New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

Hi there..

Ever since my dad use to take me to the arrow river with a home made sluice, I have been fascinated with gold.
Now that life has moved so quickly, i now have my own family and ever since that gold rush alaska show screened, I have had an obsession with researching gold mining in the south island.

I now live in Christchurch and have been trying to find a place to take my kids gold panning/sluicing. The cost involved in purchasing a claim seems very high and for the amount of time I could spend fosiking would not be worth while. I see on the crown minerals site that there is designated fossiking areas but the thought of going to an area that has been turned over heaps does not really appeal.

I emailed a couple of people on trademe that were selling claims to see if they would mind if i had a crack on their claim..offered beer and $$ but neither was keen.

Does anyone here know of any good buggers out there that have a claim in the west coast area that i could have a crack at with a sluice and a pan? would be happy to split what i find...probably will be bugger all as im knew at this but would happily supply beer etc

In my research i see that some people just grab the map of claims off the crown minerals site and go have a go at an area that has not been claimed. I asked the guy at crown minerals if I could dunk my pan in a river and as you will know, I am not allowed to go anywhere except for gold fossiking areas or on someones claim.

Anyway thanks for your time in reading my story.

Cheers

Justin

Thanks for the advice. Is there somewhere within the forums where i can ask Claim holders if i could maybe have a crack?

Cheers