Arrow River Gold Fossicking Area: Fossicking in Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago
- Mineral reported
- 1
Arrow River Gold Fossicking Area is a mapped fossicking spot in Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago, New Zealand. Reported finds include gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, and nearby spots.
About Arrow River Gold Fossicking Area
The Arrow River, a two minute walk from Arrowtown's preserved main street, is a designated public gold fossicking area on one of Otago's most storied rivers. Shearer Jack Tewa found gold here in 1862, and by the end of that year more than 1,500 miners were camped along the banks; some 340 kg of gold left the field in early 1863. Recreational panners still wash colour from gravels along the river edges, and the Lakes District Museum hires gold pans with instructions for a small fee. Only non-motorised hand tools may be used.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual fossicking
- Area
- Queenstown-Lakes District
- Region
- Otago
- Coordinates
- -44.94000, 168.82800
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground and access before you head out.
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.
Today's weather
Is today a good day to go?
The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Arrow River Gold Fossicking Area.
Get the appFound at Arrow River Gold Fossicking Area
Nearby fossicking spots
Other fossicking spots in New Zealand within driving distance of Arrow River Gold Fossicking Area.
- Tucker Beach (Shotover River) Gold Fossicking AreaQueenstown-Lakes District, Otago · 11 km awayGold
- Five Mile Creek Gold Fossicking AreaQueenstown-Lakes District, Otago · 21 km awayGold
- Twelve Mile Creek Gold Fossicking AreaQueenstown-Lakes District, Otago · 28 km awayGold
- Gabriels Gully Gold Fossicking AreaClutha District, Otago · 124 km awayGold
- Gemstone BeachSouthland District, Southland · 172 km awayGarnet, Jasper, Quartz
- Jones Creek Gold Fossicking AreaWestland District, West Coast · 276 km awayGold
Arrow River Gold Fossicking Area FAQ
Where is Arrow River Gold Fossicking Area?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Arrow River Gold Fossicking Area?+
Is fossicking allowed at Arrow River Gold Fossicking Area?+
More fossicking in Otago
See all 5 Otago spots →
Open Arrow River Gold Fossicking Area on the map
Use the RockHoundR app for geology, weather, directions, and saved finds.
