Decorated rocks painted with everything from vibrant patterns to animals to celebrity faces are popping up in the parks and playgrounds of Bendigo.
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They are part of an increasingly popular game that is captivating children and adults alike, a never-ending public treasure hunt open to anyone who wants to take part.
People paint rocks, typically smooth pebbles, and hide them.
Others are then encouraged to find them and hide them again, either in the same area or somewhere different.
The activity is supported by social media, with participants asked to share photos of their own rocks and their finds in Facebook groups dedicated to the hobby.
This gives participants the opportunity to find out where, and how far, their creations have travelled.
Nigel Lougoon is the man behind the BendigoROCKS Facebook group, which has attracted hundreds of members in just six weeks.
It's unbelievable how fast its grown, he said.
Mr Lougoon came upon the idea after seeing a story on the WA Rocks Facebook group, reportedly one of the largest groups in the country with more than 44,000 members.
He and his six children started out by painted about a dozen rocks and hiding them at Bendigo Botanic Gardens, then inviting friends and other families in the local homeschooling community.
Mr Lougoon said his children had always enjoyed art and they had most of the supplies on hand when they started out, with their first rocks leftovers from a landscaping job.
It was also good to get people in the community doing something together, he said.
For the family, the rock project has also held an educational element.
The children are homeschooled, and Mr Lougoon said this had been their main art project for the past month.
The older children also helped set up the Facebook page, he said.
People are urged to purchase landscaping rocks or use ones from their own gardens, rather than take them from public spaces.
For more information on how to get involved and tips on creating durable rock artwork, visit the BendigoROCKS Facebook page.