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Nelson area and the recnt floods - increased chances for panning?

NuggetHead		Posted : Tuesday, 27 December 2011 2:46:32 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 19/10/2011(UTC) Posts: 42 Thanks: 11 times Was thanked: 19 time(s) in 11 post(s)		Hi all, we are heading up to the Murchison, Nelson areas for about 1.5 weeks. With the recent flooding activity in Nelson area, is it feasable to deduce that with these floods comes increased chances for colour? As with the recent post by me about the Arrowtown and Queenstown area for fossicking, is anyone willing to join in a fossicking trip into the areas arround Nelson/Murchison/Greymouth or upper West coast areas? I know there are many public areas in these areas and would really like to know peoples thoughts about the area, the rivers/creeks and anyother relevant conversations. Thanks Nuggethead

overdog		Posted : Tuesday, 27 December 2011 5:24:23 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 2/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 418 Location: nelson Thanks: 69 times Was thanked: 82 time(s) in 68 post(s)		Hi Nugget- The rain we had up here didnt fall in the main catchment areas for the main goldfields-I'm talking Wangapeka/Baton here,not sure about the Buller. Golden Bay got hammered-Aorere was 15/20 feet above normal and access still difficult so some yellow will have got moved about! Good luck out there... Howard public area and Pinedale motor camp are worth a go...

mineforgold.co.nz		Posted : Tuesday, 27 December 2011 5:36:22 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 299 Location: Nelson Thanks: 58 times Was thanked: 38 time(s) in 35 post(s)		Went up the Wangapeka for a look today. Apart from a few bullets and lead shot found with the detector there wasn't a lot to be had. Quite busy with tourists though.
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kiwikeith		Posted : Tuesday, 27 December 2011 6:09:51 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 648 Location: hector Thanks: 359 times Was thanked: 230 time(s) in 154 post(s)		buller river didnt really get much rain but give me a call 03 782 8955 if in the area

NuggetHead		Posted : Wednesday, 28 December 2011 10:18:24 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 19/10/2011(UTC) Posts: 42 Thanks: 11 times Was thanked: 19 time(s) in 11 post(s)		double post Edited by user Wednesday, 28 December 2011 10:43:31 PM(UTC) \| Reason: double post

NuggetHead		Posted : Wednesday, 28 December 2011 10:19:53 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 19/10/2011(UTC) Posts: 42 Thanks: 11 times Was thanked: 19 time(s) in 11 post(s)		Excellent thanks all! thanks for the info Overdog and Miner. Hey Keith, we will certainly reach out onch we get into the buller area. If your still keen then we can work it out. Cheers all. NH

overdog		Posted : Thursday, 29 December 2011 10:11:17 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 2/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 418 Location: nelson Thanks: 69 times Was thanked: 82 time(s) in 68 post(s)		However its now persisting down and the rivers are at 5 times normal flow so there should be some movement! Best of luck and let us know how you get on!

NuggetHead		Posted : Friday, 30 December 2011 12:22:34 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 19/10/2011(UTC) Posts: 42 Thanks: 11 times Was thanked: 19 time(s) in 11 post(s)		Ok, well we are in Queenstown area until 2nd, when we are booked to leave for the north of the south island. I am a little apprehensive though, not sure what sort of weather we are going to, and dangers of flooding rivers, still fortune favours the bold.....

Lemuel		Posted : Friday, 30 December 2011 7:58:16 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 27/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 4 Location: Dunedin Thanks: 1 times Was thanked: 1 time(s) in 1 post(s)		Hi Nugget - I haven't personally tried my luck that way but grew up in Nelson and know the area pretty well. I used to know a couple of people that had claims on the Wakamarina goldfield and have always wanted to give it a go up there. I could be wrong but I understand that the campground up there at Canvastown has a claim for a stretch of the river and allows guests that are staying with them to prospect. Like you, when I saw how much rain had fell up there I wondered if it might bring some gold down and cursed my bad fortune at being at the wrong end of the island! Here is an article about people looking for gold in Canvastown after a much smaller flood last year http://www.stuff.co.nz/m...astowns-second-gold-rush If you do head up the Wakamarina way, watch out for the ghosts of the old miners.... In 1866 the Burgess Gang murdered five people on the Maungatapu track. Happy hunting!

NuggetHead		Posted : Monday, 2 January 2012 2:32:37 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 19/10/2011(UTC) Posts: 42 Thanks: 11 times Was thanked: 19 time(s) in 11 post(s)		Hey Lemuel, your correct about the campsite and the claim, I too had seen that info on a travel website and felt good about a go there. The article gives some good info too. GHOSTS, love the possibility :), would make a great addition to the fossicking trip..... Will keep the details coming as we explore the Reefton area. Slabhutt, Moonlight creek and Nelson Creek areas will all be explored. ANY ONE CAN GIVE ADVICE ON THESE AREAS I WOULD WELCOME THE INFO :) Edited by user Monday, 2 January 2012 2:33:30 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

chrischch		Posted : Tuesday, 3 January 2012 8:11:09 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		I've been up here in Motueka since the 27th and just managed to get up the Aorere River for a peak yesterday. Cant comment on how high it is compared to normal as ive never been there before. We ran five buckets down the sluice and got a couple wee flakes. Had to leave as the mrs forgot bug spray and got eaten alive. Once i saw colour I couldnt care less how much I got bitten lol. I had trouble finding the public areas so just went to a wee waterfall junction type thing. I will defineately be going back a few times in the next two weeks and maybe a naughty look around elsewhere if it feels innocent enough. Gimme a shout if you want to join forces/share bug spray :)
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NuggetHead		Posted : Thursday, 5 January 2012 1:14:39 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 19/10/2011(UTC) Posts: 42 Thanks: 11 times Was thanked: 19 time(s) in 11 post(s)		Good stuff Chrischch... most likely we can't make it up that far ... this trip... but I would love to give that area a go, certainly we can share the bug off (Bushmans is the bomb). We will go to Canvastown and try the Wakamarina river... you never know.... Not much luck in Slab Hut, I get the feeling (as I can see the evidence) that the SH Creek is well picked over. We got a few small flecks but nothing like what we got in Arrow and Queens towns.... We are in Reefton currently and I will try the creeks and rivers around here... Cheers NH

kiwikeith		Posted : Thursday, 5 January 2012 3:40:05 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 648 Location: hector Thanks: 359 times Was thanked: 230 time(s) in 154 post(s)		hi nugget head if you are in reefton try the road up big river go towards greymouth out of reefton about 1km turn left keep going up there to the top of the hill the road splits thake the 4wd road to big river when you come to the first foward try in there if you have a crevice sucker there are creaks in the ford itself i have always got gold in there about 1 to 2 km down stram the creek goes into a gorge this is very good for crevicing hope this helps