The Fossickers Way Visitor Guide Volume 1 | Page 7

the rules

of Fossicking

7 REASONS
TO TAKE A FOSSICKING HOLIDAY
1. BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
The richest fossicking areas in the
region are also some of the prettiest
parts of NSW. Fossicking sites are
generally located at water sources,
near creeks, streams and rivers, and
often in pristine wilderness
environments.
2. KEEPS THE KIDS BUSY
While mum and dad’s idea of a holiday
might be camping by a creek and
relaxing with a good book and
intermittent tea breaks, the kids
probably don’t agree. Fossicking
keeps them busy while mum and dad
are free to either join in or relax.
3. AN AFFORDABLE HOLIDAY
A fossicking holiday won’t break the
budget. Travel by car and then camp or
find affordable local accommodation
in the small country towns that
service fossicking areas. In many
cases, you can also rent gear if you
don’t want to buy your own.
4. FIND SOMETHING OF VALUE
Fossicking is mostly a game of luck
and if yours is good you might just find

something of value to either sell or
have made into a sentimental piece of
bespoke jewellery.
5. GET OFF YOUR SCREENS AND
INTO THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Fossicking is a great way to engage
kids in the natural world and gives
them an activity that doesn’t involve a
screen. And once they find their first
hint of colour, they’ll be hooked.
6. A GREAT GEOLOGY AND
HISTORY LESSON
Do you know how many millions of
years it takes to make a sapphire, or
why it is that gold is so often found in
creeks, or that Chinese mine shafts
were round rather than square so
spirits can’t hide in the corners? They
say the best way to learn is to do, so
help your kids’ education and take
them fossicking.
7. QUALITY FAMILY TIME
Fossicking is something everyone can
enjoy, from young children to older
retirees. Enjoy time together as a
family while you search for natural
wonders.

• In NSW you don’t need a permit
to fossick (except in state
forests), but there are rules
and expectations nonetheless
that need to be observed for the
enjoyment of all involved. Here’s
the low down.
DO
• Use hand tools including a pick,
hammer, shovel, sieve, pan,
shaker, basin and metal detector
• Obtain permission before
entering private land
• Leave property and gates as you
find them
• Respect the natural environment
• Take all rubbish with you
• Leave the ground as you find it –
fill in holes with original material
DON’T
• Use power-operated equipment
including jackhammers, dredges,
spading tools and explosives
• Disturb more than one cubic
metre of any soil, rock or other
material during any single period
of 48 hours
• Dig on roadways
• Enter private land without
permission
• Interfere with native wildlife and
plant life
• Pollute the ground or water
• Disturb livestock
• Carry firearms or other weapons
More information: https://fpos.fcnsw.
com.au/A-Guide-to-Fossicking-inNew-South-Wales.PDF

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