Cache of the Month June 2021 – Adelaide’s Web Cam Geocaches

Webcam Geocaches are the rarest of the common 11 geocache types.  These are geocaches that use CCTV cameras, which monitor areas like streets, parks, universities or business complexes, and offer images of the area on an internet site. The idea is to get yourself in front of the camera and save a screen capture from the website where the camera is displayed in order to log a find.  Webcam caches are a legacy cache type. You cannot submit new webcam caches for review, but you can find those that remain active and log them.

The webcam cache type was published from 2001 to 2005. As at 1 June 2021 there are only 228 active webcam geocaches remaining in the world. There are none at all on Africa or Asia. Only one in South America.  Many many countries lack a webcam geocache.  They are an uncommon cache.  Do not miss one if you are close.

And yet three of these rare webcam geocaches are available right here in South Australia.  Two very close to each other in Adelaide CBD.  And another a little ways down the road on Granite Island.  There is only one other webcam geocache currently available in Australia, hidden on a remote mountain top in Victoria.

Extraordinary. We have the best of everything here in Adelaide.

GCC1EC Penguins

GCHFT6 $2 Freddo Cam

GCM9G1 Watch all about it.

So get your GPSr and head to GZ.  Then follow these simple webcam geocache instructions.  So much easier in this world of the internet phone. The quality of the image from webcams will vary.  In some webcam images you will be only a couple of pixels high. You might want to do something that highlights your position.  Other webcams have HD imaging with camera control. The final product is up to you and perhaps your friend on the other end of a phone.  Always acknowledge their assistance if required.

• Check the instructions on the cache page. Sometimes the cache owner will require you to pose in a specific location or in a specific way. 
• Use the data on your smart-phone to browse to the webcam website. Save the image or take a screenshot.
• Alternatively call or arrange with a friend to browse to the website and save the image when you visit.
• Set up a script to save the image from the site every minute or so, then sort through the photos when you get home.  Some webcam website have the ability to retrieve historical feed.

Once you have the image you have the find. Woohoo!!  Just load the image with your find log.  Easy peasy.  Fun and more fun.

Inline with Geocaching SA’s goal of promoting the past-time of Geocaching is South Australia, each month the association will be highlighting a cache that warrants recognition. There are no specific criteria, and suggestions are welcome, but final discretion lies with Geocaching SA.