# GCA Play — Find. Log. Play. GCA.

> Find. Log. Play. GCA. (iPhone/iPad app by Matthew Rixon.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gca-play/id6765863081 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Matthew Rixon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896106432)
- Category: Navigation
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 20 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-05-12
- Data updated: 2026-09-07
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gca-play/id6765863081/reviews.md

## What is GCA Play?

GCA Play is a native iPhone, iPad, and companion Apple Watch app for Geocaching Australia geocachers - built for the field, not the desk.

Browse thousands of GCA geocaches on an interactive map, navigate to them with a live compass, and log your finds without leaving the app - online or off.

FIND CACHES
• Interactive map showing caches near you
• Search and filter by type, difficulty, terrain, size, and status
• Difficulty, terrain, and size ratings at a glance
• View descriptions, hints, recent logs, and coordinates
• Supports Traditional, Multi, Mystery, Night, Gadget, GeoArt, Locationless, History, Earth Science, Webcam, and more
• Read and write NFC Beacon caches
• Works online and offline - with Apple Watch, for untethered geocaching!

PLAN YOUR TRIP
• Add caches to your Planned list from any cache page
• Download them for offline use and see just your planned caches on the map
• Recommend the caches you love, and hide the ones you've ignored

NAVIGATE
• Built-in compass with live bearing and distance
• Animated navigation dial with proximity pulses
• Tap coordinates to copy, or open in Apple Maps for driving directions
• GeoArt and corrected-coordinate support

LOG YOUR FINDS
• Log finds, DNFs, and attended events directly in the app
• Offline logging - no signal? No problem. Logs queue automatically and submit when you're back online
• Q&A and codeword cache support
• Waypoint manager. Mark additional stages, parking, trailhead and other coordinates for every cache.
• Attach photos and leave a rating
• Full playability with AR caches created on Geocaching Australia's website

YOUR PROFILE
• Track your find count and progress toward your next milestone
• Follow your achievements as you level up
• Browse your recent activity and log history
• Save and run your Queries

STAY IN THE LOOP
• In-app Geocaching Australia news feed

GCA Play is free for all Geocaching Australia cachers. A free Geocaching Australia account is required.


## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.12 — 2026-08-31

What's new in 1.12: 3 under the hood bug fixes: Smoother AR experience (5 degree pan deadband lifted), fixed an issue causing some links not to open in cache descriptions, downsample AR image elements to decrease RAM use.

### 1.11 — 2026-08-30

New in Version 1.11: Geocaching Australia AR Caches are here! Hold your phone up, pan around, and watch what the owner hid appear in the world in front of you. Hidden one yourself? The new AR Experience Tester runs your own cache from anywhere, drafts included, so you can check it works before anyone goes looking.

### 1.10 — 2026-08-16

New in this version

• Mark Where You Parked - Every cache has Waypoints now, not just multis. Open Waypoints, tap the menu beside "Your location," and mark your parking, a trailhead, or anything worth finding again.
• Project a Waypoint - Solving a multi? Type the distance and true bearing from the listing (or from where you're standing) and the app plots the next stage. Tap "Save & Go" to head straight there.
• Live Distance on Your Lock Screen - Start navigating to a cache and your live distance appears on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island - no need to keep opening the app.
• Cache Photo Gallery - Owner photos and finders' log photos are now gathered into one gallery. Tap any thumbnail to view full-screen, swipe through, and pinch to zoom.
• Better Cache Descriptions - Images show reliably and text stays readable in Dark Mode. Tap an image to open it for a closer look.
• Tidier Apple Watch distances - Distances round to whole metres when you're close, so they're easier to read at a glance.

Plus performance and reliability improvements under the hood.

### 1.9 — 2026-08-12

Version 1.9 - A few more map updates to make things smoother.

### 1.8 — 2026-07-30

Version 1.8 - Faster, smoother, lighter - plus a few nice touches.

• Rebuilt map performance: the app opens quicker and stays responsive, even logging a find on the move with a big pile of caches downloaded. No more sluggish typing or slow reopens.
• Your map, your way: it now remembers your chosen style - Standard, Hybrid, or Satellite - so it looks the way you left it every time.
• Steadier location handling while you navigate, tidier map controls, and a batch of under-the-hood fixes for a more reliable ride.

Happy caching!

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-07.*