G’day mates! Neville here 🐾 – your favorite Tasmanian Devil, and this is my final blog before the mega event kicks off. The countdown is almost over, so listen up – I’m giving you all the tips to survive, thrive, and have a devilishly good time!

 Two Weeks to Go – Get Your Tail in Gear!

• 🗺️ Plan your route & strategy – don’t get lost in the maze!
• 🧩 Solve puzzles – keep your devilish brain sharp
• 🎒 Check your gear – comfy shoes, raincoat, water, and powerbank
• 🏷️ Prep TBs & Pathtags – trading is serious business
• ✍️ Log “Will Attend” – let everyone know you’re coming

✨ Tassie tip: explore local trails, grab treats, and support local businesses!

🎶 Saturday Night Dinner Event!

Just a reminder — you do not need to purchase a meal to attend this event. The evening is open to everyone, so come along and enjoy the great company, the band Tasmania’s Devil’s Own , and the atmosphere.

If you’d like to have the paella dinner (vegan option available) by Kiltro Streetfood , you’ll need to pre-purchase your meal ticket.

Meal pre-orders close midnight Tuesday 24th so catering numbers can be confirmed.

For full event details and to log your “Will Attend,” please visit  GCAZTAM

🐜🐍 Geocaching in Tassie – Stay Alert!

• ⚠️ Jack Jumpers – Native ants can deliver painful stings and may trigger severe allergic reactions. Watch your step and avoid disturbing nests.
• 🐍 Snakes – All Tasmanian snakes are venomous, including species like the Tiger snake and Lowland copperhead. Wear boots, stick to paths where possible, and give snakes plenty of space.
• 🌿 Bush Safety – Let someone know your plans, carry water and a first aid kit, and check conditions before heading out.

Tread carefully, stay safe, and enjoy the adventure! 🧭

🚗 Driving in Tassie – Slow Down, Mate!

Tasmania is breathtaking — but our roads can be very different from what you’re used to on the mainland.

⚠️ Increased risk of wildlife

Tasmania has the highest rate of roadkill in Australia. Animals like wallabies, wombats and possums are most active at dawn and dusk, but can appear at any time — especially on rural and forested roads. Slow down, stay alert, and avoid driving at night where possible.

🛣 Appreciate Tassie Roads are different

Not all roads are equal here:

• A Roads – Main highways between major towns. Generally sealed and in good condition, but can still be winding and narrow.
• B Roads – Secondary roads. Often narrower, hillier, and more winding.
• C Roads – Local or rural roads. These can be quite narrow, steep, and sometimes unsealed.

Even short distances on the map can take much longer than expected! Especially when towing!

⏳ Allow Extra Travel Time

Tasmania’s roads are scenic — and slow. Twists, hills, single-lane bridges, and changing weather conditions all add to travel time. If you’re towing a caravan or driving a campervan, allow significantly more time between destinations and use designated pull-over bays to let local traffic pass safely.

🔥 Fire Season Awareness

During bushfire season, conditions can change quickly. Check alerts before you travel and stay informed by downloading the TasALERT app for up-to-date fire warnings and road closures.

Neville’s Essentials

Have a look at this checklist below to make sure you don’t miss anything at this mega event.

Got Questions?

If something’s unclear, confusing, or keeping you awake at night—send your questions through. Better to ask now than panic later.

💚 Tip from Neville: This is it – your last guide before the mega event! Tasmania isn’t a place to rush. Take it slow, enjoy the scenery, and go wild… in a safe, devilish way. 🐾

Check the full schedule here so you don’t miss out:
👉 https://geocachingvictoria.com.au/tassie-event-schedule/

See the geocaching bookmark list of all events here
👉 https://www.geocaching.com/plan/lists/BMF8C23

Thats all from me now, mates! Time to get packing, get moving and get ready to go wild at the mega event. Be safe, stay sneaky and may your caches be plentiful.

–– Neville the Devil

tasmaniamega@geocachingvictoria.com.au

Alright folks, listen up. We’re officially five weeks out, and things are heating up nicely for the Tassie event. Neville’s been busy preparing checklists, so here’s your latest update.

Merch Alert 🚨 – Orders Close TONIGHT

Important one, so pay attention 👀

🧢 Clothing merchandise orders CLOSE TONIGHT.
If you were thinking “I’ll do it later”… this is later.

AND—because Neville enjoys a good incentive…

We are excited to announce that all Tassie Event merch orders placed by Jan 31 will go into a RANDOM PRIZE DRAW to win an incredible $360 Gift Voucher thanks to our wonderful sponsor Pennicott Wilderness Journeys

Prize: Voucher for two adults on their wilderness cruises valued at $360

Important info:

– One entry per order, and

– Only one entry per person.

– For any Tassie Event merchandise, not just clothing, including prior orders

– Entries close Jan 31, 2026

Grab your merch, support the event, and you could find yourself cruising Tasmania’s stunning waters. And remember if you choose shipping – it doesn’t happen until after the event.

Which leads us onto our Sponsors.….

The updated list of sponsors aka the Legends Who Make This Happen has been updated.

The website includes details on our latest offer from Pennicott Wilderness Journeys for 15% discount on their tours. Head over to the website for more details. 

👉 https://geocachingvictoria.com.au/tassiesponsors/

Volunteers: Neville needs you

Volunteer shifts have now been sent out to everyone who registered.

• Please reply and confirm your attendance (Neville likes certainty)
• If life throws you a curveball, let us know as soon as possible
• We still need a few extra hands, especially on Sunday

Even a short shift helps keep the chaos… organised.

Pets

A friendly reminder since all our main events are indoors, Pets are unfortunately not permitted inside. Trained Assistance dogs are of course welcome.

Geocaching Victoria’s policy on dogs is available on their website in case you are planning to bring your pet to Tassie.

https://geocachingvictoria.com.au/home/tips/new-to-geocaching/caching-with-our-geo-dogs

Got Questions?

If something’s unclear, confusing, or keeping you awake at night—send your questions through. Better to ask now than panic later.

That’s it for now. Five weeks. The countdown is on.
Neville’s ready… are you?

–– Neville the Devil

tasmaniamega@geocachingvictoria.com.au

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