GOLD PANNING

The land at the top of White's Peninsula has been a working claim for more than 120 years and the river is still mined today.

At Buller Gorge Swingbridge Adventure and Heritage Park we provide expert tuition on panning and, with the 'dirt' from our favourite secret spot visitors are bound to find some gold. They are also able to go down to the river and pan for as long as they like - and what they find they can keep.

GOLD ANALYSIS

This letter was written by Walter Oldershaw to the miners as an analysis of the gold in the Buller River. It concludes that there is a substantial quantity of gold to be found. Oldershaw included his calculations that prove interesting reading, and, tantalisingly, "had not travelled far down the river from their source". Despite the frantic efforts of the early goldminers, no one dicovered the mother lode. For a large version of the letter, click here.

GOLD JEWELLERY

Buller Gorge Swingbrige Adventure and Heritage Park offers a range of amazing gold jewellery made from nuggets found in the Buller River. To view the range available, click here.