The Fossickers Way Visitor Guide Volume 1 | Page 9

fast facts • What You Might Find: Gold, sapphires, crystals, zircons • Equipment Needed: Gold pans and sieves, hammer and pick THE PEEL INN Dating back to the 1860s, The Peel Inn is a grand corner pub built in the gold rush, when it was one of 16 pubs in town. It’s the last remaining, and serves a mean feed for which people campsites to boutique bed and breakfasts. THERE’S GOLD IN THEM HILLS Reef gold was first discovered in Nundle in 1852, with alluvial gold found as early as 1849. Today, the ruins of old mine workings and equipment are dotted around the valley and the mountains. WHERE TO FOSSICK For exact fossicking locations pop into the Nundle Visitor Information Outlet. Swamp Creek, gold Follow the River Rd approx. 3.5km until you come to Swamp Creek. You can fossick in the open spaces of the Creek and Peel River, roughly 700m upstream to a property boundary. Hanging Rock, crystals Head 8km out of town towards Hanging Rock and turn into the lookout road. Park at the picnic shelter 200m in then, staying on the top side of the gully, start travel from far and wide. Its award-winning beer garden overlooks the Peel Valley, while the upstairs motel rooms provide respite for weary fossickers. walking parallel to the gully down the hill until you come across some diggings. Forest Way, sapphires and zircons Turn onto Forest Way, opposite the Hanging Rock turnoff and continue 7km until you come to Duncan’s Creek Rd. Stay on Forest Way for another 400m, then park on the left hand side of the road. Head into the trees on the right of the road about 20m until you see diggings in a clay material. 9