Welcome to September!

The CacheQLD Toowoomba event was up for the briefest of moments, however COVID decide to come out and play in our environment and restrictions were handed down by the government and swiftly reinforced by our Reviewers to keep us safe. Hopefully soon the restrictions will be lifted, and we can get back out there and do a follow up event. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this selection of what the Toowoomba Region has to offer.

Geo-Art

The main reason we wanted to talk about Toowoomba in September is because on the 8th it is Star Trek day! We are just a little bit fond of Geo-Art here at Cache QLD, so it’s no surprise that the top of our Toowoomba list is Brother Colin’s offering of the Starship Enterprise (SSE).

The Starship Enterprise geoart is an eclectic mix of 104 space-themed puzzles. Once solved they take you on journey around the picturesque rural outskirts of Toowoomba.

Brother Colin credits this uniquely varied series to the help of many different puzzle makers. The variety keeps solving interesting, and means you’re bound to learn a trick or two that you can add to your puzzle solving toolbox.

While collecting these caches expect to see a mix of Aussie native plants and animals, and wandering local livestock. This well maintained series, with good coords is a must-do whether you are caching alone or enjoying the day with friends or family. Close proximity to town means you have the option to duck into town for breaks, or pack a lunch and enjoy the views. Check out this bookmark list.

Happy solving, or should we say. Cache Long and Prosper

“When this series was just a twinkle in the CO’s eyes, I was lucky enough to be asked to help create a few of the puzzles that would be part of something big.  Unfortunately, I was very busy with work at the time, and was only able to help out with a few.  Since publication, I have enjoyed some of the distress felt by those trying to solve them! Eventually it was my turn to feel that pain, as I worked through puzzles ranging from mostly easy to ridiculously impossible.  To all the CO’s I take my hat to you as makers of something very special!”
Swellerfungus

Challenge Caches

Another wealth of awesome things Toowoomba is it mix of Challenge Caches. There are challenges for getting a number of types (8 & 11), collecting souvenirs (25 & 50), collecting different size caches (micro, small, regular, large & virtual), completing scavenger hunts for Bronze, Silver & Gold levels and a tough little Nickel challenge. Have you got an Australian only JASMER? If you do, there’s a challenge for that! Toowoomba offers another for completing your 365 day calendar of finds, and your DT grid! All these are topped off with something to reward you for being a ‘well-travelled cacher’.

Adventure Labs

Toowoomba is home to Queensland’s very first Adventure Lab ‘Laurel Bank Park’. The 5-point Adventure will take you on a stroll around the Laurel Bank Park which is one of the premier parks featuring manicured gardens, mature trees, children’s play equipment, barbecue and picnic areas, and two croquet lawns! It is a must-see destination during the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. The most recent Adventure Lab offering is a Walking Tour of Picnic Point which is one the premier tourist destinations in Toowoomba because of its stunning views over the Lockyer Valley.

Top Favourited

Undertaking a quick search of the top favourited caches in the region it is a very interesting results with two letter boxes taking out the top two spots No Junk Mail (73) and Hampton Information (61) to round out the top three we have the Alphabetic Animal Challenge Cache (51) which requires you to find an animal for every letter of the alphabet.

Tabletop Mountain

What would a discussion be about Toowoomba without mentioning Tabletop.  This is a real bucket list climb and something quite unique to experience from the unusual rocks to climb up, the scree, the gap of doom (or is that just me) and then finally making it to the very flat top, some might say it’s quite ‘table’ like!

This is a very popular climb for locals and visitors, so chances are you won’t be alone and if you need a break you will have plenty of chances to be polite and let other pass through – perhaps even a man and his cat.

With five caches waiting for your visit include one of Queensland 100 oldest caches “Nutters Knoll” and the previously mentioned highly favourited animal challenge cache it certainly is worth the trek and should only take a few hours depending on your fitness level.

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

It’s time to spring into Spring! Picture-perfect flora, plenty of family-friendly fun and local foodie adventures are all on offer over the course of the entertainment-filled festival from September 18–27. Okay, you have us, so this technically isn’t caching related, but it is a very good reason to visit Toowoomba.  This year’s Carnival of Flowers offers over 170,000 blooms that have been planted across the city’s major parks and public spaces to create a spectacular canvas of colour for much needed celebrations in September.  All events, experiences and areas will be managed with COVID-19 safe plans in place.

“Toowoomba is primed and ready to showcase it’s natural beauty. Nothing can stop the power of the flower and we are inviting people from all over to come and play in the petals this Spring,” Mayor Antonio said.

For the latest information please visit: https://www.tcof.com.au/all-events/

What’s next

It’s Event Newsletter time, and then we turn our focus towards the Sunshine Coast in October’s Highlight!