Hello

[Lar]

Hi everybody!

I'm Holly from Melbourne. I really want to get into gold prospecting but I don't know much about it. I am looking to buy the X terra 705 at some point in the future. For now I am just trying to familiarise myself with the process and get a good idea of where I can go gold hunting. I usually go hiking every weekend so I am somewhat familiar with places such as Lerderderg and Steiglitz and I love camping in Walhalla.

I would love some good advice for places to go in Victoria once I get the detector, especially around Daylesford and places closer to Melbourne.

Thanks!

 

[gedanate]

Try the Golden Triangle area, north of Melbourne. Lots of goldfields there.

 

[SCROUNGER]

Gidday Lar and welcome to PA.

 

[aushunter]

Welcome

First get the Basics.
Buy a pan, small pick and a little shovel and learn the art of panning.
Then go from there, don't spend a lot of money first then finding out it really wasn't the right thing to do.
Cheers
Brad....

 

[Lar]

Thanks for the welcome and tips! In terms of where to go searching, my understanding is that state forests are fine, state parks are out, and most national parks are out except the ones on the list. Rivers and streams are ok unless on the no go list.
Please let me know if I have this wrong before I get arrested!

Also how long does it usually take to find a first nugget for a total noob like me? I'm thinking 6 months to get the hang of the detector and work my way along the steep learning curve. I know I should probably start with panning first, but I just am not excited about that prospect. I would rather detect, even if I am just finding rubbish and 2c coins.

 

[Chewy]

Hi Lar welcome aboard. I'm a newby to, have been at it for a few months now since I took the plunge and bought a gpx 5000. I haven't found any gold as yet, but only been over to the goldfields 3 times for a cpl of days at a time. Some people are finding gold on their 1st trip out, some it's a little longer. I'm told it's just a matter of getting the coil over a nugget. The 705 has found gold before, but it struggles in the highly mineralised ground of the goldfields. For this reason I started looking at pulse induction detectors that handle the mineralisation much better and punch deeper into the ground. Have you c8nsidered hiring a detector to try out before spending up big? PI detectors are more expensive, but can be hired for as little as 50 bucks a day.

 

[Jaros]

Welcome Lar.
Jaros

 

[Keano]

Hey Holly,

I was lucky to find gold on my very first outing, so it can be done. Mind you, there was about 300hrs of research that took place before I went out for my first swing. So my advice is read, read, read and then research some more on anything that relates to detecting. I have also found this forum to be one of the best I have ever been part of. Very helpful and friendly however,don't expect anyone to tell you where they find gold, it's just the way prospecting is.

At some stage I will try the lerderderg as there is something about the place that interest me, so that may be a good place to start. Buy your self some maps and just give it a go.

Good luck.

 

[silver]

Welcome Lars,.... good luck comes with good skill(my treasure hunting philosophy),...reading and watching is a big upskiller just before the hands on approach starts.

 

[DrDuck]

Very good advice, Keano, research is practical and interesting as well, so a winner all round,