Most inbound travellers to NZ come here for the splendid beauty of our parks and many mountains rangers . Most tourist utilise New Zealand’s many day walks or longer treks like the famed Milford, Routeburn, Copland and Albel Tasman to mention but a small few. However most who venture into this natural environ are unaware of the rich gold bearing streams that they often cross during these treks.
Gold was first discovered in 1842 on the Coromandel harbour in the North Island although NZ first gold rush officially started there in 1852. However due to the high expense of retrieving gold from within veins of quartz this rush only lasted 12 months.
The 1861 gold strike in Central Otago was the find that ignited the real rush. This gold was alluvial and was readily extracted by those panning and working the many creeks, streams and rivers. Otago was inundated with those seeking to make their fortune in these early years. Many towns sprang up almost overnight to cater for the influx of prospectors.
The West Coast of the South Island gold rush followed a few years later and today there are still many commercial gold mines reaping riches from deep quartz gold veins that the earlier prospectors overlooked due to the abundance of alluvial gold.
For the day tripper, camper or serious hiker both the West Coast and Otago still offers gold to those who try their hand at panning. Little knowledge is required to find some Kiwi gold, pans can be purchased for around $15 or hired for as little as $8. The tourist information centres can advise you areas to visit and often sell booklets explaining the techniques required and maps of gold rich streams. Crown Minerals, Ministry of Economic Development also has designated recreational gold panning areas that often include camp sites equipped with picnic tables and barbeques.
You may think that most of the gold has been taken by those early pioneers however with the annual winter floods, the rivers are constantly changing and exposing areas that are yielding good gold for fossickers.
Use the black plastic gold pan that you can buy rather than the metal ones. We hired a metal pan at Arrowtown and found zip, but another guy near us in the river found lots of small flakes using a plastic pan.
I had no idea about gold in NZ so good post.
We have now purchased a plastic pan that we are taking on a hike so I’ll let you know how we get along.
Regards
Garry
If anyone’s looking for a professional guide to give them more of a chance you can’t go wrong with this guy…
http://www.yougodo.com/en/GOLDRUSH-NEW-ZEALAND/activity/65a36a48-15e0-4882-b11c-4524b3827222.aspx
Happy fossicking!
To find the locations of all public gold panning / fossicking areas in New Zealand check out http://www.paydirt.co.nz/public-gold-fossicking-areas-map.aspx
Happy fossicking!