Fossicking licence fees

Read about Queensland’s Roadmap to easing restrictions. Fossickers require a current fossicking licence, which can be obtained online, from our regional and district offices and authorised agents. Licences are not required at tourist mines and similar sites that charge a fee for entry.

“This also means there will be no camping permitted in these areas.” The fossicking and General Permission areas open to the public for day use are: Clermont, Thanes Creek fossicking area, Deep Creek fossicking, Talgai State Forest fossicking, Durikai State Forest fossicking / GPA, Young’s Block GPA and Bar-Burrum.

To be eligible for this licence you must:

1. provide details of land availability.
2. provide details on the types of land you propose to obtain the Licence for (such as Crown, Reserve or Private)
3. notify the owner and / or occupier of the land affected.
4. provide any other information required by the Agency.

Fossicking is a regulated activity in Queensland and requires a fossicking licence. You also don’t need a fossicking licence to hunt for treasure or lost items using a metal detector. You should check with the local council for any rules about accessing public beaches and other areas for this purpose.

Gold prospecting and fossicking opportunities in Australia’s Golden Outback draw people from far and wide. To prospect in Western Australia, you require a Miner’s Right for each person in your party. This gives you authorisation to prospect on: Unoccupied crown land that is not covered by a granted mining tenement.

Both agencies have officially defined these goldfields into three proclaimed gold regions: Southern Queensland, Central Queensland, and North Queensland. Minor gold deposits also occurred in Ormeau and Beenleigh in the Neranleigh-Fernvale Beds.

Fossicking in Queensland

• Chinchilla petrified wood localities.
• Thanes Creek fossicking area.
• Deep Creek fossicking area.
• Talgai State Forest fossicking area.
• Swipers Gully topaz locality.
• Durikai State Forest fossicking area.

Fossicking is a regulated activity in Queensland and requires a fossicking licence. This licence allows you to search for and collect fossicking materials for recreational, tourist and educational purposes only.

If you have any questions about fossicking, contact the local mining office. You can receive an on-the-spot fine or be prosecuted if you breach the provisions of your fossicking licence.

If you are planning to camp in a fossicking area, you may also need a fossicking camping permit in addition to a fossicking licence. For help and technical support when purchasing a fossicking licence online contact:

Licences for commercial tour operators do not authorise fossicking for fossil specimens. Licences for clubs, educational organisations and commercial tour operators authorise fossicking for a maximum of 50 people at any one time and place.