On the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, lie the ghosts of Waiuta, one of New Zealand’s richest gold towns – long abandoned since the Blackwater mine closed in 1951. “Whispers of Gold” tells Waiuta’s story from its beginnings to current day. Archive film and photographs give a rare glimpse of 1900’s mining town life

Shantytown Heritage Park. While the South Island's West Coast is well known for its magnificent scenery and glaciers, no visit to the area is complete without experiencing Shantytown - a bustling heritage park showcasing the gold rush history of the West Coast of New Zealand.. The discovery of gold in 1864 led to a population explosion – from around 300 to almost 30,000 residents

Yes you can just grab your GOLD pan and shovel head to the nearest fossicking site and start panning it’s that easy! Below is a list of all of the available public fossicking sites: Nelson-Marlborough and the West Coast: -Aorere river (2 sites) Collingwood Golden Bay. -Lyell creek 35 km west of Murchison. -New creek 5 km northwest of Rotoroa

Gold Prospecting is easy to do on the South Island, mostly in part because a large number of gold mines are scattered throughout the island. New Zealand’s gold rush, in the mid to late 1800’s was after the big rush in California. So called Fossicking, IE, gold panning is allowed in many areas – with special “fossicking” sites

Dec 27, 2016 Owner Barry Rooney, a former butcher, says the price of gold has doubled in the 15 years he has owned the shop; and modern technology has made even historic West Coast mining

However, to make gold panning a more accessible experience, sixteen areas have been set aside in the South Island where anyone can freely enjoy recreational gold mining without the need for a mining permit. These areas are called gold fossicking areas and have been designated under the Crown Minerals Act 1991

Aug 13, 2016 A miniature cottage at West Coast gold town Kotuku. ... One of the largest is Waiuta, built atop the South Island's richest gold mine after a quartz reef was discovered in

Nov 04, 2016 What: Gold. Boom: For 45 years from 1906 to 1951 Waiuta was the company town for the South Island's largest gold mine. The mine was one of the most regular and steady gold reefs found anywhere in

Once a bustling centre of gold mining activity on the West Coast, Kumara is now a major stopping point for the West Coast Wilderness cycling trail. Oparara Basin Kayak and hike through fascinating limestone formations and ancient native forests in the southwest corner of the Kahurangi National Park. ... South Island trips Let us show you the

The mining town of Reefton is sited on river flats where the Īnangahua River leaves its narrow gorge through the Victoria Range. Originally a gold-mining town, it became a centre for coal mining in the 20th century. In 2008 gold mining is again dominant, with a large opencast pit opened by Oceana Gold

Feb 04, 2021 Gold mining on the West Coast of the South Island New Zealand where two screens double the production feed by one man and one excavator. Makes sense

Jun 03, 2014 The West Coast of the South Island – New Zealand. Viki Moore / June 3, 2014. We took the opportunity of the long weekend to head over to the West Coast for a road trip with some friends and our kids. It is about a three hour drive from Christchurch over the Southern Alps via Arthurs Pass to get to Hokitika. You can also fly which takes about

There are 19 areas in the South Island that have been set aside for gold fossicking and gold panning in Nelson-Marlborough, the West Coast and South and Central Otago. These areas are open for recreational gold fossicking without the need for a permit. Alluvial gold, which is found in soil and sediments around rivers and streams, is present in all gold fossicking areas but usually in low

The West Coast of the South Island is second only to Otago in gold production. Both areas still have large gold mining operations currently working. Gold mining produced more than just large populations. It also demanded greater technology

The West Coast Gold Rush on the South Island's West Coast of New Zealand lasted from 1864 to 1867. Description. The gold rush populated the area, which up until then had been visited by few Europeans. ... In 1867 the rush began to decline, though gold mining continued on the Coast for some years

Dec 27, 2016 Owner Barry Rooney, a former butcher, says the price of gold has doubled in the 15 years he has owned the shop; and modern technology has made even historic West Coast mining