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Home  |  Attractions  |  The Great Outdoors  |  Fossicking and Gold Panning

Fossicking and Gold Panning

If you are fossicking in the Southern Downs and Granite Belt you will primarily be looking for Gold and Topaz and other gemstones and minerals.

A fossicking licence is required and can be purchased from the Stanthorpe or Warwick Information Centres.








Fossicking can be done at the following locations:
  • Thanes Creek Fossicking Area - alluvial gold known to occur in the Thanes Creek area is popular with tourists and fossickers as it is easily accessible, only 40km west of Warwick. Camping is not allowed in the Thanes Creek Fossicking Area.
  • Swiper's Gully Topaz Locality - gem quality topaz occurs on part of the Passchendaele State Forest, near the small township of Amiens, 13km northwest of Stanthorpe. Other gemstones and minerals can also be found. Camping is not allowed in the State Forest.
  • Glendon Camping Ground - Glendon is a private camping and fossicking ground, located 38km west of Warwick in the Thanes Creek area. You can hire a gold pan for $3 per day and they are more than happy to teach you the trick to gold panning as well.