Nelson Creek Gold Fossicking Area: Fossicking in Grey District, West Coast
- Mineral reported
- 1
Nelson Creek Gold Fossicking Area is a mapped fossicking spot in Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand. Reported finds include gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, and nearby spots.
About Nelson Creek Gold Fossicking Area
Nelson Creek is a small settlement up the Grey Valley, reached from the Ngahere turnoff on State Highway 7 about half an hour from Greymouth, and has a recreational gold fossicking area where no permit is required. The creek and its side gullies were mined hard in the West Coast rushes, and short walks from the DOC picnic and camping reserve pass hand-cut tunnels, tailings, dams and water races left by the diggers. A swimming hole beside the reserve makes it a popular summer stop for families.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual fossicking
- Area
- Grey District
- Region
- West Coast
- Coordinates
- -42.40930, 171.50850
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 Nelson Creek Gold Fossicking Area.
- Moonlight Creek Gold Fossicking AreaGrey District, West Coast · 13 km awayGold
- Slab Hut Creek Gold Fossicking AreaBuller District, West Coast · 37 km awayGold
- Shamrock Creek (Goldsborough) Gold Fossicking AreaWestland District, West Coast · 43 km awayGold
- Hokitika BeachWestland District, West Coast · 57 km awayPounamu, Quartz
- Jones Creek Gold Fossicking AreaWestland District, West Coast · 80 km awayGold
- Lyell Creek Gold Fossicking AreaBuller District, West Coast · 81 km awayGold
Nelson Creek Gold Fossicking Area FAQ
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