Cook's Rock Kurnell, New South Wales, Australia
By The Hancock Clan on 17-Jan-10. Waypoint GA1771

Cache Details

Difficulty:
Terrain:
Type: Virtual
Container: Other
Coordinates: S34° 0.276' E151° 13.014' (WGS 84)
  56H 335333E 6235900N (UTM)
Elevation: 0 m
Local Government Area: Sutherland

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Description

Another one of our GCA virtual caches within the National Parks.

Due to physical geocaches sadly being disallowed within NSW National Parks we have decided to start placing virtual GCA geocaches at interesting locations within these parks. It gives us an excuse to get out and see some of these wonderful places within the national parks! And of course to share them with you. Hopefully at some point an agreement will be made and GCA caches in fantastic areas such as this could be listed on geocaching.com.

Anyway, about this cache...

The coordinates will take you to the very rock where it is believed the first Englishman set foot on Australian soil. On 29th April 1770, Captain Cook and several of his crew from their ship the Endeavour set off in the ship's boat and landed here on the foreshores of the southern headland in what is now known as Botany Bay. As they arrived, Cook called out to Midshipman Isaac Smith (also his cousin) and said "you go first", thus a humble Midshipman, was in fact, the first Englishman to set foot upon the this new continent in the southern hemisphere.

Cook's Landing at Botany Bay

In order to log this cache, please upload a photo of you and your GPS at the plaque at the coordinates. During high tide you will get wet, which is why we've listed the cache as being 3* terrain, however at low tide it's an easy short walk to it.

Logs

07-Jan-23
Busy day at the point, and my son obscuring the monument. :-/ It was very hard to read, but the kids were very excited to visit this historical site!
 
03-Jul-19
MrT and I decided on a day trip to check out the whale migration. For us a trip from the lower Blue Mountains was a full day out that consisted of 2 train trips and a bus from Cronulla Station to Kurnell. Then we walked to Cape Solander to look for whales, and were lucky enough to see a dozen of the magnificent creatures while we were there! Then walked back along the road to the Visitors Centre. With plenty of time till the next bus, we headed to have a look at this Virtual. By then my knees were sore, so with the tide cooperating, MrT headed to the Rock and took the required photo with my Blue Mountains cap as we didnt have a GPS with us today. Sadly a bird had pooped on it so not the best photo. We havent been in this area since the early 80s when MrT used to go snorkelling nearby. Thanks for bringing us here to renew our history memories. TFTV
 
05-Jul-18
It was an opportunity to take My dons to see this special place. I did not know it was also a GCA cache until now
 
19-Jan-18
What a surprise that the tide was right today. Visited the site. Thanks to Team Hancock Clan.
 
19-Jan-18
having this location as the start of a GC Multi, I knew better than to come out here when the tide was greater than 0.84M.
thanks for returning me here to get points for the NSW TEAM.
 
04-Sep-16
Find #42 - 2 for today. Found on 04/09/2016 11:00am
Came here years ago, 01/04/2012 and did a selfie but never logged it. Found the photo and now uploaded.
 
31-Jul-16
Today we walked to the lighthouse near Kurnell and on the way back we had some fish and chips on the beach. The kids saw how many Pokéstops there were on the walking track and off we went. I noticed near the plaque that it was very low tide and made it there without even trying to not get wet. Excellent virtual, A+++ would jump over that canyon again.
 
08-May-16
Dropped in to have a go at the nearby GC multi and collected a GCA selfie too. This virtual proved more successful than solving the multi.
 
27-Jun-15
#GA559 - 12:55; I was back in Sydney with the geohoney for an event and as we were early, too early to check in to the hotel as well, we decided to go for a drive around to Kurnell and perhaps grab a cache or two while we were at it. I had just logged the trig at the end of the point and a couple of GC trads, when this one popped up unexpectedly. Decided it was too good to pass by seeing I was in the area. Made my way towards GZ, where fortunately the tide was almost out, so only had to slip off socks and shoes to paddle over. One of the great things about caching is the interesting and often historic places it can take you. This is one of them! I am astounded though that this cache has gone unlogged for nearly 3 and a half years, given its historical significance. TFTC The Hancock Clan ClappingClan Cerberus
 
05-Feb-12
Found with blossom* on a great day out at Kurnell. I hope Cook had decent footwear when he landed, there's a lot of very sharp oyster shells here!!
 
05-Feb-12
On the most perfect summer's day, we came to Kurnell for a good look around. What a great area to walk along the coast. We had to check out this rock as it was the place where it all started and luckily it was low tide. But still a bit of a jump across for my little legs
 
11-Dec-11
Worth a look on a sunny weekend - coffee shop on the corner serves great coffee
 
12-Nov-11
We started our hike to Cronulla from here, but as it was high tide I decided not to get wet at the start of a 15km walk. Of course by the time I was dropped back to collect the car, it was low tide so I was able to walk out and grab the required pic(s)
 
26-Sep-11
Today we stopped at the spot the first englishman stepped foot on Australia.

We did this on the day my eldest becomes the first of my family to step foot on England!

TFTC.
 
19-Jan-11
What a great spot. I've been to this NP dozens of times but never waded out to the actual rocks that Cook first set foot on
Aussie soil. Yep had to wade. Knee deep but I came prepared with my Keens. No problem just walked right in.
 
16-Jan-11
Dropped off younger daughter to a birthday party at Taren Point so a couple of hours to look around. Ended up out at Kurnell for a look. Luckily it was low tide today so very easy to get to the plaque. A great park, always fairly quiet.
thanks for the cache Hancock clan!
best wishes,
Wal
 
01-Nov-10
Operation: Zalgar's Geostreak Day 161

Cache Hunter: Zalgariath of Sydney
ICD^ Location Number: 011110#3/6
Mission Status: SUCCESS GCA#183
Hunt Time: Approach 5mins – GZ 1mins
Muggle Factor: 1 (Very Low)
GAFF^^: 1 (Unassisted)

Report: One of the best ideas for a virtual Ive seen. I was rather shocked to learn one of the first things they did was to shoot an Aboriginal man in the leg! Peaceful colonisation my ... Evil or Very Mad Still, you cant deny the power of visiting the birthplace of our Nation as we know it. I can see this being a great multi cache once NSWP&W re-allow caching with physical containers Very Happy As it stands I was lucky enough to get there at low tide and while the plaque on the actual rock is fading with age the surrounding area is fantastic. The rock itself is very intersting from a geological point of view. Very strange erosion patterns Think

“ZAL” Medals Awarded to The Hancock Clan: “”
GZ – (!)x5 (Sensational)
Sneakiness – ($)x1
High History – (H)
GCA Recommended – (R)
Virtuous Virtual - (V)
Overall – (*)x5 (Outstanding)

^Improvised Caching Device, ^^Geocaching Assistance Find Factor
 
11-Sep-10
As my daughter is in 3th class and doing a project on the first fleet I had to take her down here and the other end of Botany Bay as well.
It was her who took the picture with my GPS.
 
19-Mar-10
Headed down show the geokiddie this place as she had been learning about it at school. So we took a few photos.
A great cache.
Thanks Hancock Clan
 
29-Jan-10
Arrggh Mr Pesky...good point! Indeed very debatable. Yes, the dutch and spanish (and possibly Portugese) were certainly the first to sight and chart Australia but did Jansz actually get off his boat to stretch his legs at the Pennefather River? Maybe, maybe not? Anyway, you're right. It's debatable and so we've changed the description to fit.
 
28-Jan-10
First white man? hmmm
I'll not start the debate!
What colour are the dutch,and spanish?
 
17-Jan-10