Outdoor guide
A treasure hunt in the garden.
Outdoor hunts let children run, which indoor hunts can’t. These clues fit gardens, yards and many parks. Each one describes a spot and comes with a tip for where to hide the next clue.
Garden clues
Rhyme · ages 6 to 8
Squirrels scamper, birds all sing
Up in my branches every spring.
Don't look up, look down instead,
Your clue's below my leafy head!
Answer
Picture clue · ages 1 to 5, read aloud
Whee! Back and forth! Look on the seat that flies.
Answer
Riddle · ages 9 to 12
I'm a house, but nobody lives in me, only rakes, spades and things with wheels. You don't need to come inside. Your next clue is on my door handle.
Answer
Rhyme · ages 6 to 8
Boing! Boing! Bounce and spring,
I'm the bounciest, springiest thing!
Walk around my edge and see
Where the clue is meant to be!
Answer
Riddle · ages 9 to 12
Castles rise in me and moats run round them, but no king ever moves in. Spades and buckets love me. Dig in gently for your next clue.
Answer
Rhyme · ages 6 to 8
Its nose is long, its belly round,
It makes the rain fall on the ground,
The thirsty flowers love it so,
So look inside, and off you go!
Answer
Picture clue · ages 1 to 5, read aloud
Rustle, rustle! Look in the big leafy plant, down low.
Answer
Riddle · ages 9 to 12
I hold things up all day but I have no arms, only lots of little clips. Wet things hang on me until the sun and wind make them dry. What am I?
Answer
Rhyme · ages 6 to 8
Tired legs? Then come and sit,
Rest on me a little bit.
Crouch and peek beneath my seat:
A clue is there! How sweet, how sweet!
Answer
Riddle · ages 9 to 12
I'm a door that stands outside with no house behind me. I swing to let friends in and click shut to keep the garden safe. What am I?
Answer
Rhyme · ages 6 to 8
It's long and curly like a snake,
It sprays the plants, make no mistake,
Don't turn it on, just look around
The loops it makes upon the ground!
Answer
Riddle · ages 9 to 12
You go up the hard way and come down the fun way. I'm smooth and shiny, and gravity is my engine. Look where the ride ends.
Answer
Outdoor tips
- Weigh clues down with a stone, or put them in a clear food bag in case of rain.
- Agree the boundary first: the fence, the hedge, the edge of the grass.
- Hide the treasure in the shed, a bucket or under a bush, out of the sun if it is chocolate.
- In a park, choose spots you can see from one place, and keep a grown-up at each end.
- Mix in a couple of indoor spots if the weather turns.
Let Hiddlewink write the whole hunt
Pick the ages, the rooms and a theme. Hiddlewink puts the clues in order for your home, with a cheat sheet for the hider. Print the cards, or play from your phone.
Make a free garden huntFree, no sign-up.
Questions
Can I do this in a park?
Yes, with spots such as a tree, a bench, a gate and a rock. Pick a quiet corner, stay where you can see the children, and only hide clues just before you start.
What if it rains?
Bag the clues, or move the hunt indoors. Hiddlewink lets you tick indoor and outdoor spots together.
How many clues for a garden hunt?
Five for a small garden. Eight to twelve if you have space, or if you mix in indoor spots.
Is Hiddlewink free?
The free version makes a 5-clue hunt with rhyming clues or riddles in the Treasure Map or Pirates theme. Pro (USD 4.99, one payment) adds picture clues, secret codes, longer hunts and every theme, including Christmas Elves and the Present Hunt.