Sofala / Turondale / Hillend NSW questions and information

[GrizzlyLar]

Hi Guys,

Complete newbie here, never prospected, panned or picked up a shovel for gold before. Me and the Mrs have decided to head away for a few days camping over xmas while we have time off work to do a spot of exploring, relaxing and panning. I've been doing some research online on the area's around Sydney. NSW and decided on the Sofala/Turondale/Hillend area. So Turon river to Macquarie.

Its a designated fossicking district and the rivers and creeks are marked as crown land. From what Ive read I think its correct that I therefore have access. Crown leased from what I gather is a different matter.

We will be taking our hammocks etc. so looking to bush camp. A lot of the areas that Ive been checking on google satellite for obvious bedrock seem very remote and away from any houses etc. but would like to be sure that Im not encroaching on anyones land. Is there anyway to tell if a piece of land is owned by someone?

On the area can anyone recommend some good spots where we could camp up for a couple of days and relax and prospect? Not just for gold but for relaxing or swimming.

On the equipment side Im looking to get a pan, classifier, sniffer bottle, bucket, shovel and crevice scraper. Unfortunately I dont think I have time to make a manual pump. Are there any essential items that people would recommend?

Many thanks,

Grizzly

 

[reefer]

Turondale would be where you should start for a first poke at the yellow...plenty of space to camp and the current high level of the river..the Turon could very well replenish the area with fresh deposits. you will see the general camping area on your right a hundred yards or so after crossing the bridge,come crossing there. Look for ironstone deposits-gravels on the downstream side of river rocks..obstacles on the inside banks of bends in the river flow...good luck.

 

[Jaros]

Welcome Grizzly.

 

[GrizzlyLar]

Turondale would be where you should start for a first poke at the yellow...plenty of space to camp and the current high level of the river..the Turon could very well replenish the area with fresh deposits. you will see the general camping area on your right a hundred yards or so after crossing the bridge,come crossing there. Look for ironstone deposits-gravels on the downstream side of river rocks..obstacles on the inside banks of bends in the river flow...good luck.

Thanks for the tip reefer. Yes hopefully the rain we've had will bring us some luck.

 

[GrizzlyLar]

Welcome Grizzly.

Thanks Jaros. Good to be here.

 

[brokeassdigger]

just stayed at sofala for a night and the river is very high and the turon river is not passable atm, so give it a few weeks to lower its level, found a few specs around the edges of the flood banks but nothing of any size

 

[GrizzlyLar]

just stayed at sofala for a night and the river is very high and the turon river is not passable atm, so give it a few weeks to lower its level, found a few specs around the edges of the flood banks but nothing of any size

Thanks for the tip brokeassdigger. I'm hoping the rain will start to hold off soon.

 

[brendomac]

I think it's called green point. It is east of Sofala. Free camp, Drop toilets and plenty of space. Although I reckon over Christmas it will be packed. There are a heap of old diggings just up the hill from the site. You can also swim. There is an awesome swimming hole about 5km to the east, you would drive there.

It's a good place as a base and you can do day trips to all the places you mentioned. Hill end is definitely worth a look see.

You can fossick all along the river (and camp, except at a couple of private farms), you can drive for ages along a fire trail to the east, but there are river crossings. I think you can to the west too, but I haven't driven that way.

 

[GrizzlyLar]

I think it's called green point. It is east of Sofala. Free camp, Drop toilets and plenty of space. Although I reckon over Christmas it will be packed. There are a heap of old diggings just up the hill from the site. You can also swim. There is an awesome swimming hole about 5km to the east, you would drive there.

It's a good place as a base and you can do day trips to all the places you mentioned. Hill end is definitely worth a look see.

You can fossick all along the river (and camp, except at a couple of private farms), you can drive for ages along a fire trail to the east, but there are river crossings. I think you can to the west too, but I haven't driven that way.

Thanks for the tip Brendomatic. Much appreciated.

 

[AJCT.L.C 69]

Turondale would be where you should start for a first poke at the yellow...plenty of space to camp and the current high level of the river..the Turon could very well replenish the area with fresh deposits. you will see the general camping area on your right a hundred yards or so after crossing the bridge,come crossing there. Look for ironstone deposits-gravels on the downstream side of river rocks..obstacles on the inside banks of bends in the river flow...good luck.

Hi there I would loke to no were to go jilll end

 

[user 4485]

Please read here in regards to NSW Crown Land:
https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...ecting-regulations-all-australian-states.125/
Info on Hill End here:
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/threads/hill-end-area-nsw.18110/#post-259652

 

[Ubutey45]

Welcome Grizzly.

Do pensioners have to pay for fossicking permit

 

[reefer]

In respect of the Fossickers Permit...and to the best of my knowledge, there is no concession for a pensioner in respect of the NSW Fossickers Permit...at $27.50 I think it is not an unreasonable price as I too am a pensioner, but of course, it may prove difficult for some.

 

[user 4485]

As Reefer says it looks like there is no concession on the NSW State Forests permit. At $27.50 it can cover up to 2 x adults & 3 x children in the same family unit though so it's not too bad in that respect.
The NSW Crown Land fossicking permits are available free of charge.

 

[Golden_Smoky]

Have to remember these posts, as I've been camped at Hill End and prospected there with both detector and panning and there is nothing to detect anymore in that vicinity but the river when it has some water go through it comes up with bits of flower gold, nothing much, but just a few specs and it's hard fought for. So another area around there is a bonus such as Turondale, thanks for all the info peoples'.

 

[Mackka]

Don’t forget Cudgegong for a pan or two.

 

[Capertee gold]

Thats a very beautiful part of the country to explore ,and the mighty turon is a fantastic river to explore ,I've spent 2 yrs 8hrs a day every opportunity I could get exploring it from when i lived just up the road from capertee national park ,turon gates track which goes out through palmers Oakley that has a reserve you can camp at, and there's a few good areas along the river there to explore and camp then if you cross the creek and go right the track will take you along the river passing an old stone hut then up along the ridge a bit then back down and across the river 3 times with miles of spots to pan all the way to sofala's Green pt camp grounds
But yes if camping pick some higher ground as others have said ,I've seen that river go from a few inches deep to a 2+ meter raging torrent in less than a couple of hours and it was blue sky where I was .
In saying that it doesn't matter what side of the river your on as long as you've got a 4x4 and enough fuel to take some long treks out to a main road ,for example from palmers Oakley you can take the left track and come out at sunny corner ,so there's always options ,The from sofala you've hill end to the west and wattle flat to the south, and both have designated fossicking areas .So much to explore out there I could go on for ever I wish you luck mate

 

[WalnLiz]

Turondale would be where you should start for a first poke at the yellow...plenty of space to camp and the current high level of the river..the Turon could very well replenish the area with fresh deposits. you will see the general camping area on your right a hundred yards or so after crossing the bridge,come crossing there. Look for ironstone deposits-gravels on the downstream side of river rocks..obstacles on the inside banks of bends in the river flow...good luck.

I'm with Reefer on this one...Turodale has a large area to camp on both sides of the bridge and you "will" get gold for your efforts. Downstream has the best rock bars and the further down you go the better it gets. In Summer sniping for gold is very successful there as well and a great way to cool off in the heat of the day...there is some sniping vids on our WalnLiz You Tube channel that may be of help if you have never done it before. Cheers Wal.

 

[Mackka]

Hey Capertee Gold, once again mate i cannot thank you enough for that 1985 magazine and it was the Turon that Jim and I were on. I do remember swimming in the river and picking blackberries on the bank and swimming as hard as we could to get away from the Tiger Snakes that didn’t want us there. Great times. Mackka

 

[grubstake]

WalnLiz You Tube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/WalnLiz