New Creek Gold Fossicking Area: Fossicking in Tasman District, Tasman

New Creek 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 New Creek Gold Fossicking Area

New Creek drains the Howard goldfields beside the Glenhope Scenic Reserve, and its upper reaches were intensively worked during the Depression, when good gold was found although the small creek often ran too dry to work over summer. DOC describes it as the least modified and most beautiful part of the Howard field, with grassy clearings marking old hut sites among the regrown forest. Access is from State Highway 63 up Howard Valley Road for about 5 km, then along Porika Road, a 4WD route toward Lake Rotoroa with marked track signs down to the creek. Fossicking is confined to the creek bed using non-mechanised hand tools, with sluice boxes limited to 1.5 m.

DOC: Glenhope Scenic Reserve fossicking brochure →

Quick details

Access: Public area
Area: Tasman District
Region: Tasman
Nearest road: Howard Valley Road
Coordinates: -41.77300, 172.65500

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 New Creek Gold Fossicking Area

Gold Encyclopedia →

Nearby fossicking spots

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

New Creek Gold Fossicking Area FAQ

Where is New Creek Gold Fossicking Area?+

New Creek Gold Fossicking Area is in Tasman District, Tasman, New Zealand, at -41.77300, 172.65500. Nearest road: Howard Valley Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at New Creek Gold Fossicking Area?+

New Creek Gold Fossicking Area is reported to produce Gold.

Is fossicking allowed at New Creek 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 Tasman

See all 3 Tasman spots →

Open New Creek Gold Fossicking Area on the map

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