First timer visiting Bendigo and surrounds

[Nathan]

Hi everyone, nice to meet you all,
This is my first post, I've read through some of the other posts here and appreciate all of the information you have all provided.

I'm off for a few days this coming weekend to Bendigo and have hired a Minelab GPX6000 for a few days to try gold detecting (Another newbie!) I have the Gold Atlas and miner's permits and have done a bit of research on where I'm allowed to go. I don't have any expectations of finding anything this trip until I'm more familiar with how it all works but I do have one or two questions:

Detecting in low scrub and around creek banks are great locations for snakes. Would anyone have tips on safety such as what shoes are best and tricks anyone has found to avoid them? I have a first aid kit and snake bite bandages (x2) but I'd much prefer to reduce the risk of meeting them altogether.

I'm looking at 3 areas, Whipstick, Kangaroo Flat and some one has also mentioned Laanecoorie (though I'm not sure where exactly) Which of these would be the best for finding anything or are they all about the same? Any recommendations on anywhere else that might be better around Bendigo? I have a 4WD so can access a few more offroad locations

I'll do a follow up post after the trip on where I went and if I had any luck, hopefully I'll be in a position to give back some tips or information to you all

Thank you everyone!

 

[grubstake]

Hi Nathan, welcome to PA.

Laanecoorie is the odd one out in your proposed locations - I don't recall ever hearing of detectable gold there.

Snakes are a very real menace in the sort of areas you mention, and prospectors often wear heavy duty gaiters to protect their lower legs. If you do a PA Search for 'gaiters' you'll see some recommendations.

Good luck when you get out there!

 

[Northeast]

Hi Nathan.

You’re a fair chance out the Whipstick to at least find some shiny yellow - albeit amongst a heck of a lot of lead shot and other rubbish. Just look for some old diggings, shallow workings, etc.

Snakes - in 8 years of detecting I’ve seen 1 brown snake. I think whilst detecting you’re reasonably safe. The slow moving nature of detecting, scrubbing the coil, etc, seems to move them along well before you see them. More likely that walking to and from a spot will you encounter a snake.

Long pants, a pair of good boots and some gaiters should see you safe.

Best of luck

 

[Hawkear]

Hi Nathan
Whipstick would be your best area around Bendigo although have also found gold at Kangaroo flat.
Laanecoorie is where the fabulously rich Posiedon area is located but unfortunately that is on private property. Probably Laanacoorie was mentioned as a good place to stay as it only a matter of a few minutes drive to the gullies of Tarnagulla and Waanyarra and only a few more minutes to Dunolly.
If you are hiring a detector, you want to get maximum hours of use out of it, so factor in your travelling time as driving to places like the Whipstick can involve significant travelling time even if staying somewhere in Bendigo. There is a saying for modern prospectors about "Staying or camping on the gold".
Along the lines of saving times, also consider buying John Tully prospecting guide maps (available for all the areas mentioned) as I have found them probably the best help deciding which actual gullies and even which part of the gully to head for rather than just driving around in a "general" gold area looking for detecting opportunities. Save that for later occasions when you may have more time up your sleeve.
As has been already been mentioned, snakes will not be a problem just wear some hard wearing long trousers and importantly METAL FREE boots.
I wear Redbacks but others have different preferences. Hiking shoes are also sturdy but generally have metal eyelets and with today's highly sensitive detectors, the last thing you want is ANY metal coming into and out of range of your coil while detecting. If you don't already have any, think seriously about investing in a good comfortable pair of detecting boots.
There is actually a thread about footwear in this forum.
Good luck.



.

 

[lazypat]

Hi everyone, nice to meet you all,
This is my first post, I've read through some of the other posts here and appreciate all of the information you have all provided.

I'm off for a few days this coming weekend to Bendigo and have hired a Minelab GPX6000 for a few days to try gold detecting (Another newbie!) I have the Gold Atlas and miner's permits and have done a bit of research on where I'm allowed to go. I don't have any expectations of finding anything this trip until I'm more familiar with how it all works but I do have one or two questions:

Detecting in low scrub and around creek banks are great locations for snakes. Would anyone have tips on safety such as what shoes are best and tricks anyone has found to avoid them? I have a first aid kit and snake bite bandages (x2) but I'd much prefer to reduce the risk of meeting them altogether.

I'm looking at 3 areas, Whipstick, Kangaroo Flat and some one has also mentioned Laanecoorie (though I'm not sure where exactly) Which of these would be the best for finding anything or are they all about the same? Any recommendations on anywhere else that might be better around Bendigo? I have a 4WD so can access a few more offroad locations

I'll do a follow up post after the trip on where I went and if I had any luck, hopefully I'll be in a position to give back some tips or information to you all

Thank you everyone!

Whipstick is pretty worked over as lightning hill, try wedderburn, talbot, ost places are fairly worked over, if you go dunolly way, free camping at waanyaara cemetery, about 100mtres up the road (i thinknits called montigue lane, first road to left says waanyaara but take second road to left to waanyaara cemetrey and few hundred mtres past , it has toilets and. Friendly people, b4 you get there you will come to tarningulla, it has a sports ground with a care taker and $10 per night ,hot coin operated showers and toilets very safe tgere, and you can go to many locations from here dunolly, talbot, maryborough etc.gold is where you walk over it, regardless of the detector, both bendigo and maryborough have detecting shops coiltek at maryborough will tell you some good spots to try and can buy your gold at the end of the day

 

[Nathan]

Hi Nathan, welcome to PA.

Laanecoorie is the odd one out in your proposed locations - I don't recall ever hearing of detectable gold there.

Snakes are a very real menace in the sort of areas you mention, and prospectors often wear heavy duty gaiters to protect their lower legs. If you do a PA Search for 'gaiters' you'll see some recommendations.

Good luck when you get out there!

Thank you Grubstake! I didn't know about the gaitors at all, so this is really valuable advice - I've looked at two kinds, 'Double D' and 'Snakeprotex' (the latter having metal studs so may not be as suitable)

 

[Nathan]

Hi Nathan
Whipstick would be your best area around Bendigo although have also found gold at Kangaroo flat.
Laanecoorie is where the fabulously rich Posiedon area is located but unfortunately that is on private property. Probably Laanacoorie was mentioned as a good place to stay as it only a matter of a few minutes drive to the gullies of Tarnagulla and Waanyarra and only a few more minutes to Dunolly.
If you are hiring a detector, you want to get maximum hours of use out of it, so factor in your travelling time as driving to places like the Whipstick can involve significant travelling time even if staying somewhere in Bendigo. There is a saying for modern prospectors about "Staying or camping on the gold".
Along the lines of saving times, also consider buying John Tully prospecting guide maps (available for all the areas mentioned) as I have found them probably the best help deciding which actual gullies and even which part of the gully to head for rather than just driving around in a "general" gold area looking for detecting opportunities. Save that for later occasions when you may have more time up your sleeve.
As has been already been mentioned, snakes will not be a problem just wear some hard wearing long trousers and importantly METAL FREE boots.
I wear Redbacks but others have different preferences. Hiking shoes are also sturdy but generally have metal eyelets and with today's highly sensitive detectors, the last thing you want is ANY metal coming into and out of range of your coil while detecting. If you don't already have any, think seriously about investing in a good comfortable pair of detecting boots.
There is actually a thread about footwear in this forum.
Good luck.



.

Thank you Hawkear this is great advice. I bought the Gold Atlas of Victoria 3rd Ed. by Doug Stone the other week from Miner's Den in Melbourne, the salesperson was helpful and also mentioned the John Tully maps.
Re the footwear, I have a pair of hiking Merrells which I've just checked for metal eyelets etc. they should be all fine to use but Grubstake has mentioned gaiters which I'll invest in as well. Appreciate all of your time to respond!

 

[Nathan]

Hi Nathan.

You’re a fair chance out the Whipstick to at least find some shiny yellow - albeit amongst a heck of a lot of lead shot and other rubbish. Just look for some old diggings, shallow workings, etc.

Snakes - in 8 years of detecting I’ve seen 1 brown snake. I think whilst detecting you’re reasonably safe. The slow moving nature of detecting, scrubbing the coil, etc, seems to move them along well before you see them. More likely that walking to and from a spot will you encounter a snake.

Long pants, a pair of good boots and some gaiters should see you safe.

Best of luck

Thanks Northeast, good to know they're not as common to come across as I thought, but I'll get some good gaitors and shoes to make sure. Appreciate you getting back

 

[Nathan]

Whipstick is pretty worked over as lightning hill, try wedderburn, talbot, ost places are fairly worked over, if you go dunolly way, free camping at waanyaara cemetery, about 100mtres up the road (i thinknits called montigue lane, first road to left says waanyaara but take second road to left to waanyaara cemetrey and few hundred mtres past , it has toilets and. Friendly people, b4 you get there you will come to tarningulla, it has a sports ground with a care taker and $10 per night ,hot coin operated showers and toilets very safe tgere, and you can go to many locations from here dunolly, talbot, maryborough etc.gold is where you walk over it, regardless of the detector, both bendigo and maryborough have detecting shops coiltek at maryborough will tell you some good spots to try and can buy your gold at the end of the day

Thank you Lazypat! This is really helpful as well. I was going to hire from Coiltek in Maryborough, good to know of a campground with a shower as well, I'd say I'll need it after a day with the detector. Thank you again for the location advice

 

[Jigalong]

Hi everyone, nice to meet you all,
This is my first post, I've read through some of the other posts here and appreciate all of the information you have all provided.

I'm off for a few days this coming weekend to Bendigo and have hired a Minelab GPX6000 for a few days to try gold detecting (Another newbie!) I have the Gold Atlas and miner's permits and have done a bit of research on where I'm allowed to go. I don't have any expectations of finding anything this trip until I'm more familiar with how it all works but I do have one or two questions:

Detecting in low scrub and around creek banks are great locations for snakes. Would anyone have tips on safety such as what shoes are best and tricks anyone has found to avoid them? I have a first aid kit and snake bite bandages (x2) but I'd much prefer to reduce the risk of meeting them altogether.

I'm looking at 3 areas, Whipstick, Kangaroo Flat and some one has also mentioned Laanecoorie (though I'm not sure where exactly) Which of these would be the best for finding anything or are they all about the same? Any recommendations on anywhere else that might be better around Bendigo? I have a 4WD so can access a few more offroad locations

I'll do a follow up post after the trip on where I went and if I had any luck, hopefully I'll be in a position to give back some tips or information to you all

Thank you everyone!

I always wear knee length gaters, when I detect. These work well against bull ants too, if you get ones you can make fairly tight on your legs, so they have trouble getting up inside your trousers.. Mine are made from welding leather and have 5 velcro straps. (Made by a lady in the Triangle......one of our members may know her name)
I wear strong boots, without metal toe caps, made in Australia. I cannot remember the name and don't have them here to check, sorry.
I just spent threeweeks in the Whipstick and it was tough going. There were two new detectorists with 6000s and a guy with a new Algoforce. They got nothing, the entire time. The area if absolutely vacumed and not a good place to try to get your first piece of gold. I got 30 tiny pieces, that only added up to 0.27gm.
Cheers.