colouring competition, a “guess how many lollies in the jar” contest (over 300!) and more. However, the true highlight of the day was the opportunity to catch up with fellow cachers, and enjoy riding the incredible minature railway, all thanks to the brilliant idea proposed by Long John Silver, and the dedicated volunteers of Diamond Valley Railway Inc.
In SideTracked terms, this event was no ordinary celebration – it made history! SideTracked Day in Victoria was the largest attended SideTracked event globally in 2024, and the second largest EVER in the 17-year history of these events worldwide. It was only surpassed by a gathering scheduled at the end of a Mega Event! What an achievement and a testament to the vibrant geocaching community in Victoria!
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped out on the day to make this a resounding success. Your enthusiasm and support are what makes events like this so special.
Upcoming Activities
Fundraising BBQs at Bunnings – 6 October & 1 December (GCAWW4Z)
The first ever Block Party in Victoria is scheduled for 22-23 March next year, don’t forget to mark your calendars! It is set to be a huge event, and to help fund this free weekend we’ll be hosting two Bunnings fundraising BBQ’s later this year. The first one is set to take place on Sunday, 6 October, in the Mernda Bunnings carpark. If you can spare just 2 hours to volunteer on the day, we’d love to have you join the team. Simply reach out to grub62@geocachingvictoria.com.au to sign up.
Even if you can’t volunteer, we encourage you to stop by, show your support, and sign the logbook. And while you’re there, why not treat yourself to a delicious sausage? You can also contribute by purchasing a packet of sausages and a loaf of bread for us to sell on the day via our Geocaching Victoria Shop.
2023 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards & Geocaching Victoria 10 Year Anniversary – 16 November (GCAWDFX)
Join us for a fantastic night as we celebrate all of the nominees and announce the winners of the 2023 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards. Voting will open in early October, so make sure to explore as many of the 2023 nominees as possible before you vote.
This event is also a chance to celebrate a decade of Geocaching Victoria. We’ll take a nostalgic journey through the past ten years, reminiscing and celebrating the adventures and memories we’ve created together.
The celebration will be held at the Yarraville-Footscray Bowling Club, where we’ll kick off with some casual barefoot bowls and drinks. Following that, optional meals will be available, as we toast the winners and celebrate the journey of the past decade.
Don’t forget to log your will attend to reserve your seat at GCAWDFX.
Geocaching Victoria 10th Anniversary Geocoin (Pre-sale)
Don’t miss your chance to own this one-of-a-kind geocoin commemorating a decade of Geocaching Victoria adventures! Whether you’ve been with us since the very first Mega Event in Casey Fields in 2015, attended recent events like our SideTracked Day celebration above, or have been following along online, this special coin lets you be a part of our history.
This premium 10th Anniversary geocoin was meticulously designed by Chris Mackey of AURA Design Group. At 3 inches wide and 4mm thick, it’s a substantial piece of memorabilia that will stand out in your collection. Each coin comes with its own unique tracking code.
You can purchase your coin for pick up at our Celebration event (or delivery afterwards) by visiting the 10th Anniversary Geocoin on our website.
Early Bird Offer – Expires September 22!
As a thank you to our loyal early adopters who dive in headfirst and support us, we’re offering a limited time $5 early bird discount until 22 September. Check out the coin link for more details on how to secure your discount and take home this premium coin.
It’s been a long time since Pat Cash was encouraging us to “cash a can” at your local aluminum recycling centre. Over time, all other mainland states except Victoria progressively moved to a container deposit scheme (10 cents for recycled cans and bottles). That is of course until this week. Introducing CDS VIC, otherwise know as the Container Deposit Scheme Victoria.
Victorians use more than 3 billion drink containers a year and many of these are not currently recycled. The deposit scheme not only provides better recycling outcomes, but it aims to reduce litter by up to half! That means the communities CITO efforts can reach even further than before with less potential rubbish to start with.
Partnering with CDS VIC
Geocaching Victoria is collaborating with CDS VIC as a donation partner. This means you can choose to donate your 10c refunds to Geocaching Victoria when depositing your cans and bottles at drop off centres all over the state. It may not sound like much, but every little bit helps to fund events, activities, and more.
How can I support Geocaching Victoria?
The simplest and easiest way is to scan the barcode below when returning cans and bottles at recycling depots and reverse vending machines. You don’t need to setup an account and any deposit refund will automatically be donated to Geocaching Victoria – with thanks!
Right click on the barcode image below to save it to your phone, add it to your notes, or even as a phone contact for easy access.
Alternatively, if you have set up an account with your local CDS VIC provider, you can choose Geocaching Victoria as your donation payout option in the app. This allows you to scan your own barcode in the app and donations will be paid based on the payout option selected.
The state is divided into three zones, and each has their own app. Use the map above to identify your local operator and click on the relevant link below for more details and to download the app.
Donations are anonymous and can be one off contributions or ongoing. All donations are greatly appreciated.
Recycling at Events and CITOs
We will be collecting cans and bottles for recycling at Geocaching Victoria events going forward – look out for the tub to deposit any empty containers. If you have some cans and bottles floating around at home, feel free to drop them off at our events, we will happily recycle them for you. Please don’t crush cans and bottles as they are not able to be returned.
Hopefully the deposit scheme will reduce the number of containers found when collecting rubbish at CITOs. For those that are still found lying around, one option COs might like to consider is donating the deposits collected to Geocaching Victoria. If this is something you might like to consider, feel free to contact one of our committee members for further help. Where a CITO is partnered with another organisation, they may also have a recycling initiative you may be able to support.
We will add some additional resources to our website soon to assist with donating, or collecting at events and CITOs.
This is a great program for improving our environment with the added benefit of helping many local not for profit organisations to fundraise. And you can still collect the ring pulls without impacting refunds!
NOTE: At the time of publication, there was a delay in the eastern region processing donation partner registrations. As a result Geocaching Victoria might not be available for selection in this zone in the first week of the program.
GCA69WK – Cache of the Year Award Nominations & Volunteer Week BBQ – 1:00 – 2:30
Come and join the activities and log your will attend for either or both events. See below for more details:
Edwardes Lake Park – Lakeside weeding – CITO – GCA69WH – 11:30am
Come and help the Friends of Edwardes Lake at this CITO. Working to preserve, restore and care for the ecosystem of Edwardes Lake and surrounds, we will be joining their team to help weed and maintain an area of the park that is being restored. It is also the first CITO in the Darebin LGA for 5 years. You might even get a chance to say hello to Kevin and Mabel, the resident lake swans.
National Volunteer Week Sausage Sizzle – GCA69WK – 1:00pm
National Volunteer Week is a chance to celebrate and recognise the vital work of volunteers. Geocaching Victoria and all of its events and activities are only possible thanks to the many, many volunteers who donate their time and energy in support of the geocaching community.
Whether it be helping to run a Mega, working on the GPS Adventure Maze, contributing to a GeoTour, selling sausages at a Bunnings BBQ or helping out at many other activities, volunteers are the lifeblood of all that we do.
As part of Volunteer Week we will be hosting a free sausage sizzle and get together. Be sure to log your will attend and include the number of people in your team so that we can be sure to cater for you.
2022 Cache of the Year Award Nomination Announcements – GCA69WK – 1:30pm
There is less than a week left to nominate your favourite Victorian cache in the 2022 awards. We are looking forward to tallying the results and announcing all of the amazing nominees at this event.
If you are still yet to nominate, you can submit your favourite 2022 cache nomination HERE.
Finding some of the nominee caches will also help with the May HQ souvenir challenge!
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday 21 May at the CITO and Volunteer/Nomination events.
