• Fossicking and prospecting

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Fossicking and prospecting

Warrandyte State Park

Heathcote-Graytown National Park

Greater Bendigo National Park

Enfield State Park

Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve

Steiglitz Historic Park

Kara Kara National Park

Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park

Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park

Beechworth Historic Park

Reef Hills State Park

Paddys Ranges State Park

Kooyoora State Park

Gold panning, fossicking or prospecting typically involves the use of metal detectors, hand tools, pans or sluices in the search for gold, gemstones and other minerals. Prospecting can be an exciting experience. Many of the world’s largest gold nuggets have been found in the Golden Triangle of central Victoria. Elsewhere, gemstone fossickers have found sapphires, zeolites and agate.

Prospecting Areas Maps

Find out more about where you can go prospecting on Parks Victoria managed land using the prospecting areas maps. 
For information on other public land areas, contact the relevant land manager.

 

Minimum impact prospecting

You can enjoy prospecting and help minimise any impact in the following ways:

  • Prospect only in the permitted area.
  • Only drive your vehicles on tracks and roads open to the public.
  • Only park your vehicle on the roadside.
  • Take all rubbish home or place it in a bin where provided. Do not bury it.
  • Minimise any damage to vegetation including the ground layer.
  • Restore the ground as you found it - backfill any holes you dig and replace any leaf litter as it was as soon as practicable.

 

Need to know

Fossicking and prospecting

Prospecting permits

A Miner's Right is a permit for prospecting in Victoria and must be carried at all times while you are prospecting. The only exception is if you are part of an organised group prospecting under the authority of a valid Tourist Fossicking Authority. The Mineral Resources Development Act 1990 sets out the rights and obligations of the holder of a Miner's Right.

Heritage Act 2017

It is an offence under the Heritage Act 2017 to disturb an archaeological site without first obtaining a Consent from the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria.

Archaeological sites include mining sites and the ruins of buildings (for a full definition of archeological sites refer to the Heritage Act 2017). All archaeological sites, whether known or unknown, are protected under the Heritage Act.

It is not an offence to search for and collect an individual artefact if it is not part of an archaeological site. You must get the approval of the landowner to access private land to remove artefacts, or the approval of the land manager to remove artefacts from Crown land.

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage

Aboriginal cultural heritage is the continuing record of Victoria's Aboriginal societies, who have existed in this land for tens of thousands of years. It is not just a remnant of history. It's alive, and constantly changing and evolving – often expressed through cultural traditions that have been reclaimed and revitalised in a contemporary setting.

Protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage is not just fundamental for Aboriginal peoples' identity and wellbeing. It's also an important part of Victoria's heritage as a whole – our shared story of how we have grown and evolved as a society. Parks Victoria is committed to protecting and preserving Aboriginal cultural heritage across the parks estate in Victoria.

All Aboriginal cultural heritage is protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic.) (the Act). If you come across any Aboriginal cultural heritage, Section 24 of the Act requires that the discovery of Aboriginal cultural heritage places or objects be reported to the First Peoples – State Relations as soon as practicable. It is an offence under Section 27 of the Act, to harm Aboriginal cultural heritage and under Section 28 to do an act that harms or is likely to harm Aboriginal cultural heritage. See more information about First Peoples State Relations role and Aboriginal cultural heritage and you can find out more about reporting Aboriginal places or objects.

Change of Conditions

Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.

  • Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park

    Loop track closed due to Phytophthora outbreak

    Loop access will have limited vehicle access to reduced the risk of spread of phytophthora cinnamomi pathogen. 

  • Paddys Ranges State Park

    Paddys Ranges Picnic area toilet upgrade

    Dear Park Visitors,
     
    We are excited to announce that the Paddys Ranges Picnic Area toilet block is undergoing a much-needed upgrade.
    As part of this project, the current facilities will be temporarily closed.
    Works are funded, planned and delivered by DJAARA in partnership with Parks Victoria, this upgrade will provide new and improved facilities.

    During this period, we kindly ask you to utilise the toilet facilities at the campground on Karri Track.

    We anticipate the completion of these works by the end of 2024. We understand that this may cause inconvenience, and we apologise for any disruption to your visit.
     
    Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
     
     

  • Heathcote-Graytown National Park

    Toilet block at Dargile Campground damaged and closed

    There are currently no toilet facilities available at Dargile Campground in the Heathcote Graytown National Park due to damage making the toilet block unsafe for use.

  • Yeddonba (Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park)

    Closure of Walkway at Yeddonba

    The elevated walkway and access to the art site at Yeddonba in Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park has been closed for safety reasons.
     
    An engineering assessment on the walkway identified a number of structural defects that require remediation and recommended closure.
     
    The walking track and visitor facilities at the site remain open.

  • Reedy Creek Day Visitor Area (Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park)

    Works and change to access in Reedy Creek (Woolshed and McFeeters Road) section of Chiltern Mt Pilot NP

    During November and December, Parks Victoria will continue to make changes to access in the Reedy Creek (Woolshed and McFeeters Road) area to improve visitor safety and improve park values. Camping and prospecting along Reedy Creek have become very popular, and many illegal tracks have been formed. These are not part of Parks Victoria’s formal track network and are not maintained. They are deeply rutted, unsafe and affecting environmental values in the area.
    Parks Victoria has already closed off many of the illegal tracks and have better defined the camping areas. These tracks will be re-vegetated. Access roads into the popular camping and prospecting areas along Reedy Creek (which are part of the formal track network) will be improved.
    Prospecting is still allowed in Reedy Creek and in other designated areas of Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park, for prospectors who hold a current Miner’s Right. We ask that people respect the closures put in place and only use the authorised track network to ensure Reedy Creek remains a special place for all visitors.

  • Beechworth Historic Park

    Ongoing closure of section of Lake Kerferd Walking Track

    A section of the Lake Sambell to Lake Kerferd walking track in Beechworth Historic Park has been closed for safety reasons.
     
    An engineering assessment completed on the track recommended closure. The inspection identified serious safety concerns relating to abandoned mine shafts.
     
    The track provides access from Lake Kerferd to Lake Sambell in Beechworth. The rest of the track remains open. Signage is in place to notify visitors of the closure.

    Closure of Spring Creek Bridge

    The Gorge Road is currently closed for all vehicle access due to safety concerns over the Spring Creek bridge. Pedestrians can access to Gorge Road but are not permitted on the bridge. This is expected to be a long-term closure.

  • Kooyoora State Park

    Road closures due to flood damage

    ·     The main visitor sites are open at Kooyoora State Park, however the following roads remain closed due to storm damage. 
    ·     Kirwan's Road
    ·     Back Road

More to discover

 
A mother, father and their two young daughts gaze out at the sea from the lookout point of the lighthouse.

Historic sites

Journey back in time and visit some of the historic buildings of post European settlement in Australia, including huts, mansions and lighthouses.

Aboriginal heritage

Learn more about the culture, history and contemporary aspirations of the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of our land.
A couple looks on at a Wombat on Wilsons Promontory National Park,

Wildlife viewing

Get up close and personal with some of Australia's shy native wildlife or look up to spot tree-dwelling mammals and flocks of colourful birds,
The lighthouse at Cape Otway in the Otway National Park.

Lighthouses

Learn about the seafaring past of Victoria's rugged and unforgiving coastline at marine and maritime exhibits and sites.
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