Home > Experience Victoria > Adventure activities > Fossicking

Fossicking

Whether searching for gold, gemstones or other minerals, fossicking can be a fun and sometimes rewarding experience. Victoria has a rich gold mining past, especially in the areas around Ballarat, Bendigo and Castlemaine. Although the gold rush has long since past, it is still possible to find gold in these and other areas.

Before commencing to fossick or prospect, a miner's right (licence) is required by anyone over the age of 18. This can be obtained online or in person from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) or from designated tourist information centres and prospecting supply stores in areas popular with fossickers. For further information or to buy your licence online, see DPI.

Fossicking and prospecting are allowed only on certain areas of public land or on private property with the consent of the landowner. Only hand tools, such as picks, shovels, sieves and pans are permitted to be used. Metal detectors are also allowed in most areas.

National Parks and State Parks where fossicking is permitted within certain designated areas are:

Park	Nearby or surrounding cities, suburbs, towns
Beechworth Historic Park	Beechworth
Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park	Castlemaine, Chewton, Fryerstown, Guildford, Harcourt
Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP	Barnawartha, Beechworth, Chiltern, Eldorado
Creswick Regional Park	Ballarat, Creswick
Enfield State Park	Ballarat, Rokewood, Smythesdale
Greater Bendigo NP	Bendigo
Heathcote-Graytown NP	Heathcote, Nagambie, Rushworth
Kooyoora SP	Inglewood, St Arnaud, Tarnagulla, Wedderburn
Paddys Ranges SP	Maryborough, Talbot
Reef Hills SP	Benalla
St Arnaud Range NP	Avoca, Moonambel, St Arnaud
Steiglitz Historic Park	Anakie, Meredith, Steiglitz
Warrandyte SP	Bend Of Islands, Chirnside Park, Christmas Hills, Kangaroo Ground, Warrandyte, Wonga Park

The above parks were all mining areas during the 1800s and, as well as the possibility of finding gold, there are also relics from the gold rush era to see.

For those more interested in gemstones than gold, the following parks allow fossicking for gemstones in certain areas:

Park	Nearby or surrounding cities, suburbs, towns
Cape Liptrap CP	Sandy Point, Tarwin Lower, Venus Bay, Walkerville, Waratah Bay
Great Otway NP	Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Apollo Bay, Cape Otway, Colac, Forrest, Lavers Hill, Lorne, Princetown, Wye River
Mornington Peninsula NP	Blairgowrie, Boneo, Cape Schanck, Fingal, Flinders, Main Ridge, Portsea, Rye, Sorrento, St Andrews Beach

Perhaps the best way to find an area where there is a good chance of finding something of value is to join a guided tour.

	Bendigo Goldfields Experience	Join a gold prospecting adventure tour of the historic goldfields of Bendigo and discover an important chapter in Victoria's history. Metal detector and prospecting equipment supplied by an informative guide and instructor.
	Gold & Relics Tours	Take a personalised gold prospecting adventure with an experienced guide and visit some well kept secret locations around Clunes. Gold detectors, equipment and lunch supplied.
	Golden Triangle Tours	Enjoy modern day gold prospecting with the latest equipment on a selection of touring ranging from detector tuition to half, full and overnight tours on privately owned goldfields near Bendigo
	Gold Prospecting Australia Tours	Try gold detecting in the Bendigo area, with tours suitable for both first timers and old hands. Your day in the bush with us will be full of great memories.