Wrapping Up Another Great Year of Geocaching in Victoria

As the year draws to a close, it’s a great time to pause, reflect, and celebrate another memorable year for Geocaching Victoria and our community.

It has been a huge social year, marked by the 25th year of geocaching. Across Victoria, there were 625 events, including 65 Community Celebration Events and clost to 9,500 attendances. Cache hiding also surged, with 41% more hides in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Here are just some of the highlights from 2025:

  • January – We unveiled plans for The Tassie Event, the first-ever Mega to be held in Tasmania in 2026. Working alongside an enthusiastic Tasmanian team, this is shaping up to be a truly huge event.
  • March – Our first-ever Block Party in Sunbury saw over 500 teams join in the fun.
  • April – Excitement buzzed at Darebin Parklands as we announced the nominees for the 2024 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards.
  • July – It was plants aplenty, with geocachers volunteering alongside Manningham Council to plant thousands of trees for National Tree Day.
  • August – International Geocaching Day was celebrated across the state, including events such as The Great Victorian Cache Crawl.
  • October – The winners of the 2024 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards were revealed at another gala evening, complete with a special guest appearance by Elvis.
  • November – Lights, camera, action! The GIFF event at the Clayton Theatre rolled out, followed by a celebration marking the 10th anniversary of Victoria’s first Mega at Casey Fields.
  • December – Preparations for The Tassie Event have stepped up a gear, with exciting announcements including the GPS Adventures Maze, event merchandise, and more details about the weekend festivities. We’d love your help as a volunteer – Register now to get involved.

Many of these events wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible efforts of volunteers, reviewers, committee members, event subcommittees and the wider community – thank you all. And of course, this is just part of the story, with geocaching information sessions, community event weekends, CITOs, cache releases, BBQs, and countless other activities happening right across Victoria.

2025 By The Numbers

For those that like stats, here is a snapshot of caching in Victoria this year (prior year in brackets):

  • Total 2025 hides: 2,296 (1,657)
  • Event type caches (incl above): 625 (490)
  • Favourites accumulated on new hides: 3,795 (2,939)
  • Total finds on 2025 caches (non event): 46,915 (24,818)
  • Event attendances: 9,433 (5,575)
  • Average new hide D/T: 2.01 / 1.81 (2.05 / 1.86)
  • Most common/Least common difficulty: 1.5 / 5.0 (1.5 / 5.0)
  • Most common/Least common terrain: 1.5 / 4.5 (1.5 / 4.0)
  • No. of D/T combos with nil placements in 2025: 17 (17)
  • Most common/Least common size: Micro / Large [Small / Large]
  • Most common/Least common type: Traditional / Wherigo (Traditional / Wherigo)
  • LGAs with most new hides: Ballarat, Yarra Ranges & Latrobe (Golden Plains, Glenelg & Indigo)
  • LGAs with no new hides : Gannawarra & Yarriambiack (Ararat, Brimbank, Gannawarra, Greater Dandenong, Horsham, West Wimmera & Yarriambiack)
  • LGAs with most events: Ballarat, Hepburn, Melbourne (Ballarat, Hepburn, Greater Geelong)
  • No. of unique cachers with 12 or more finds (average 1 per month): 2,158 (2,386)
  • No. of unique cachers with 366 or more finds (average 1 per day): 156 (152)
  • No. of unique hiders (inc events): 350 (347)

*Data as at 27 December 2025

You can find more statistics on all active caches in Victoria on our website at https://geocachingvictoria.com.au/victorian-geocache-statistics/ 

Looking Ahead

With a new year just around the corner, there’s plenty to look forward to. More events, more adventures, more creative caches, and more opportunities to connect with fellow geocachers.

Whether your goals for the coming year include hiding your first cache, attending more events, tackling a long-standing D/T challenge, or simply getting outside a bit more, we look forward to playing a part in your journey.

From all of us at Geocaching Victoria, thank you for a fantastic year. We can’t wait to see where geocaching takes us next – happy caching, and we’ll see you in the new year.

Neville’s News – Update 3 – Dec 2025

G’day geocachers,

Neville here — currently looking at the calendar, crossing off days like a kid waiting for Christmas. Yes, I’m fully aware we’re still three months away, but time works differently for geocachers. Three months is barely enough time to find your tent pegs, recharge your GPS, and pretend you’re not going to buy more path tags.

Soon enough, the Spirit of Tasmania will be packed with people nervously checking their phones for reception, and the mainlanders will realise the weather app means nothing in Tasmania. Four seasons, in a day. That’s the local forecast.

The Event Schedule Is Live

Good news for all the planners, list-makers and colour-coded-spreadsheet people out there:
The full Tassie Event schedule is now up here.

There’s trail events, socials, activities, and enough fun to justify telling your boss you “need the experience for professional development.”

Print it. Screenshot it. Stick it to the fridge so every time you reach for snacks, you’re reminded that The Tassie Event is coming.

Saturday Night Event

Let’s talk about the Saturday night gathering — the big social highlight where we eat, chat, swap stories, and find out who discovered geocaching because “someone at work mentioned it once”.
If you would like a meal on the night, these must be booked in advance through the Geocaching Victoria Shop.

The catering team Kiltro Streetfood  is local, legendary, and used to feeding hungry adventurers. The food will be excellent — unless you’re only there for the band.

Speaking of band… we’ve locked in the Tassie Devil’s Own — and they’re not just “some band who plays covers.” They bring a delicious mix of traditional and contemporary Celtic, Australian and American-roots folk music. You will hear some festival favourites, plus some unique Tassie tales.

They feature strong vocal harmonies and enough energy to get even the quietest cacher up on their feet. So come for the dinner — and stay for the music, the stories, and maybe an impromptu jig or two.

We Need Volunteers

We’re gearing up for an amazing event in Tassie, and we’re calling on our incredible community to get involved!

Volunteers are the heart of what we do — whether it’s helping with setup, helping with gadgets, registration or new members, your support makes all the difference.

If you’re willing to give a little time, we’d love to have you on board.

👉 Sign up here:https://forms.gle/9p4jEBNtiV1FfPwg6

Thank you in advance for stepping up and helping us create something unforgettable!

Merch Pick-up and Shipping

Important merch announcement, so focus: Pick-up is at the event.

If you pick shipping instead — it will not be sent until after the event. That’s just logistics.
The system might default to shipping – don’t panic. You will have the option to choose free pick up at checkout before payment. The system is a bit quirky. Like most of us.

Get excited

That’s the latest update!

Three months will fly by faster than a cacher spotting a trail of fresh footprints leading toward an unfound container.

We’ve got:

🎯 a full schedule

🍽️ a big Saturday dinner

🎸 live music

🛍️ shiny merch

🌄 and the best caching landscape in the country

Whether you’re coming across the Strait, road-tripping from Devonport, or just popping in from down the road, I can’t wait to see everyone in Tassie. Bring your friends, bring your GPS, and bring your sense of adventure.

And seriously — book that Saturday dinner meal. Future-You will thank you.

Enjoy the end of year celebrations and see you next year.

–– Neville the Devil

tasmaniamega@geocachingvictoria.com.au

Neville’s News – Update 2 – Nov 2025

Hey team, Neville here – and do I have some big news for you!

The wait is over…it’s official… Tassie Event merch is live on the Geocaching Victoria shop! That’s right – you can finally get your hands on some stylish, cozy, and collectible gear.

Here’s what’s waiting for you:
🧢 Beanie – perfect for those cool Tassie mornings.
🧥 Hoodie – comfy, warm, and looks great on any cacher.
👕 T-shirt & Polo – ideal for events, adventures, or everyday caching wear.
🪙 Three Limited Edition Coins + The Official Event Coin – must-haves for your collection!
🔹 Pathtags & Car Flag – add a little Tassie spirit to your travels.

Stocks are limited (especially those coins 👀), so don’t wait around! We have a special deal for those that get in early – the first 50 people who order a hoodie, polo or t-shirt with customised text will get a FREE TRACKABLE CODE embroidered.

👉 So head on over and grab your merch now at Geocaching Victoria Shop


🗓️  But wait….. There’s more!

We’ve also got some exciting news for all our eager planners — the official schedule for The Tassie Event 2026 is here! There’s a full week of caching, community, and connection waiting for you, starting with the trail events and leading into a jam-packed weekend.

The schedule includes some trail event catch-ups, which are a chance to welcome our interstate visitors and explore Tasmania before the big weekend!

Monday 2 March 2026 – 10.00am
Geocachers Catch Up – Mersey Bluff

Wednesday 4 March 2026 – 1.00pm
Geocachers Catch Up – Longford

Thursday 5 March 2026 – 11.00am
Geocachers Catch Up – Ross

For the full listings head here Main Event Schedule.


It’s shaping up to be a massive weekend of caching, community, and Tassie fun — so now’s the time to start planning your trip, locking in your accommodation, and securing your merch!

🎙️ If you’re keen to hear more about what’s in store, don’t miss our Tassie Event committee members on the Geocaching Downunder Podcast this November x!

They’ll be chatting all things Tassie – from event highlights and planning tips to a few behind-the-scenes stories.

Make sure you tune in, bring your questions, and get ready for a sneak peek of what’s to come!

I can’t wait to see you all in Sorell, rocking your Tassie Event gear and sharing a few laughs, stories and finds.

See you soon,
Neville

Celebrating Victoria’s Best: 2024 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards

On Saturday night, the geocaching community came together at the Hampton RSL to celebrate the Victorian Cache of the Year Awards for 2024. It was standing room only as a packed house gathered to recognise the incredible caches and dedicated cache owners who make geocaching in Victoria so special.

Between dinner and a lively round of trivia, the winners of this year’s awards were revealed. Each category celebrated the creativity, effort and passion that goes into hiding and maintaining some of the best caches across the state. From epic constructions, to stunning locations and challenging adventures, the 2024 nominees showcased the diversity and imagination that makes our community shine.

2024 Victorian Cache of the Year Award Winners

CategoryGC CodeWinner
Best Traditional CacheGCAV9WBGame On: Strong Man by BossConner
Best Multi CacheGCATPKATDOC24 – The Christmas Links by Sol de lune
Best Mystery CacheGCANE5HHistoric Pubs of South Melbourne A/L Bonus by LetThemEatCache
Best Other CacheGCARD2XTDOC24: LITTLE Drummer Boy by surefoot24
Best First HideGCAXMDKYarraville-Footscray Bowls Club by Nel&Andy
Best Cache SeriesGame OnGame On by BossConner
Best Cache Location
(joint winners)
GCAKYAR


GCAJFKP
Discover The Dome by Donutholes

Vaughan Springs Reserve – Virtual Reward 4.0 by micaparamedic
Best Regional CacheGCAKYARDiscover The Dome by Donutholes
Best Adventure LabHistoric Pubs of South MelbourneHistoric Pubs of South Melbourne by LetThemEatCache
Best Cache LogGL1DBH619horror.fan.jm on Twinkle, Twinkle (Night Cache)
Best Overall CacheGCAY06BLost in Space Again by Captain Mister Doctor

Congratulations to all of this years winners and to everyone who was nominated by their peers. A special thanks to Elvis (JonnyGoldCoast) our trivia host and to team Worst Cache Scenario who won tonights Trivia!

Sponsors

We’d like to acknowledge the amazing sponsors of this year’s awards – several of whom have supported the awards for multiple years. Their generosity helps make this celebration possible and keeps the awards thriving.

  • BernieH
  • Bunnings
  • OzHockeyChick
  • posums
  • Super Kind Cacher (Anonymous)
  • Generous Cacher (Anonymous)

Profile Badge and Cache Page Banner

If you were a nominee or winner in the 2024 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards, you can proudly share your acheivement with the community!

  • Add a badge to your personal profile to showcase your nomination or win.
  • Add a banner to your cache page so finders know your cache was part of the 2024 awards.

Visit this link to download the badge and banner resources.

10th Anniversary Unobtainium Geocoin

We also drew the winner of the 10th Anniversary Unobtanium Geocoin, awarded to one lucky winner who had found 10 or more of this year’s nominated caches.

Congratulations to Omegaman1971 – Well done!

Only 2 10th Anniverary Unobtanium Geocoins remain:

  • One will go to the lucky attendee of a 2025 Victorian CCE (random), and
  • The final one will be awarded to a cache owner who has published a particularly rare hide.

Stay tuned to find out who the final two recipients will be!

The Top 10 finders of the 2024 nominated caches (by points) were as follows:

CacherPoints
RoamingHowie60
Kristysadventures56
OzHockeyChick47
Rebel Acts45
spiffy-45
SteMicMitSar45
n0w0rries43
Snips and Co41
Omegaman197140
Riddell40

Looking ahead to the 2025 awards

That’s a wrap on the 2024 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards! A huge thank you to everyone who nominated, found, voted and celebrated the incredible talent within our community. Thanks goes to our dedicated committee including the lead for this event LetThemEatCache for hosting this fantastic event.

Now it’s time to turn our attention to 2025 – continue exploring and start identifying the next round of standout hides that could be among next years’s nominees!

You can keep track of the new caches published in 2025 through the following lists on our webstie:

We can’t wait to see what the community comes up with next.

See you next year when we share the next batch of nominees!

Neville’s News – Update 1 – Sep 2025

G’day everyone – Neville the Devil here, your mischievous mascot with the inside scoop on the Tassie Event!

The event subcommittee has been busy at planning meetings and things are shaping up to be one ripper of a weekend. The team has been meeting every couple of weeks, ticking off activities, polishing up logistics, and making sure everything runs smoother than a devil on the prowl.

We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a grant to help bring our exciting adventure to life in beautiful Tasmania! Geocaching Victoria – the Tassie Event is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania, and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment to regional events that foster tourism and connection. With this backing, we’re set to deliver an event that not only celebrates the joy of geocaching but also contributes to the local economy and promotes Tassie’s incredible natural treasures.

Tasmanian Government Logo

We’ve already locked in some brilliant Sponsors and Supporters. One of our major sponsors is Budget Car and Truck Rental with a special discount offer for car rental. For details, terms and conditions see our website. Keep your eyes on the website, because I’ll be spilling the beans on more as soon as I can!

We’re also reaching out to connect with the local community around Sorell, and we’d love your support. If you’re a local business or keen community member, or if you know someone who wants to join the fun, now’s the time to get in touch. Partnerships, resources, knowledge – it all helps me and my human friends pull this off.

Planning is well underway for placing new caches across the state to support this event and our wonderful state. There are puzzles, earthcaches, geoart and more planned, with a theme of Tasmanian Flora and Fauna. The more people hiding caches the better, so reach out if you would like to be involved, get in touch.

Oh – and in case you missed it… I’ve already been out and about as the official Tassie Event mascot. Keep your eyes peeled – you never know where I might pop up next!

Thanks for being part of the journey. We can’t wait to bring you more updates in the future. Watch this space – or come stir up the conversation with me on Facebook.

–– Neville the Devil

tasmaniamega@geocachingvictoria.com.au