Hi everyone, from Germany

[AlexandSebNew]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and currently reside in Germany. I’m keen to connect with individuals in Australia who engage in gold prospecting as a hobby and are interested in making new friends who share this passion. Although I don't have much experience in gold searching, I find the pursuit of gold and other minerals in rivers quite fascinating. I dabbled in it a few years ago, but now I mostly enjoy watching shows like "Gold Diggers" on DMAXX. In Germany you can find only flitters of gold in rivers and you have to spend many hours and a lot of work to collect 1 gram of gold. Still it is nice if you finally see those flitters in your glass tube.

I would also like to know if it’s permissible for tourists to pan for gold in Australia and if you have any hints and infos on how to etc. What are the main regions, what is your experience and so on.

Thank you very much !

Alexander

 

[Gold]

Welcome to the community Alexander! We're glad you joined us!

 

[grubstake]

I am new to this forum and currently reside in Germany. I’m keen to connect with individuals in Australia who engage in gold prospecting as a hobby and are interested in making new friends who share this passion. Although I don't have much experience in gold searching, I find the pursuit of gold and other minerals in rivers quite fascinating. I dabbled in it a few years ago, but now I mostly enjoy watching shows like "Gold Diggers" on DMAXX. In Germany you can find only flitters of gold in rivers and you have to spend many hours and a lot of work to collect 1 gram of gold. Still it is nice if you finally see those flitters in your glass tube.

I would also like to know if it’s permissible for tourists to pan for gold in Australia and if you have any hints and infos on how to etc. What are the main regions, what is your experience and so on.

Hi Alex and Seb, welcome to PA.

Gold panning is fine for tourists in the four states which have suitable creeks/rivers. Here are their official prospecting/fossicking information webpages:
Queensland: https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/areas-facilities/fossicking
New South Wales: https://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/mining-and-exploration/fossicking-nsw
Victoria: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/things-to-do/fossicking-prospecting
Tasmania: https://www.mrt.tas.gov.au/prospecting_and_fossicking

 

[Aussie Adventurer]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and currently reside in Germany. I’m keen to connect with individuals in Australia who engage in gold prospecting as a hobby and are interested in making new friends who share this passion. Although I don't have much experience in gold searching, I find the pursuit of gold and other minerals in rivers quite fascinating. I dabbled in it a few years ago, but now I mostly enjoy watching shows like "Gold Diggers" on DMAXX. In Germany you can find only flitters of gold in rivers and you have to spend many hours and a lot of work to collect 1 gram of gold. Still it is nice if you finally see those flitters in your glass tube.

I would also like to know if it’s permissible for tourists to pan for gold in Australia and if you have any hints and infos on how to etc. What are the main regions, what is your experience and so on.

Thank you very much !

Alexander

Hi Alexander,

Welcome to the forum!
Great to hear that you’re interested in gold prospecting.
You’re absolutely right—finding even small gold is rewarding,
In Australia the prospecting scene is on a whole different level to what you're used to and although it can be challenging the rewards can be worth it, if you go about it properly!

If you ever make your way down under and want to try your luck detecting for gold nuggets, I’d be happy to help! I offer training and guidance to help people get started in gold prospecting, including safety, navigation and of corse- gold detecting.
Happy to teach you anything you may want to know - as long as it's related to gold prospecting with a gold detector .

In Western Australia, you need a Miner’s Right.
This is a low-cost lifetime permit you can get online which currently is (as far as I am aware) $29.50 AUD.
With that it allows you to (in simple terms) :

Prospect on vacant Crown Land
Prospect on active Exploration leases (provided you have applied for a 40E permit)
And yes- you can keep any gold you find ( limits apply )
Use hand tools, metal detectors, and or panning equipment


Where to Find Gold in WA?
Some of the best gold-bearing areas in WA include:

Kalgoorlie & the Eastern Goldfields – Rich history and large gold nuggets found here
Leonora & Laverton – Excellent for metal detecting
Meekatharra & Cue – Popular among prospectors
Pilbara Region – More remote, but has yielded some big nuggets in recent years

And as grubstake pointed out, yes, tourists can pan for gold in Australia, but rules vary by state.

If you’re keen to learn more about detecting for gold nuggets, feel free to check out my website:
www.aussieadventurer.com.au
If you ever plan a trip, I’d be happy to chat and help you get started!

Cheers, Jim