Hoping on a bit of insight around the coast weather

Gold Fever Locations
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G’day team, first post here.

I’m after a bit of local insight if anyone’s happy to share.

I’ve got a DOC booking at Goldsborough coming up this Thursday through to Monday, but the West Coast weather is looking a bit average again. Before I lock it all in and commit to the drive over, I was hoping to get a feel for how the current and forecast conditions might affect the public fossicking areas.

I’m not completely set on Goldsborough, so I’m also keen to hear if there are recommendations for better or safer public areas given the current conditions. I’ll have my partner and my 3 year old son with me, so safety and access are a big part of the decision.

I grew up sluicing and I’m comfortable reading rivers to a point, but it’s been a while since I’ve spent proper time on the Coast. I’m particularly interested in:

-How much rain starts to make areas like Goldsborough unfossickable or unsafe

-How quickly water levels tend to rise and drop

-Whether there are still workable spots after a few wet days

-Whether I’d be better to pull the pin on the Coast altogether and possibly head to Arrowtown instead

Long story short, I’m not back at work until the 12th so I’ve got some flexibility around timing. I’m mainly keen to get away camping somewhere sensible and show my boy what it’s all about rather than push things in marginal conditions.

I’ve got a basic 1000mm x 200mm sluice made by a local in Christchurch and I’m happy keeping things simple and safe.

Appreciate any advice from those who know these areas well. Looking forward to learning from the crew here.

Cheers,

Tom

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Check out the West coast river levels and rain fall charts.

When I go to say, slab hut I want the river levels at blacks point to be running at average low. That is usually enough to get the sluice working.

If there is high rain fall creeks fill up very quickly and you will loose your hole. But they do also drop quickly.

Looking at shamrock forecast is 7.7mm on 1 Jan. Too much for me. Drops to 3.3mm on the 2nd. .3 on the 3rd. 1mm on the 4th. It’s from this point on I’d look at going over.

0.1mm on 5 Jan and nothing till 9 Jan. This look like a good period.

3.8mm on 9 Jan. It’s a way out but if forecast is for that amount each day after that I wouldn’t go.

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Thankyou very much for that. It’s absolutely in line with my thoughts and I had picked out the same period as ideal time. It’s a bit far out to be accurate tho so am on the fence about an arrowtown drive. I’ve been caught in flash floods twice and it was a less than desirable experience plus I will have my partner and son with me whom aren’t as nimble as myself. It’s been quite a weird summer break period this year to be honest. I’m just eager to at least have a play somewhere before I’m back to work haha. Thankyou very much for your response