Fossick MapDo you need a licence?
Yes. To fossick or prospect in Victoria you need a Miner’s Right, and you must carry it while you’re out. It lasts 10 years and is for individuals only. You can buy one online or through an agent. The price is on the Resources Victoria page: check it when you buy.
| Licence | Miner’s Right, 10 years, one person |
| Under 18 | No licence needed if you’re with an adult who holds a Miner’s Right |
| Groups | No licence needed if you’re part of an organised group running under a Tourist Fossicking Authority |
| What you keep | Gold and minerals you find on Crown land, your own land, or private land where you have permission |
| Where to buy | Resources Victoria, online or through an agent |
What you can use
You can use hand tools: picks, shovels, hammers, sieves, shakers, pans and metal detectors. No machinery and no explosives.
Where you can prospect
| Land | Can you prospect? |
|---|---|
| State forests | Yes |
| Other unrestricted Crown land | Yes, and you don’t need the land manager’s consent |
| National, state and other parks | Only in designated areas of some parks. Parks Victoria has a map for each one |
| Private land | Only with the owner’s or occupier’s consent. Spoken consent counts, but get it in writing |
| Mining, prospecting or retention licence areas | Only with the licence holder’s consent |
| Some streams, creeks and rivers | No. Prospecting is banned in certain waterways, so check before you go |
Some parks allow gemstones only, in designated areas: Cape Liptrap Coastal Park, Kooyoora State Park, Great Otway National Park and Warby-Ovens National Park.
Several central west parks closed to prospecting on 5 October 2026. See what changed in October 2026 before you head to the Wombat, Pyrenees or Mount Buangor areas.
The rules on the ground
- Backfill every hole and put the leaf litter back, as soon as you can.
- Drive only on tracks and roads open to the public. Check closures on MapshareVic before you go.
- Stay inside the permitted area in any park.
If you find something
- Aboriginal objects or places are protected. Don’t move them, and report the find to First Peoples – State Relations.
- Old mining sites can be protected archaeological sites if they’re at least 75 years old. Disturbing one without approval is an offence. Contact Heritage Victoria if you think you’ve found one.
- Hidden valuables you come across belong to the Crown. Tell Victoria Police.
- Human remains: contact Victoria Police and the Coroners Court straight away.