Lower Shotover River Gold Fossicking Area

The fortunes of the Lower Shotover are as wide and deep and meandering as the mighty river at this point.

Here is where the Shotover merges with the Kawerau, after taking a broad curve around a wetland known as Tucker Beach. It is on either side of the river here that one may fossick or (pan or sluice by hand) for gold. Access is brilliant, because the steep curve of progress on the outskirts of Queenstown have converted this area into a popular walking and cycling area, on both sides of the river.

The fossicking section begins north of the 'Old Ferry' by the Shotover Bridge and ends roughly adjacent to the intersection of Tucker Beach and Hansen Roads.
The same area is also a wildlife refuge, where native birds have begun to return to their original habitat in encouraging numbers. Locals are very protective of the birdlife including banded dotterels and black fronted terns. Black billed gulls breed here too, they are at critical status, and the declining pied oystercatcher is also at home here.

Humans are not in decline. Just downriver, after populating the nearby Lake Hayes Estate, the Lower Shotover Country subdivision sprung up and expanded until they nearly merged. A new school has opened and the formerly open river terraces are filling fast. On the sector that is fit for fossicking, the real estate you may spy is on the grand side of things, estates creeping up Queenstown hill to the west and eternally expanding Dalefield on the right side of the river.

Don't let anyone stop you dipping your pan in the river, the permit to fossick is a right and there may be a nugget with your name on it.

Image Credit: Tim House