{"id":6795,"date":"2016-04-04T22:17:09","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T22:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rooftoppost.co.uk\/free\/?p=6795"},"modified":"2026-03-09T18:08:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T18:08:51","slug":"treasure-hunts-pirates-mermaids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rooftoppost.co.uk\/free\/treasure-hunts-pirates-mermaids\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Treasure Hunts – Pirates and Mermaids"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Pirate
Pirate and Mermaid Treasure Hunt Clues<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This week we’ve put together two sets of rhyming clues for treasure hunts.\u00a0 One is a pirate theme, the other is for mermaids.\u00a0 They make a great activity for birthday parties or any other family gathering where there are children to entertain.<\/p>\n

What You Need:<\/h5>\n

A printer, obviously, and a pair of scissors.\u00a0 You’ll also have to think of a prize (or “treasure”) you can put at the end of the hunt, with the very last clue.\u00a0 For the pirate treasure hunt, you’ll need an egg to place one of the clues next to, as you’ll see when you read the rhymes.<\/p>\n

If you need more help:<\/span> Scroll down, there are suggestions for hiding each clue lower down.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just print the clues, cut them out and hide around the house accordingly.\u00a0\u00a0 (There are PDF buttons underneath each set of clues to make printing extra-easy.)<\/p>\n

Pirate Treasure Hunt Clues:<\/h5>\n
\"Printable<\/a>
Printable Pirate Treasure Hunt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGET CLUES AS PDF<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n
Mermaid Treasure Hunt Clues:<\/h5>\n
\"Mermaid<\/a>
Mermaid Treasure Hunt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGET CLUES AS PDF<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n
Further Help:\u00a0<\/span> <\/strong><\/h5>\n

When planning your treasure hunt, here are some questions to ask yourself and extra ideas for each clue below.<\/p>\n

Whole House or Certain Rooms?<\/span><\/h6>\n

If you’re planning this scavenger hunt for a children’s party, you might want to make it clear which rooms they should look in and which are off-limits – just in case you don’t want a million little hands rifling through every cupboard in the house!<\/p>\n

Competition or Team Work Game?\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n

You might also want to decide whether your treasure hunt is a competition or not.\u00a0 Does the first person to get to the end get the prize?\u00a0 Or is it about team work?\u00a0 If it’s the former, make it clear that clues must be left where you found them, so that the next player can find them too.\u00a0 If it’s the latter, make sure there’s some “treasure” for everyone at the end.<\/p>\n

Tips and Suggestions for Each Verse of Pirate Clues:<\/span> <\/span><\/h6>\n

Yo ho, me lovelies! <\/span>
\nHere be a clue:<\/span>
\nTo find the surprise <\/span>
\nYe must seek out a shoe!<\/span><\/p>\n

Just pop the clue into any shoe that the children are likely to find.\u00a0 If you want to make it easier, you could point them to the right room.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Keep on, me hearties! <\/span>
\nA pirate\u2019s got grit, <\/span>
\nYe\u2019ll find the next clue <\/span>
\nWhere ye like to sit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Place the clue under\/on\/under the cushion of a chair.\u00a0 It could be a dining chair, armchair, rocking chair and so on.\u00a0<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

Well done, me pirates! <\/span>
\nYou\u2019re moving ahead <\/span>
\nA secret is written<\/span>
\nWhere ye go to bed.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

This one’s easy – just hide the clue in a bed.\u00a0 If it’s a party and you don’t want children in every room, make it clear which bedrooms are off-limits.\u00a0<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

Now listen up closely <\/span>
\nMe beauties, me gems, <\/span>
\nThere\u2019s a landlubber watching<\/span>
\nThe next clue\u2019s on them!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

You or another adult should hide the next clue about your (or their) person.\u00a0 Perhaps in a pocket or, if you’re joining in the festivities, under the pirate hat you’ve got on!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Not far to the treasure, <\/span>
\nMe brave sailing folk! <\/span>
\nThe next one\u2019s beside <\/span>
\nA thing with a yolk.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

You’ll need to place the next clue near an egg.\u00a0 Perhaps in the fridge or egg basket?\u00a0 If you don’t have a real egg in the house, you could always draw one, cut it out, pin it to a wall and put the clue beside it.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Fine work buccaneers! <\/span>
\nNow hark to me fable: <\/span>
\nThere once was a clue <\/span>
\nWho hid by a table.<\/span><\/p>\n

Any table will do here – if you’re feeling crafty, tape the clue underneath it rather than leaving it on top.\u00a0 <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Well done me shipmates! <\/span>
\nYou\u2019re right on the brink\u2026<\/span>
\nThe last clue is hiding <\/span>
\nNot far from a sink.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Could be the bathroom or the kitchen – just hide the clue in or near a sink.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Aha so ye found it! <\/span>
\nI\u2019m piraty-proud, <\/span>
\nA toast to yer cunning<\/span>
\nAnd courage out loud!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The “treasure” should be left with this clue.\u00a0 It can be anything – chocolate, sweets, a toy.\u00a0 Might be a nice touch to make it a piraty gift, arrr!\u00a0 If this treasure hunt wasn’t a competition, make sure there are enough goodies for everyone.\u00a0 You could always include one of our<\/span> pirate certificates<\/a><\/strong> at the end for whoever got there first.\u00a0 This one, for an<\/span> Honorary Pirate<\/a><\/strong> one would be a good fit:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Printable<\/a>
Honorary Pirate Certificate
(No name needed)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tips and Suggestions for Each Verse of Mermaid Clues:<\/span><\/h6>\n

Follow the clues<\/span>
\nFor treasures galore! <\/span>
\nSwim that way dear mermaids, <\/span>
\nThe first\u2019s on a door.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Pick any door in your house and stick\/pin the next clue to it.\u00a0 If you want to make it harder, you could choose a less obvious door, such as the door to a wardrobe… or even a cat door!\u00a0<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n

Hark to me, merfolk, <\/span>
\nCrustaceans and fish!<\/span>
\nThe next clue is hiding <\/span>
\nInside a dish. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pop the next clue inside a dish, any dish you know the children will find.\u00a0 Might be best not to choose a valuable one though, in case it gets broken.\u00a0<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n

Well done, now another\u2026.<\/span>
\nIf you\u2019re in a rush <\/span>
\nI\u2019ll tell you a secret:<\/span>
\nIt\u2019s near a hairbrush.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Hide the clue near a hairbrush.\u00a0 If the children don’t know where to look, you could always point them towards the correct room.\u00a0<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n

The next place is strange<\/span>
\nIt\u2019s a manmade machine <\/span>
\nAnd the clue is not far <\/span>
\nFrom its sparkly bright screen. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This “manmade machine” with a “sparkly bright screen” could be a TV, a laptop, a desktop, or even a tablet.\u00a0 (In theory, it could even be a phone but that might be hard for them to guess.)\u00a0 Hide the next clue near whichever device you have in your house – we always use the TV.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Nice work, lovely creatures, <\/span>
\nBut now understand:<\/span>
\nA grown-up is hiding <\/span>
\nA clue in their hand!!! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This could be you or one of the other grown-up friends\/parents.\u00a0 Give them the clue before the game starts and tell them fold it up small and hide it in a fist.\u00a0 Pick someone who doesn’t mind having their hand prised open by small fingers!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Now you must swim <\/span>
\nTo and fro, here and there,<\/span>
\nTo find a clue waiting<\/span>
\nUnder a chair.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Any chair in the house will do for the next clue.\u00a0 You could hide it under the chair’s cushion, under the chair itself, or tape it to the back of the chair.\u00a0<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

The hunt\u2019s nearly over, <\/span>
\nYou\u2019ve swum many knots,<\/span>
\nNow look in a room<\/span>
\nFull of saucepans and pots! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clearly, the next clue needs to be hidden in the kitchen.\u00a0 You can make finding it as easy or as difficult as you like.\u00a0<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n

Hooray little merfolk,<\/span>
\nHere is your prize. <\/span>
\nYou are not only pretty <\/span>
\nBut clever and wise!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the last clue so some kind of mermaid treasure should be left here.\u00a0 Sweets\/candy is probably the most obvious prize – you could also add one of our free mermaid certificates<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 The one below would be an easy choice because it doesn’t require you to add a child’s name.\u00a0 (Obviously, if it’s a competition you couldn’t add a name in advance because you wouldn’t know which child was going to get to the end first!):<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mermaid<\/a>
Mermaid Friend (No name needed)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Attribution:<\/strong> All pirate and mermaid rhymes in the clues above were written by Leone Annabella Betts<\/a> and have been reproduced on this site with her blessing.<\/p>\n

Looking for More Pirate Party Ideas?<\/h4>\n
From around the internet, we like these:\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n

Make a Pirate’s Treasure Map<\/a><\/strong> – This is a great idea for a pirate’s party activity.\u00a0 Just watch the BBC (CBeebies) video then get the children at your party making maps of their own.<\/p>\n

Make a Pirate Treasure Chest<\/a><\/strong> – If you’ve got a bit of preparation time, this print and craft treasure chest from Tim’s Printables might prove useful.\u00a0 You make one for each guest, pop a couple of sweets inside and put it on the party table.<\/p>\n

Buccaneer Eye Patches<\/a><\/strong> – Authentic looking eye patches to print out from Real Classroom Ideas.<\/p>\n

Please note that we’re not responsible for the content on these pages or the upkeep of their websites.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

On our site, you might like these:<\/span><\/h6>\n

Printable Pirate Certificate<\/strong>s<\/a> – All sorts of certificates for young pirates.\u00a0 You can watch a video about making one here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Pirate Cupcake Wrappers<\/a><\/strong> – Do pirates eat cupcakes?\u00a0 Who knows?\u00a0 But if they do, they’d be decorated with their own piraty wrappers.<\/p>\n

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