It works like this; a person or persons place a 'cache' at some location defined by latitude and longitude references. Inside the container is a small log book, and an explanation of geocaching (for accidental discovery) plus a variety of other items.

The co-ordinates of a given cache are published on the dedicated GEOCACHING website and interested parties then attempt to find the cache from the sometimes sparse information given. Once they do find it, or even if they do not, they normally report the result on the website.

There are rules, and variations on the rules, but in a country like Australia where people are undertaking long holiday trips, this activity may provide an extra dimension. As a family we have participated in finding and setting caches, and the following 'travel bug' activity.

We are currently about to (Aug 2006) release a travel bug into the geocaching world. This is quite a common occurrence; small metal tags with unique codes are attached to objects with a mission. Such a mission might be to go around the world, or to go to Moscow. Geocachers who find a travel bug in a cache carry the object to the most appropriate next cache in the desired direction of travel. The process of reporting your cache find on the Geocaching site also automatically records the movement of a bug.