New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

Hi all, am I wasting my time looking for any other DTs in the Hamilton area, it would appear if there are then they may shy? so please if you read this and are in or close to Hamilton get in touch. Regards Fiddy

Lucky you call that lucky DOH! But it would be just great to beable to talk to someone other than myself (apart from my brother and he is in the UK) tell you what sort of luck I have mate, If I fell into a swimming pool full of t--s I would come up sucking my thumb!!
You all know what it is like to share that find with others etc. Regards The Fidd

added to watch list... wonder if it is real Sov and if so, i will bid on it :-)

Just spent last night and the morning hunting around Cambridge for the reward of only a few dollars - not Hamilton but close.... I think my lack of success was more my choice of sites then the area as in theory it should be good there.

You are lucky being in Hamilton. Do some research on some of the out laying towns and areas as well - lots of potential in the Waikato.

Sorry should be HIT doh! too early to be on here anyway, I should be out swinging. Not a bad bid $102.

Parks you're fine in. The only No Go areas are private property without permission (inc schools) and Historic Places Trust areas. There are fine print regulations from most councils and DOC etc that says you are not allowed to disturb any vegetation but if care is taken with plugs then there is no damage and the council workers I've talked have never minded.

But the danger comes from the uninformed public. For example an old lady walking a dog might see you digging a plug and get "antsi" reporting the activity to the council. Because of this I normally only hunt public land in the early hours of the morning or late evening. I have only ever come across one such person and she was pissed out of her head anyway, everybody else that has approached me have just been curious about what I have found. But still it is good for the hobby not to be to obvious about it even if your doing nothing wrong.

For Hamilton I would try around the lake domain (especially under the large trees where people & students inc myself used to picnic in summer), and the park areas along the river. Research old landings and access ways along the river to get the old silver coins & relics

Public access areas can be found using this site: http://wams.org.nz/wams_desktop/index.aspx
Old areas can be found via photos seen at: http://natlib.govt.nz and maps from this site: http://digital.liby.waikato.ac.nz/nzc/map/index.html

I would also look at some of the pioneer towns in the area and the old time swimming/bathing spots on the river. Raglan could be worthwhile but I doubt your detector will handle the black sand.

Gold fossicking is another matter - this is a "do it at your own risk" activity in the Nth Isl. But general metal detecting is fine.

Will give you a yell if I end up as far as Hamilton detecting.

Edited by user Friday, 23 November 2012 10:23:36 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Better hurry up and get out there otherwise I might bet you to it! :)

The lake in the 1920's.......

I'm already on the motorway heading south fastas.
Well no not really
I wish.
Good luck fiddy40

My understanding is

The CTX3030 should still work very well, with full discrimination capabilities.
The Excalibur can work, but will lose a lot of sensitivity in highly mineralized soils, which includes beaches with high black sand concentrations.

but I have not yet tried this myself.
I think the west coast beaches are a challenge for all detectorists.
Has anyone on the forum had any success I wonder?
Would be good to hear some reports.

Chris
DetectNZ
Minelab Dealer
09 820 4969

Chris mate, you got my minelab back pack yet? :-) regards the fidd......