Fossick MapDo you need a licence?
No. Fossicking is legal in NSW without a licence, under the Mining Act 1992. What you do need is permission for the land you’re on, and in a state forest that means a permit.
| Land | What you need |
|---|---|
| Private land | The landholder’s consent |
| State forests | A state forest fossicking permit from Forestry Corporation of NSW. It covers every state forest for 12 months. One permit can cover a family of up to 5 (2 adults and 3 children). Apply online and carry it with you |
| Mining titles and claims | The title holder’s consent |
| Fossicking Districts | You don’t need an exploration licence holder’s consent, but every other consent still applies. Find them on the Fossicking Districts layer of MinView |
| National parks | Generally not allowed |
| Native title land and water | Not without consent |
The state forest permit fee is on the Forestry Corporation page.
How much you can take
NSW limits what each person can take in any 48-hour period:
| Material | Limit per person, per 48 hours |
|---|---|
| Material containing gold or gemstones | 10 kg |
| Other minerals | 5 kg |
| Gold nuggets of 10 g or more | 5 nuggets |
| Other gold | 50 g |
| Gemstones | 100 g |
| Ground disturbed | 1 cubic metre |
What you find is yours, and you don’t pay royalties on it.
What you can use
| Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Hammers, shovels, picks, sieves, shakers, pans | Anything powered: pumps, trommels, gold wheels, jack hammers, mechanised dredges |
| Non-powered river sluices | Highbanker sluices run with powered pumps |
| Metal detectors | Explosives |
Rules on the ground
- Put it back. Replace what you dig so the soil looks the way it did.
- In state forests, don’t undercut stream banks or take bush rock.
- Leave heritage alone. You can’t damage or remove Aboriginal or historic heritage items.
- Report illegal fossicking to the NSW Resources Regulator on 1300 814 609.