AN international craze that involves painting and hiding rocks for others to find has come to the Redlands.
It only has a small following, but fans hope it will take off like the technology-driven Pokemon Go.
Peta Hovell and her children Lily, 8, and Mason, 5, joined rock hunting family members while on holiday in New Zealand.
She started up the Redlands Rocks Facebook page when she got home and has hidden painted rocks at Raby Bay foreshore park, Cascade Gardens, Wellington Point, Thompsons Beach and Cleveland Point.
Ms Howell encouraged other families to join the craze.
“The kids get so excited to go outdoors,” she said. “They really enjoy hunting to find the rocks.”
Mount Cotton mum Beth Fishpool said she had been painting and hiding rocks with her children, eight-year-old Abbey Spencer and Emrys, Savvas, aged three, for about six months.
They have hidden painted rocks in Redlands parks, in Karawatha Forest and at Redcliffe.
Ms Fishpool started the Brisbane Rock Hunting page on Facebook to motivate people to join the craze.
“I found out about it on Pinterest and googled it to find out more information,” she said.
Fans paint rocks and hide them in public places such as parks, giving a location of the rocks on a Facebook page so others can join the hunt.
The trend is understood to have started in the United States last year before spreading across the Pacific.
Australian participants are said to number more than 35,000.
Painters put their group name and a Facebook symbol on the back of the rocks so those who find them will go to social media to find out about the craze.
“I hope that it’ll encourage a sense of community and give people something to look forward to,” Ms Fishpool said.
“Abbey was so excited when we found a painted rock and it encourages people to get out and to be creative.”
Fans say the key to creating artwork that lasts is to use acrylic paints and seal it with a gloss varnish to give it a shine and protection.
READ ABOUT THE BENEFITS: Forget the fidget spinner, move aside Pokemon Go and get ready for ... rocks
