Open Ground
The Central Otago Goldfields
Free public fossicking · Central Otago, South Island, NZ
Open groundThe prize. Alluvial gold from the rivers of the 1860s Dunstan rush
Where. Central Otago, South Island, NZ
Status. Open ground
Where. Central Otago, South Island, NZ
Status. Open ground
The account
When the Dunstan rush broke in 1862, the rivers of Central Otago ran thick with diggers. The schist gorges of the Clutha and its tributaries still hold their gold, and New Zealand has set aside public fossicking ground here where anyone may pan, free and unpermitted. Hand tools, the streambed, and the same cold clear water that started a rush.
Leads, where the trail points now
- What you can keep: Alluvial gold from the rivers of the 1860s Dunstan rush. Confirm the site's current rules and any day fee before you go.
- Where: Central Otago, South Island, NZ. Designated public gold fossicking areas, free, no permit; non-motorised hand tools, active streambed only.
- Best practice: record anything notable, leave the ground as you found it, and check the latest access notices before you travel.
The full hunt kit is in the fellowship
The starting brief, the gear, the legal picture for this exact ground, and a GPS chart pack you can load and go. The map stays free.
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