Hi all, Well we have been back from NZ now for about 2 weeks and finally sorted ourselves out. Being away for 2 months is a long time and returning back you need some time to recover. Anyway, we spent about 4 weeks of the 8 weeks in the South Island, starting in Picton, driving to Arrowtown (stayed for 1.5 weeks, had new year in Queenstown), then on to Reefton, and then ending in Canvas Town for 5 days. In that time we did about 5 days total gold panning in variuos rivers (Arrow river, Shotover river, Kawerau George, Inangahua River, Slab Hutt creek, Wakamarina River). We saw some most excellent country, met lots of really nice and interesting people, got to spend lots of time in nature, became experienced in dealing with sandflies, but most of all had a really great time.
The success in the acquisition of gold, while secondary to the trip, was still lots of fun and kept us excited every time we found even the smallest bit. Simple fact was, that by the end of the trip and talking to lots of people (some opened up to us and others were guarded) we gained lots of experience in what we were doing right and what we were doing wrong. As you can see by the attached, we had minimal success in just straight panning, in places easily accessible (roadside stops, public areas, not really tramping or walk for long distances etc...). Of course we were really just trying it all out; experience is gained through the doing.....
All in all, when I return at the end of this year to do some more of the same, I will be better prepared (Logistically, physically and with some experience under my belt) and expect to do better than the first attempt.
You know what surprised me the most, was that:
1. I was able to actually find where the gold was, all be it in small quantities.
2. That virtually everywhere we looked, we found it (all be it in small quantities
I wanted to pay special thanks to Simon (Queenstown area) for giving it a go with us, to Lemuel for the advise on Canvastown. we met some great people there and got lots of advice, pitty it was at the end of the trip.
Anyway, have a good one all and I am certianly a beliver that:
1. The gold is out there and...
2. Gold is certainly where you find it
Cheers
Connor
NuggetHead attached the following image(s):
