Aorere River Gold Fossicking Area: Fossicking in Tasman District, Tasman
- Mineral reported
- 1
Aorere River Gold Fossicking Area is a mapped fossicking spot in Tasman District, Tasman, New Zealand. Reported finds include gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, and nearby spots.
About Aorere River Gold Fossicking Area
Two stretches of the Aorere River southwest of Collingwood are set aside as public gold fossicking areas, where panning and sluice boxing with non-motorised hand tools need no permit. Area A sits about 15 km from Collingwood on Aorere Valley Road beyond Bainham, and Area B lies roughly 30 km up the valley near the northern end of the Heaphy Track. The valley hosted New Zealand's first major goldfield, rushed in 1857 when some 2,500 diggers spread out from Collingwood to work the alluvial gravels. At nearby Rockville, the DOC-managed Aorere Goldfields preserve 1880s ground-sluicing claims on a walk-or-bike loop from the goldfields car park.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual fossicking
- Area
- Tasman District
- Region
- Tasman
- Nearest road
- Aorere Valley Road
- Coordinates
- -40.75430, 172.61700
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.
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Nearby fossicking spots
Other fossicking spots in New Zealand within driving distance of Aorere River Gold Fossicking Area.
- Wakamarina River Gold Fossicking AreaMarlborough District, Marlborough · 107 km awayGold
- Louis Creek Gold Fossicking AreaTasman District, Tasman · 113 km awayGold
- New Creek Gold Fossicking AreaTasman District, Tasman · 113 km awayGold
- Lyell Creek Gold Fossicking AreaBuller District, West Coast · 125 km awayGold
- Stony and Britannia Streams Gold Fossicking AreaBuller District, West Coast · 125 km awayGold
- Slab Hut Creek Gold Fossicking AreaBuller District, West Coast · 170 km awayGold
Aorere River Gold Fossicking Area FAQ
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More fossicking in Tasman
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