Jetty Mine Clifton, New South Wales, Australia
By The Arkaroo + RockSandra on 25-Apr-11. Waypoint GA3174

Cache Details

Difficulty:
Terrain:
Type: Traditional
Container: Small
Coordinates: S34° 15.358' E150° 58.387' (WGS 84)
  56H 313370E 6207603N (UTM)
Elevation: 19 m
Local Government Area: Wollongong City

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Description

An Adventure Cache at an Old Coal Mine Site

The present cache is of early Australian history and geologic importance. You'll find the remainders of the old Jetty Mine and experience the rare occurrence of a coal lode hitting the Earth surface. Be prepared: it's an adventure cache!

Warning: The path to the cache is exposed and demands an experienced hiker.


Thousands of muggles may come here on a nice weekend day, nearby, 20m above, having a walk on the Sea Cliff Bridge. No worries, at this interesting place off the tourist tracks, you may be watched, but not disturbed.

A good introduction to the geology of the Illawarra Escarpment Sea Cliffs is given by the earthcache GC2K0TJ. Historically, the area of Little Bulli was originally inhabited by the Wadi Wadi Aboriginal group. In 1796 it was first traversed by 3 shipwrecked sailors in an epic journey of survival along hundreds of miles of coastline until rescued at Wattamolla, north of Stanwell Park. Two of their companions were unable to negotiate the Coal Cliffs where the Sea Cliff Bridge is today, and their remains were found by explorer George Bass, who also reported on the rich coal seam apparent in the cliffs. Because of the inaccessibility coal was not mined before 1878. A jetty 150m from the shoreline was constructed to access the mine, becoming known as the Jetty Mine. The last shipment of coal from the jetty was in 1912.

Today, you see the remainders of the wharf to which the jetty was attached. It is a tremendeous spot to sit in the morning sun and watch the seas, the waves breaking or a fisherman in the vicinity. Facing the cliffs, there is the eye-catching black seam of coal, which penetrates to the surface. The two entrances to the mine have been carefully sealed, but you can walk along the coal lode and experience its texture, brittleness and surrounding geology. Most interesting, hoe the coal is embedded in the surrounding rock - almost as if someone has placed a layer of bricks between them. This material, however, is weathered clay stone broken into quaders of brick size. Touch the coal - take a photo or two - and post them in your log!

Access: Best you start at the nearby earthcache GC2K0TJ, from where you take the almost overseen bush path beside the bridge, leading down to the water. Be warned, it is very exposed and may be very slippery and muddy, when the clay is wet. Best you bring some mountaineering experience. This is a warning for the city or bridge cacher - although for the experienced bush or adventure cacher, it's not a problem at all. Last not least, as you see from the track, the path is frequently used by locals and fishermen. Once at the bottom - easy - it's all yours to enjoy!

GPS signal: The satellite signals can be misleading at the cliffs. You city-cachers should know! Settle the signal 20-30m off the cliff and then approach - watch how it jumps. Upon approaching, extrapolate where Ground Zero could be. If necessary, repeat the procedure from 2-3 different directions.

PS: The cache logbook is entitled "Coal Cliffs" and is indeed the log for "Jetty Mine".

Hints

Yrsg fvqr bs gur ragenapr.
ROT 13: ABCDEFGHIJKLM
NOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Decode

Logs

22-May-18
Despite not finding thebcibtainer, the adventure was worth it! Thanks for bringing me here!
 
mmmmmm - nah. went for the walk to said path and decided it probably wasn't best doing alone. was too hungry to bother with the earthcaches today but I'll be passing again tomorrow - maybe my knee will play nice for a walk to them. Smile
 
21-Aug-14
I was caching for the day with Team Canary. While I was focussed on the Earthcache nearby, he was constantly looking out for the possible hiding spot of this cache.
I haven't really looked at finding GCA caches yet, but I had a look around, and found it in a place that Canary Jr overlooked.
This was my first GCA cache I have found so far.
Thanks
 
21-Aug-14
Almost three years unfound!!!

Fourth mine entrance we checked!?!

A treacherous descent! We came up the other side.

But a great adventure all the same!

TFTC.
 
22-Aug-11
I was very surprised to get a FTF here! Probably none of the previous visitors does GCA caches?
Loved the whole experience as also mentioned in the gc.com version.
TFTC Wilbert67
 
26-Apr-11
Two long outstanding tasks, attacked at a cooler autumn day, overcast as today: To do Steeba's new earthcache, the Illawarra Escarpment Sea Cliffs (GC2K0TJ) and to hide a traditional cache here at the Coal Cliffs, where I use to descend and on a cold winter day, may have a bath in the warming morning sun on one of the rocks at the old jetty wharf. The Arkaroo loves in particular the geology of this place: Where else can you see coal lode coming to the surface! Would love to climb the rocks and establish a few multi length routes to the top of the escarpment - they look so wonderful - but they are so brittle and so rubbish - bummer! Maybe, one day, we should try an easier one - there must be a way!


Came out here by Blue Desert Drive with RockSandra's bike on the roof - she loves to ride up and down the bridge as it is pretty much leveled for Little Bulli. Got the best parking spot - right the first one, ans started cooking my coffee on the gas stove, while another desert drive passed buy: Ulf! So we sat down on the road barrier and had a good chat.


Haha, some Indians held us for salesman and asked whether we sell those locks people fix at the bridge... Good one!


Seriously, RockSandra's bike back onto the roof rack and down we went - with all the cache gear, pretty confident finding a goos spot - no problem. RockSandra hasn't bee here yet, but Suparki12, of course, hangs around everywhere in the region.


Bit of photo shooting, bit of teaching the kid some geology, some history ... pretty much, what the cache description now says. Played a bit with coal!


While she was utilizing her new camera, I placed the cache, did the inaugurational TB log, and done: a new adventure cache! Have fun!


The Arkaroo - who loves the mountains and the waters.


Caching Team:

* The Arkaroo

* RockSandra


Travel Bugs visiting: (will drop one here once published)

* Arkaroo's Treasure (TB38AN6)

* Blue Desert Drive (TB3ZQ7E)

* Hamburg Nightcoin (TB2PZJD)

* Our Wedding Coin (TB3AE7N)

 
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