Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area: Fossicking in Marlborough District, Marlborough

Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area is a mapped fossicking spot in Marlborough District, Marlborough, New Zealand. Reported finds include gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, and nearby spots.

About Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area

The Wakamarina River drains the Richmond Range and meets the Pelorus at Canvastown, a settlement named for the tent city that sprang up when gold was found in 1864 and about 6,000 miners rushed the valley. The boom faded within a year as diggers left for the West Coast, but panning still turns up gold specks in the river. Wakamarina Road runs up the valley to Butchers Flat, a grassy DOC campsite on an old gold mining flat in Mount Richmond Forest Park, with swimming holes and old workings up Doom Creek. The river's listing on the official schedule of permit-free fossicking areas has changed over time, so confirm its current status on the NZP&M list before planning to pan.

DOC: Butchers Flat campsite →

Quick details

Access: Public area
Area: Marlborough District
Region: Marlborough
Nearest road: Wakamarina Road
Coordinates: -41.37630, 173.59430

Land & fossicking status

Generally open to casual fossicking

Public-tagged New Zealand spots are usually designated public gold fossicking areas under the Crown Minerals Act or beaches where casual collecting of loose stones is accepted. Hand tools only, and check local conditions before you dig.

Stay inside public fossicking areas for gold panning, use hand tools only, and treat DOC reserves and national parks as closed to collecting. Pounamu (greenstone) in the South Island is owned by Ngai Tahu, and collecting it is prohibited apart from a limited beach find you can carry out by hand in one trip.

New Zealand public gold fossicking areas (NZP&M) →

Found at Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area

Gold Encyclopedia →

Nearby fossicking spots

Other fossicking spots in New Zealand within driving distance of Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area.

Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area FAQ

Where is Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area?+

Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area is in Marlborough District, Marlborough, New Zealand, at -41.37630, 173.59430. Nearest road: Wakamarina Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area?+

Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area is reported to produce Gold.

Is fossicking allowed at Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area?+

Generally open to casual fossicking. Public-tagged New Zealand spots are usually designated public gold fossicking areas under the Crown Minerals Act or beaches where casual collecting of loose stones is accepted. Hand tools only, and check local conditions before you dig. Public gold fossicking areas allow hand-tool panning without a permit, but DOC reserves, national parks, and pounamu are off-limits, so always confirm land access before a trip.

More fossicking in Marlborough

See all 1 Marlborough spots →

Open Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking Area on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for geology, weather, directions, and saved finds.