GPX
Contents
What is GPX?
GPX stands for GPS Exchange Format. It allows people to exchange data about:
Geocachers use GPX files to download cache coordinates into their GPS receiver. This saves the hassle of entering coordinates of each cache into their GPS receiver.
The normal process it to download waypoints from a cache listing website into waypoint management software on your PC, and then download the waypoints into your GPS.
GPX was developed by Topografix, which publishes the GPX format specfication.
Different GPX formats
GPX defines the method of storing waypoints, but it doesn't define the method of storing the additional information you need to store for a cache, for example it's terrain and difficulty.
Groundspeak developed extensions to cover this information, however unfortunately they have made the extensions proprietary so they cannot be used by other cache listing websites. Geocaching.com makes their GPX files available to Premium members via a method called Pocket queries.
Geocaching Australia has therefore needed to develop its own GPX extensions. These are incompatible with the Groundspeak extensions, however they are non-proprietary. GSAK supports them all.
The Geocaching Australia extensions are being supported by new software. The current status is listed under waypoint management software.
Obtaining GPX Files
GPX files are available from a number of sources.
Geocaching.com Pocket Queries
The first is through Pocket queries (or PQs for short) on Geocaching.com. This is a Premium member service on that website. A Pocket Query is only going to provide geocaches that are initially listed on that site. It will give you a large part, but not necessarily the whole picture of geocaching in your area.
Geocaching Australia GPX files
The second method for obtaining GPX files is from Geocaching Australia. This will give you state-by-state GPX files for caches listed on Geocaching Australia only. These files are available on each state page of caches and are also linked directly below.
GPX links by state :
- ACT : http://geocaching.com.au/caches/gca/au/act.gpx
- New South Wales : http://geocaching.com.au/caches/gca/au/nsw.gpx
- Northern Territory : http://geocaching.com.au/caches/gca/au/nt.gpx
- Queensland : http://geocaching.com.au/caches/gca/au/qld.gpx
- South Australia : http://geocaching.com.au/caches/gca/au/sa.gpx
- Tasmania : http://geocaching.com.au/caches/gca/au/tas.gpx
- Victoria : http://geocaching.com.au/caches/gca/au/vic.gpx
- Western Australia : http://geocaching.com.au/caches/gca/au/wa.gpx
- NZ - north island : http://geocaching.com.au/caches/gca/nz/ni.gpx
- NZ - south island : http://geocaching.com.au/caches/gca/nz/si.gpx
Geocaching Australia My Queries
The new My Query feature on Geocaching Australia is a query generator which allows pre-defined queries:
- private to individual cachers; or
- publicly available to all cachers.
Geocaching.com GPX Files
Periodically updated GPX files of geocaching.com caches for each state of Australia and also for New Zealand's North and South Islands are available from www.roblisa.com/geocache.
