Potential NZ MEGA Event 2012 - is there sufficient interest?

[pprass]

We are interested (2 of us). Just depends on what we can arrange for suitable accomodation, transport etc. We would probably then make it into an extended trip by exploring and cacheing for a week or so.

[Moneydork]

So far we have 220 or so individual people indicating that they're interested in attending by the voting thus far, with Australians out numbering New Zealanders 2 to 1. We need to get close to 500 (ie 400 plus) in order to proceed with the project.
Please note that votes saying that 2012 is too far away don't count in my tally.

[Gunnie69]

Gunnie would be there with bells on... A fine way to chalk up some overseas caches and enjoy the fun and frivolity of a Mega event... Wagga was a fantastic weekend...

[roostaman]

I know most of the Wagga Wagga cachers do not visit the forum very much & neither do I lately,
however I can add some comments on behalf of the "Riverina Geocaching Inc" committee.

We all formally agreed at our most recent AGM that we would not be organising another Mega event for a long long time, if at all.
We will continue to host small events. We think it is time for another group to have a go at a Mega.
However, most of us would love to travel to another one somewhere else, especially in the Southern Hemisphere.

It has been 8 months since Oz Mega & there has been no plans outlined by a NSW, VIC, ACT, SA, or QLD group to run a Mega in OZ in 2012.
So, it looks like this is a great option for the next Mega event to be held anywhere around here.
If the next one is in NZ & then a group of Aussies can arrange another one here in 2013 it would be ideal to alternate like that.

We travelled around NZ over 4 weeks in March 2009 & found both Islands would be very attractive for Aussies to visit,
and Christchurch would be a perfect location too. Most Aussies would make a holiday of it & travel around NZ for at least 2 weeks.
We would do it again as we still missed much of the countryside & the caches.
And the cost of plane flights to NZ is less than the cost to fly to WA from Sydney.

Now, it doesn't have to be a 3 or 4 day event just to bring people as most Mega's are only 1 day events.
Oz Mega was really only check-in on Friday & depart on Monday so the main schedule was Sat morning to Sun evening -
the better part of 2 days - it just helped to have it over a long weekend to allow people to travel.

So, what I am saying is - lets GO guys & LOCK IT IN.
I am sure you could get more sponsorship from Garmin & Sistema as well as many more just as we did.
Lets spread the word & get the numbers up to 400 or more by Xmas & let them start some plans so we can start to plan a holiday.
2011 is nearly here so 2012 is not that far away really.

Greg
Roostaman

[Earthbound Chief]

Hear, hear roostaman. Lock it in, block out the diary and we are there. Oh and we are so there at the 2013 event.
To add to the suggestion that a mega event only needs a day, why not coincide a main mega event in Christchurch with a followup one day mega event in Auckland a few days later.
just a thought, good luck and I hope you get this off the ground. If you need any help from this side of the ditch, please message me

[Moneydork]

Hear, hear roostaman. Lock it in, block out the diary and we are there. Oh and we are so there at the 2013 event.
To add to the suggestion that a mega event only needs a day, why not coincide a main mega event in Christchurch with a followup one day mega event in Auckland a few days later.

Don't worry - we have a couple of follow up events up our sleave - mostly around the various corners of the South Island - as I'd expect a followup MEGA in the North Island for the next NZ one.

[Moneydork]

It has been 8 months since Oz Mega & there has been no plans outlined by a NSW, VIC, ACT, SA, or QLD group to run a Mega in OZ in 2012.
So, it looks like this is a great option for the next Mega event to be held anywhere around here. ...
Now, it doesn't have to be a 3 or 4 day event just to bring people as most Mega's are only 1 day events.
Oz Mega was really only check-in on Friday & depart on Monday so the main schedule was Sat morning to Sun evening -
the better part of 2 days - it just helped to have it over a long weekend to allow people to travel.

So, what I am saying is - lets GO guys & LOCK IT IN.

A small group of us have been talking about this off and on ever since we attended the OZ Mega - so it really has its genesis there.

We did 820 caches in 2 weeks around the OZ Mega - so it is still high on my "must repeat" list.
I know that a MEGA could conceivebly be a Flash Mob one hour oe so - but the couple of day format seemed to work well in terms of the social elements of the MEGA experiance and in terms of attracting us to travel to it from NZ - so we'd be aiming for at least 2 nights I think. We Kiwis ignored the social games and just cached all through the MEGA - returning to camp only for the odd meal and to sleep, but even still met a lot of friends due to the two plus day format.

Needless to say, I do want to lock it in soon - just as soon as we're confident about numbers.

[Tuena]

I'd hire an RV & travel around for a week or two so accommodation wouldn't be a problem. I visited many years ago & loved the South Island in particular.

[Hoojar]

Chip and I were thinking of doing a two week trip around NZ in 2011, looks like we will postpone to 2012! I've been to NZ before and it is an amazing place

[bshwckr]

Needless to say, I do want to lock it in soon - just as soon as we're confident about numbers.

"If you build it, they will come"

Having spent a lot of time in NZ, I know you will have more than the Aussies to make up the numbers. I done the Tongariro Alpine Crossing walk last week and kept tripping over all the German backpackers. You will know that Germany has a BIG caching community. I am sure cachers from all over the world will take this opportunity to visit your fine country. Just get the word out.

A suggestion;
I have been thinking about the comments by those that plan on staying for a couple of weeks. How about a MEGA-Multi that has waypoints all around the South Island. Queenstown, Dunedin, Nelson, Te Anau, Hamner Springs, Arthurs Pass etc, etc. That should inspire a lap around the island.

Cant wait. Should be choice bro... sorry as its on the South Island, it should be sweet as.

bshwckr

[rediguana]

As Moneydork said, we've been thinking about this for a while.

I'm very keen to hear about preferences towards having this event in the North Island vs South Island. In our discussions, the two main locations we'd settled on initially were Auckland and Christchurch - primarily because they were the most accessible for Australians to get to (greatest number of flights, and most likely cheapest too). We believe that the South Island offers more tourism potential around the Mega, but the North Island definitely has some great places to visit as well. Moneydork has already raised the concept of 2012 being in Christchurch, and perhaps 2015 being somewhere in the North Island - maybe Rotorua or Taupo.

We're definitely keen on having a few ordinary events in other locations as well that are around the Mega and encourage travelling, but we might leave these open for others to organise around the Mega, as I'm sure the Mega organisers will have enough on their hands to worry about.

We'll certainly have other nationalities coming for an event, but we still have to cater to possibly the largest market being Australians

Also, what is more important to helping you decide - is it the location? E.g. North vs South Island? Or is it just fixing a date to enable your travel planning to start?

We may well set up a slightly more detailed web survey so that we can get some better information to help guide us... we'll keep you posted.

[roostaman]

A suggestion;
How about a MEGA-Multi that has waypoints all around the South Island. Queenstown, Dunedin, Nelson, Te Anau, Hamner Springs, Arthurs Pass etc, etc. That should inspire a lap around the island.
bshwckr

That would be tricky as you would have 300+ vehicles all travelling around the countryside instead of enjoying the socialising of a Mega event,
and some may not be able to complete the whole lap outlined above.
That would take some serious logisitics and the planning for a Mega is already a lot of logistics.
I would strongly suggest that a single location event is the best option.

Roostaman

[pprass]

...what is more important to helping you decide - is it the location? E.g. North vs South Island? Or is it just fixing a date to enable your travel planning to start?

For us the location is not that important (as long as it is not some minor town in the mountains that takes an expedition to get to) as we would probably be travelling around the islands afterwards in any case. We are more interested in the type of accomodation available, what sort of vehicles we can hire, if we can share accomodation/vehicles, will food be provided or will there be food outlets nearby etc.

[Big Matt and Shell]

Hi Guys,

Just a thought to get the word out as some of the others have already alluded, many do not regularly visit these forums. Have you thought about other social networking sites? Face book and the like?

It may just help to get the word out. I think the others are right though if you build it they will come...

I'd love to see an event over the ditch.

[bshwckr]

A suggestion;
How about a MEGA-Multi that has waypoints all around the South Island. Queenstown, Dunedin, Nelson, Te Anau, Hamner Springs, Arthurs Pass etc, etc. That should inspire a lap around the island.
bshwckr

That would be tricky as you would have 300+ vehicles all travelling around the countryside instead of enjoying the socialising of a Mega event,
and some may not be able to complete the whole lap outlined above.
That would take some serious logisitics and the planning for a Mega is already a lot of logistics.
I would strongly suggest that a single location event is the best option.

Roostaman

This was not suggested as the main event, just as a side trip to be done either the week before or the week after the Mega-event.

I'm very keen to hear about preferences towards having this event in the North Island vs South Island. In our discussions, the two main locations we'd settled on initially were Auckland and Christchurch - primarily because they were the most accessible for Australians to get to (greatest number of flights, and most likely cheapest too). We believe that the South Island offers more tourism potential around the Mega, but the North Island definitely has some great places to visit as well. Moneydork has already raised the concept of 2012 being in Christchurch, and perhaps 2015 being somewhere in the North Island - maybe Rotorua or Taupo.

I would be less excited if it was going to be in Auckland. Although generally very nice, Auckland is just a big city not unlike lots of other big cities. New Zealand has lots to offer that is uniquely New Zealand on both the North and South Islands. For ease of access and tourist potential, I think Christchurch is the right call.
If it came to the North Island, Rotorua would be a great location for the visitors. Lots to see and do (and smell). Easy for Aussies to fly into Hamilton now as well.