Geo Treasure Hunt

A geo treasure hunt is an outdoor race where teams use a handheld GPS and a list of coordinates to track down hidden boxes and clues. It's built on geocaching, the global real-world treasure-hunting game, with map reading, riddles and code-breaking thrown in. Think escape room meets orienteering, only muddier and with more trees.

Geocaching is a hobby where people hide small containers, called caches, and post their location as GPS coordinates for others to find. A classic cache has a logbook inside to sign as proof you found it.

Caches come in a few flavours. A traditional cache sits right at the coordinates. A multi-cache has several stages, each one pointing you to the next. A puzzle cache, or mystery cache, makes you solve something clever before you even know where to look. Smugness is compulsory when you crack one.

A GPS receiver works out where you are using signals from satellites. Coordinates are two numbers, latitude and longitude, that pinpoint any spot on the planet. Enter a waypoint and the GPS gives you a direction and a distance to it.

The catch? A GPS gets you close, not always to the exact spot. The last few metres are pure detective work: under logs, behind roots and anywhere that looks suspiciously tidy.

Your Activity Leader gives you a quick GPS briefing and your coordinates, then the teams head off on different routes. Along the way you'll hunt for hidden boxes, collect stamps at checkpoints and work through cryptic clues and riddles, with a map for the trickier bits. Some answers unlock the next set of coordinates. First team over the line with everything solved takes the glory.

No problem. The basics take minutes to pick up, and the rest is teamwork. Every team needs a navigator, a map reader, a riddle cracker and someone with eagle eyes, so there's a role for everyone. Competitive streaks are welcome. Sore losers, slightly less so. You'll also pick up a genuinely handy skill for your next hike. Wear sturdy shoes, as the best hiding spots are rarely right on the path.

You might also like Orienteering, Escape & Evade and Scavenger Hunt.

See all Camp Wildfire activities