Ok, so we (wife and I) have been frequenting the various public fossicking areas in the mainland for the last 10 years or so but after a recent visit to Louis Creek sense things have changed; for the worse… Please correct me if I’m wrong but there was if you like, a set of rules/protocol in terms of public areas and fossicking therein such as not digging into banks and a general respect for the environment we have been lucky enough to look for a bit of colour in. A couple of years back we were at Louis Creek and up in the original fossicking area (up stream from the power lines) there was evidence of significant excavation into the banks and undermining the trees bordering the stream. On this visit however the destruction is on a scale the beggars belief. From the end of the “new” area by the Howard Valley rd ford to (and including) the original area (as well as the non permitted area) the mining that has been going on is just so destructive with the stream down to bedrock and every last opportunity taken to extract any amount of gold possible. Is this the new normal? People are trashing these public areas for simply how much money they can make which in turn translates into removal of the potential for people to just have a fossick for a little gold and wrecking the eco system in the process… Maybe I’m old school but it just seems wrong and perhaps a reflection of the new normal where its all just about me me me 
Well I guess gold is getting harder & harder to find. Louis Creek has been getting a hiding for years so the gold just might not be where you would expect some to be. Places worked over time & time again. People get desperate & stop at nothing to increase their chances. Even if that means digging into the banks. People looking for “virgin” ground. Or what they hope might be virgin ground. A lot of the damage could also have been done by flooding. Don’t forget that this area was well worked over in the depression years. The Golden Bush by Temple Southerland is a good read on this as he took part himself.
Jw 
Partly driven by “The cost if living crisis” People are desperate, its also happening at the river with whitebait. Some of them are living in their cars and are really struggling. Some may be on drugs. Still people
Up the top by the old miners hut theres a clif ledge where prospectors or campers have dumped tons and tons of rubbish into the gully .we were horrified …
Hi Ross
Unfortunately Louis creek has been so hammered! Especially in parts that use to be good if you could only go for a day!
We have pretty much stop going just because of how much the full timers have done.
In saying that if they didn’t get it someone will 
Yep its a mess alright, caves dug into the banks undermining the trees and the stream bed emptied out and rocks piled up the banks… as you say, is great to be able go somewhere for a day or so and find something; times they are a changin…
We went up New Creek for a gander as well; heaps of rubbish dumped in the bush. Really sad and not necessary…
The world is full of arseholes in regards to dumping rubbish. I find it strange that they can carry it in but not take it back with them. Like I said, just arseholes.
As to the gold. It is a finite resource & there is getting less & less of it to find & getting harder & harder to find & smaller & smaller until the times come that you stop finding any. More so in thrashed easily accessed public areas don’t you think?? To some people the gold is just an excuse to get out to a area to enjoy the outdoors & all that has to offer. Maybe meeting up with like minded people to escape their daily grind camping out over a weekend or few days. Talking crap over a few beers, billies & BBQ’s. Gold of a different kind. Any found gold just a bonus. These are usually the genuine people.
JW
Its going to get worse. Cast you mind back to the days of the gold rush… gold fever in hard times is bound to be a reality…
Unfortunately it seems people wont buy a permit bit of creek. So they head off to the public sites and work them full time. Often camping in the bush.
We might rember that guy from auckalnd who did over the arrow.
Or those guys that lived at moonlight
There was even a dredge on slab hut.
Not much there for us weekend fossickers.
The land and creeks recover in their own ways over time. Just no gold left.
There needs to be a rule change, maybe something similar to how they do it in aussie. Perhaps allocated areas but you stake a claim of a certain circumference and that is yours to play in… might be a nightmare to police though… if that kind of thing isnt an option, then just more fossicking area! Its insane that there isnt even one area in the north island. The country has gone so fkn woke its unbearable. Wheres the common sense these days?
Yep full of A’holes for sure - any moral code in terms of rubbish or the rules around fossicking in public areas appears to have vapourised over the last 10 years - economic situation or just simple greed
Attitudes need to change thats for sure but can’t see it happening - has there ever been any coops formed that take on a claim and then the members are able to work it? Guess that would have its own challenges as well…
Yes, there are a lot of co-ops. Its pretty popular among hobby dredgers and such. Seems the norm is a 6-8 person syndicate each having an equal share. Just need to have a set of ground rules and a like-minded group. All fees etc shared. Theres often the odd share up for sale👍
Interesting reading everyone’s opinions here. I do remember the arrow river guy. If anything his work actually attracted folk into gold fossicking there. First flood and it was all gravel again. Guess not everyone can afford a claim. Who can justify 100k upfront plus annual fees. Over the years I’ve seen the same rivers go from unclaimed to claimed and sold, and resold, often resold again, all for little actual work done. Locals aren’t stupid. Some of these aren’t even realistically workable and often don’t even have access properly sorted. The huge asking prices around here all started when a local claim was syndicated and the shares got on sold for a decent profit. I know that cos my mate was one of those guys. Made prob more in that than gold found haha. But that seems to have encouraged the out of town claim speculators with the more marginal waters. Anyone actually working on the various waterways here knows the history, the gold recovered etc. Just not the gold there to justify the expense anymore. The queenstown effect has taken it over. Sure it’s probably not the same further afield. With the high gold prices everyone is talking gold. But I have seen little extra action on the ground. Either no ground, no money, no experience, or no mates in the game to help start out. I know it’s been winter but when I’m driving walking or biking around fossicking areas you don’t see much apart from the odd tourist planner, or the same old characters enjoying a couple of beers and a break outdoors like on the arrow. Such a popular river. Just a shame they never made the shotover by oxenBridge tunnel a public area. Was good gold there too. Used to be able to pick up rocks and you’d see flake under some back in the 2000s, post the big flood of '99.
Good honest post Queenstown. Saying it how it is. Nothing quite like the price of gold to go through the roof to get people gaga about the untold riches that just has to be still in those creeks & rivers waiting to be sucked up. If only they knew… 
JW
Cant comment too much about the coast but for those lamenting there’s no gold in the public fossicking areas over here in Otago the Arrow public fossicking area is very very very good. Its richer than most claims and if you want to get out and experience it with no costs of purchasing it as a claim its a no brainer.
Re the prices of claims- the market dictates the price. Its no different to the used car market or buying a house. Capitalism at work.
Theres plenty of space on the Arrow and its close to shops etc. Plus lots of people selling pans sluices etc.
Hi all,
I am curious as to Paydirt members expectations of a public fossicking area. Is it for fun and leisure? Or is it I must have x amount therefore I shall go off the reservation, rip shit and bust.
Have noticed some stunning efforts lately out Goldsboro, kinda wonder what they are thinking.
Think your never satisfied after you buy a set of scales.
I can’t speak for everyone, but my own experience. I like Goldsborough, it’s a nice area. I do go elsewhere from time to time, but I have the most luck there. I only go for fun, and I follow the rules; small sluice, all hand held and operated equipment. I fill in all the holes I dig, even when I’m just testing the surface. It’s great fun and good exercise. The fresh air does wonders.
But it gets annoying trying to navigate around other peoples mess… Large holes that don’t get filled in, mountains of rocks that are stacked because people are too damn lazy, they find the gold and they just dip, leaving a mess of the river for others to have to deal with. I’m just glad the track is still walkable, for now. I always have a target when I go, but never with any expectations of actually achieving it. It’s more the principle of getting out of town and getting in to nature that matters the most (to me at least).
To answer your question though, I expect anyone who camps at any public fossicking areas to at least do the bare minimum and clean up their mess when they’re finished. I’ve never had issues with the camping grounds themselves, mostly just the river. I don’t care if your sluice is slightly larger than the restrictions, or if you stay for a week with a few friends. Just fill in your holes and don’t leave a mess. It’s really not that hard, yet, there’s always a few bad apples that don’t understand it, or more likely, simply don’t care. People digging in to the banks and causing them to erode faster, eventually bringing trees down on to the river is a huge problem. I’ve seen the river scape change because of this over the last couple of years. Areas once accessible, now hard to pass because of fallen trees, or dangerous to work around because of dangling trees, looking like they are ready to just topple over.
If there was a way for DOC to manage these issues, or an easier way for others to call out those who don’t follow the rules, intentionally ruining these areas, then that would be great.
I’d be gutted if the public areas were closed because of a few people who couldn’t care less and just want to make a quick buck (even though there are better ways of doing this that don’t involve destroying the amazing rivers we’re allowed to use freely). It would truly be a shame to the community who does respect the rules and public areas.
Also, sorry for the rant, I just had to.